Blame it on the delivery guy – It all comes down to money

If you have a problem and next extra support or help for an item you have ordered, you tell them when you buy the item? Right?

Of course you do, a lot of people do this when they buy a large item, they inform the store of the problem (bad back, elderly parent signing, 300 flights of stairs) and if they are lucky, the shop makes note of this on the order form.

If they are lucky.

When your delivery van arrives, a guy starts to unload and you need help, you told them in the shop you needed help but the thing is – help costs money. You are left blaming the delivery guys for something they have no control over.

Deliveries are an expensive undertaking for many stores and warehouses, their biggest expenditure is staff, then the cost of transportation. In tougher times, staff cut backs are made and so are transportation cutbacks. Sometimes, the additional help request is passed on, more often it is not – it’s an extra cost and hey- they can blame it on the delivery man. It’s not the stores fault, the warehouses fault, it’s the delivery guys fault.

I was trying to explain this on facebook the other day, that as delivery people, we deliver what we are told and if we are asked for a two man team, then we provide that – that’s what will help your elderly parent get the goods in, or you with the bad back, or every person that lives at the top of 300 flights of stairs. Often what we are asked to do is deliver for a fixed price, regardless of the circumstances (square pegs and round holes?) and they rarely include a second person on delivery.

Partly this is the consumers fault, they are used to ‘cheap’ delivery but are not happy with what cheap delivery entails. We’re doing our best to educate everyone in the chain.

We also have the health and safety aspect, it was pointed out to me that delivery a pallet of goods would have been quicker for the delivery company if they had a two man team, well again, it comes down to money. The company booking the job doesn’t want to pay the going rate, they want a deal and that means something has to be cut, it has to be staff or fuel. If two people did the delivery that’s two days wages and double the delivery cost normally charged. It is cheaper for our customer to have one driver unload with their equipment, it may take a little longer but that is one set of wages less to pay.

So the delivery company will give the shop/warehouse several prices -

  • Two man team, dedicated delivery
  • Two man team, no fixed time
  • Delivery on a dedicated vehicle
  • Delivery on a specific schedule, a working driver

Guess which one is the cheapest? Did you say the last one? Given the choice of the 4 options, and the store knowing you have disabilities / no parking / no one home until lunch, they always go for the cheapest.

Trust me, in the 9 years we have been doing this, the only option they are interested in is the one that costs them the least, and regardless of what you say, as a customer you do baulk at paying a delivery price that is enough for every person in the chain to make a little money, including the delivery company.

Next time you are in a shop wondering why delivery costs are so high, remember, fuel, 2 men, no problems because when you have free delivery you have nothing but hassle, and everyone trying to cut their costs down. It sure makes it harder to deliver your goods how you would like them to be delivered.

Kevin

Same day courier services

Couriers for your double ovens – it needn’t be an Aga saga

We often deliver Aga’s, those wonderful ovens that many people love for serious amounts of cooking, as well as warming the kitchen on a cold day.

Transporting these type of oven’s is not easy, as you know they are very heavy and often need two or three people to lift them. We recommend tail lift vehicles for delivering an Aga style oven. It may cost a little more but no one is putting their back out and the ovens are not being damaged if someone’s fingers slip. double oven courier

Two or three people should be available at the loading destination to lift and load the ovens correctly and safely.

As well as the fact they are “overweight” we recommend a same day courier service for these type of products to be delivered intact. A pallet service isn’t any cheaper when it comes to heavy items especially of they are oversized as well. A courier service with a dedicated vehicle is usually the best option. Double ovens are not suitable for co loading simply because you may not have enough weight over to do this. In other words the couriers may find co loading double ovens puts them at risk of driving over the gross vehicle weight for their vehicle.

Check the weight of the double oven, and what weight the vehicle can take before booking an incorrectly sized vehicle.

If the oven is coming direct from the manufacturers then the packaging should be sufficient for safe delivery, your courier will remove the packaging for recycling if you want. If you are buying one second hand or ex display, then soft felt blankets will do the job nicely.

The doors and buttons should be secured, with tape, so nothing can work its way loose during transit.

The real delivery problems when delivering Aga’s and Aga style double ovens comes at the end destination, the actual getting into the premises. Commercial premises are generally fine, however delivering them into domestic premises, homes, can be a problem.

Sometimes the new owner has failed to book a two man team or arrange help. Most courier services are happy to arrange a two man delivery team and extra help at the end destination, just let them know at the time of booking the courier service that this is required.  Without the extra help the double oven is difficult to move, they have a low centre of gravity and one person on their own will struggle and possible damage the oven.

Other times the person who has booked the courier service has not described accurately where the double oven is actually going to be installed -  a basement kitchen or a cellar for storage, or upstairs in an annexe apartment. This poses a problem for the delivery drivers and it’s often one that cannot be resolved on the spot, they have to report back into their office and gain further instruction.

Many courier services deliver kerbside to kerbside and are under no obligation to deliver it further. Many drivers will however help move it to the correct location for you, remember – this is the extra mile that many couriers talk about, read the delivery small print and don’t take it for granted that every courier service is the same and have the same standards – sadly they are not all like us.

In conclusion, you have read here the work that is involved in delivering your Aga or double oven. You have read what information your courier service needs to deliver to your satisfaction, take all that into account and your double oven delivery won’t be an Aga saga, but something that runs smoothly without a hitch.

Kevin

Sameday courier services

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Same day couriers in the snow…

We have just had a visit from one of our regular drivers, Ken. Every 6 months we check our drivers details to make sure we are still compliant with all the rules and regulations. Ken showed us how he has prepped for the snow and will keep our customers happy…

Bring on the snow, if no one else can deliver, we can. Thanks Ken.

Sarah
0800 917 7084

Furniture items that a courier moves on a regular basis

Couriers as well as delivering business to business items also deliver items of furniture. Yes, we get maximum use from our versatile vehicles :-)

Piano delivery by courier
Image via Wikipedia

5 items of furniture we deliver on a regular basis

  1. Plasma TV delivery
  2. Delivering your fridge freezer
  3. Delivering your shed, gazebo or summer house
  4. How to move a piano – don’t try this at home ;-)
  5. Delivering your dining table and chairs

This blog is packed with delivery and packing tips and if you are not sure, then pick up the phone -  we are happy to advise when we can.

Remember – items of furniture often require help loading  and unloading and you will need to specify the weight of some items at time of booking, to see if a two man delivery team is required.

Kevin

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

5 things that your courier can move for you

As you know this blog is packed with tips and hints on how you can move your items yourself, safely or how we (or the same day courier of your choice) can move it for you. Over the last 2 years, thats a huge amount of information.

Delivery by courier

Delivery by courier

So I thought I would create a list for you of all the things a same day courier can move for you, to refresh you memory :-)

  1. Sending fencing or trellis by post or courier services.
  2. Moving Servers and IT equipment
  3. Heavy and bulky items from Ebay
  4. Lakeside Essex, store to your door
  5. Moving your shed, gazebo or summer house

Anyone would have you think you can move something yourself, cheaply with a van. In some instances you can. If you are not sure about how to wrap, pack and load the vehicle, give us a call. Our advice costs nothing.

Kevin