When booking your same day courier it can be quite tempting to try and trivialise what needs to be delivered, often in an attempt to get a ‘better’ price and save your own business money, after all it’s just driving – how hard can it be?
Here are 7, that we hear on a daily basis from customers trying to save money not realising that some of the things that they are trying to cut corners with are an essential part of why you actually use that type of courier service.
1.It doesn’t need to go Same Day, it’s not THAT urgent
2.It CAN be co-loaded even though it’s fragile
3.It’s a small and doesn’t weigh much so just a small van will do
4.Go for the cheapest, it’s only driving a van
5.It don’t need insurance, it’s only going 40 miles
6.Get a motorbike to deliver it, they’re cheaper
7.It will be all right – what’s the worst that can happen
It doesn’t need to go Same Day, it’s not that urgent normally follows the sharp intake of brief when given the price for a dedicated courier service. Normally an item has to go same day because it’s absolutely urgent, it must get there in that time frame or there will be repercussions. If the item is price sensitive and there are little or no repercussions, then an overnight courier service is what you require and should have been what was asked for. Don’t blame the courier though if you send an urgent item overnight…
It CAN be co-loaded even though it’s fragile, well it could be if you knew what it was being co loaded with. You need to be 100% confident in your courier service, that they strap and secure their loads correctly and that their drivers are fully trained in delivering fragile goods. Even then are you sure that you want to risk sending something fragile with another item?
It’s a small and doesn’t weigh much so just a small van will do… when we arrive at the destination we find that that’s the biggest understatement we have heard. Often a small van is not the correct size and another, more expensive vehicle has to be sent in. Accurate size and weights are essential to get you the best price for the job, not knowing can mean you are unable to compare courier services efficiently.
It doesn’t need insurance, it’s only going 10 miles… this is one of our favourites. If an accident is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen no matter where you are be it one mile or ten from your destination. Even though drivers are highly trained and professional drivers, another vehicle can hit them and it can happen anywhere. If insurance is needed, its needed regardless of the length of journey.
I’d like to book a motorbike, their cheaper… if the item is small such as jewellery or documents then people often think that booking a motorbike is the cheaper option. Motorbikes are highly tuned and highly maintained vehicles, their drivers are exceptionally skilled and they are no cheaper than a small van, you are buying their speed, their agility, their skill at getting across densely packed areas at optimum speed. Motorbike couriers provide an excellent service, that is incredible value for money, it has to be the right service for you and if you are looking to cut corners and save money, then they are not for you.
It will be all right, what’s the worst that can happen? To start with, your load will be on the road. An environmental disaster waiting to happen, that’s the worst that can happen. Reputable courier services do not cut corners on safety and you shouldn’t expect them to.
Over to you, what’s the worst advice you have been given in your business?
Kevin
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