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  • Courier for signs, who do you use?

    Posted by David Wilde on October 15, 2021 at 7:29 am

    We’ve used TNT/FEDEX as our courier for a number of years now, however recently we have had issues with them, and their customer service is truly shocking (6 hours on hold to sort a problem that the local depot could’ve sorted – however it seems that their team in India were more suited to it).

    We have been forced to change courier, however, it’s not a simple as it seems apparent. Most of the couriers will not collect or deliver signs over 1m and those who do want to charge fortunes to do so.

    https://www.tnt.com

    Who is everyone else using?
    We send around 10-15 signs a week nationally.

    Thanks.

    David Wilde replied 2 years, 5 months ago 5 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    October 15, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    I have heard TNT complaints continually just now…

    have you tried Interparcel? it is a hub that connects you to the majority and gives you price comparisons etc.

    https://uk.interparcel.com

  • Colin Crabb

    Member
    October 15, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    To be fair.. all couriers are overstretched and having ‘issues’ both delivering and collecting currently…

    X-mas is just around the corner too.

    TNT for oversized, or Parcel Force if it meets size restriction here.

    https://www.parcelforce.com

    • This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Colin Crabb.
  • David Hammond

    Member
    October 15, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    DPD will carry oversized items, but you need to class them as freight, and there’s a £30 surcharge.

    We don’t ship huge amounts out, I either pay the premium or sometimes it’s cheaper to outsource it where shipping is included in the cost.

    As well as the cost of the shipping, it’s the amount of packaging and finding somewhere to store it all.

    https://www.dpdlocal-online.co.uk/

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    October 15, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    Just to add to this…

    Do NOT use HERMES. an absolute joke of a service.
    I have lost parcels sending and receiving multiple times.
    As for trying to find out what’s happening or to complain, forget it!

    https://www.myhermes.co.uk/

  • David Wilde

    Member
    October 15, 2021 at 7:39 pm

    Thanks for the replies.

    The couriers may be over stretched but it was moronic accounting on TNTs part which has caused the main issue.

    Parcelforce is looking like my best non-TNT option at the moment.

    I’d personally rather crawl down the motorway naked with the signs strapped to my back than hand them over to Hermes, had nothing but problems in the past.

    We send a fair bit out and the prices I’m being quoted are 3 times what we are paying now. Looks like I will just have to pass the costs on.

    Thanks again

  • Richard Wills

    Member
    October 15, 2021 at 8:05 pm

    One of our suppliers uses palletways for oversize and fragile deliveries and doesn’t charge us a fortune for the delivery. Not sure how small a business they’ll work with, or if you have space for pallets, and a forklift to work with them, but might be an option. We’ve never seen the slightest ding on a package with them.

    Print head failed yesterday afternoon. Called the dealer, sure, no problem out for an AM delivery with APC, as usual. Checked tracking this morning – delivery due 16:49 – 18:49, driver only 71 stops (and one mile) away. Sinking weekend gone feeling. Lunchtime, walked through the building reception, This arrived a couple of hours ago for you… Email notification, 20:49 package delivered. So APC are working, but their client notifications, not really

    https://www.apc-overnight.com
    https://www.palletways.com/

    Root canal, parking warden, Hermes.

    • This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Richard Wills.
  • David Wilde

    Member
    November 22, 2021 at 5:54 pm

    Update.

    We now use UPS. Good pricing, daily collections and, to now, reliable service.
    https://www.ups.com/gb/en/smallbusiness/home.page

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