Transport | Same Day Courier Services, Essex

Posts Tagged ‘Transport’

The courier at the gate…

Posted on February 4th, 2010 1 Comment

I recently read in an online forum about a lady who had had 30 boxes of nappies delivered by a courier service and they had left them at her gate.

: Image via Wikipedia

To make matters worse, the gate opened outwards and the boxes were stacked so she couldn’t open the gate, which meant that she had to climb over the gate to get to the nappies, move them, open the gate and then bring them in… needless to say she wasn’t very happy. At the time it was snowing and all this was done in the snow, at low temperature.

Firstly, couriers deliver kerbside to kerbside. Which means they are without obligation to lugg it up your driveway and put it in your hallway. Often the courier companies drivers will do it out of kindness. It’s nice to thank them at this point

Also it should be remembered that should a courier chose to help the customer by delivering right to the front door and through the gate, they are probably not insured. They have been instructed by their company to deliver just to the kerbside, and they know if they slip on the customer’s pathway they could be out of work whilst they recover. They may have to claim against the householder for loss of earnings if it could be proved that it was their fault that the courier slipped on the pathway.

What a nightmare! For companies that want to provide that extra bit of customer service, do they risk the customers wrath or their employees wrath? It is a rock and a hard place scenario. You understand why your postman is not delivering in the snow and the ice, but people rarely cut slack for the couriers that they are expecting.

Think back to your job, are there certain procedures that must be followed in order for you to do it? What do you have to do to prove you work in a safe manner? The chances are you know all about assessing for risks in your business, and you understand why a courier service will also assess the risks, and sometimes they will have no choice but to deliver to the exact guidelines they are issued with.

It’s not being a stupid delivery driver thats failing to understand your needs, it’s a conscientious employee doing their job correctly.

When booking your courier service we feel it’s important to have couriers that think, and understand what is going on and what the risks are. If you do too, then we’d like to hear from you.

Sarah

Posted in Courier Business, courier services

Same Day Courier Services – What Are The Benefits?

Posted on February 2nd, 2010 No Comments

A same day courier service allows your business to transport important goods or documents reliably. This can allow your business to convert important prospects and to win successful contracts. Most couriers will also allow you to track your package so you know when the recipient has received it.

It’s important to understand the benefits of using a reliable courier service and how it can increase your businesses reliability and reputation. By understanding why a same day courier is so important you can start to look for a good company with an excellent reputation for reliability.

In this blog posting we’ll look at the 5 main benefits your business will experience from a reliable, same day courier.

1 – Reliability
You want to demonstrate that your business is professional and reliable. Therefore you need to demonstrate this in every area of business that you operate. This includes delivering items to clients and prospects.
If you can impress your clients and prospects with a professional, sleek and timely delivery of goods or documents, you’re likely to retain these clients. It will also increase your businesses reputation through word of mouth. sloppy delivery will have the reverse affect.

2 – Contracts Speed Up
If you can get an important contract signed on the same day, you can begin starting a project much sooner. Using slower, inefficient courier services means delays in starting new contracts which can all affect your businesses cash flow.
With courier tracking in real time you know when your important goods or documents have been received and therefore when to expect a response. Invaluable, when time is money.

3 – Peace of Mind
Being able to rely on a delivery service to get your package to its destination on-time and impress your clients or prospects is a necessity. Once you’ve sent your package you need to be able to focus on running your business, not worrying about if the package will arrive in time.
Peace of mind comes guaranteed with a same day courier and you needn’t worry about goods getting lost or damaged, or if they’ll be delivered on time.
By using a fully insured and legal service you know your goods are in safe hands. Look for a company that employs fully trained staff to ensure safe transport that’s insured, professional and reliable.

4 – Save Time
Why make numerous trips to your local post office or sorting office? It makes sense to focus on running your business. Let the courier pick-up your important goods from your business premises. Save time by letting the experts handle your problem of getting parcels and documents delivered on time

5 – Save Money
Using a courier service isn’t as expensive as you might think. You get great value and if money is an issue you can always choose a non urgent service.
If you need to get an important document signed today, you might have to drive across half the country for a signature. It makes sense to save petrol costs along with wear-and-tear on your car by paying a courier to do the job. You can also avoid any corporate manslaughter issues that you may have if a staff member completed the job.

Sarah
PS if you have any questions, pick up the phone, we are happy to help

Posted in Sameday Courier

A bad courier experience, how to recover it

Posted on October 20th, 2009 1 Comment

Often a business will only find out how good their same day courier service is, when something goes wrong.

This blog is seven tips on how to survive a bad same day courier experience.

: Image by krystianmajewski via Flickr

1. Accept that its happened. From a late delivery or non collection, denial resolves nothing.

2. Gather as much information about the problem as you can as soon as you can.

3. Clarify whether the courier made the delivery or whether you need to get someone else in to complete it.

4. Ascertain the status of your goods, ask the driver to take photos on their mobile phone and send them across to you.

5. Remember – another courier may be reluctant to assist if the cargo is damaged in transit and may need reassuring that the business has no intention of claiming from the new courier companies insurance.

6. Inadequate packaging is not the couriers fault and if they thought it was inadequate they should have verbalised this to you at time of booking (many good couriers carry blankets and wrapping, just in case).

7. Remember traffic can cause infinite problems, and no traffic jam lasts forever (although when approaching a deadline it may seem like it!). Communication with your courier and your customer can make a huge difference to the successful outcome of the delivery.

Communication is the key.

Keeping your customer informed is essential to prevent the bad courier experience costing you the customers business. Remember that the negatives can be turned around to show your capability in dealing with tough and awkward situations, that your communication and customer service are second to none. If you do this, the chances are your customer will not even notice the potential delivery disaster.

If you find you are constantly on the phone to your courier, if the smallest of jobs are not completed to your satisfaction then it’s time to look at new same day courier services. When comparing costs, always remember to factor in what the cost of the hassle caused by the bad courier service.

Remember – A small saving on price is not worth the inconvenience to your customers.

Good luck with surviving your bad courier service because if you don’t do something about it, your customers will – they will move to a new supplier.

Sarah Arrow

Call us for a no obligation quote on 0844 884 3331