Need a package brought back from NI before Christmas

Need a package brought back from NI before Christmas

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Discussion

FaineantFreddy

Original Poster:

8,577 posts

244 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
A bit of a long shot, but is there anyone driving from NI to southern England (Hants, Berks, Surrey area ideally) between now and Christmas?

I'm trying to get some chilled food from NI but it's proving very difficult to find a guaranteed 24 hour courier or refrigerated transport service for a relatively small shipment.

Can anyone help me with this?

will2020

433 posts

186 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
FaineantFreddy said:
A bit of a long shot, but is there anyone driving from NI to southern England (Hants, Berks, Surrey area ideally) between now and Christmas?

I'm trying to get some chilled food from NI but it's proving very difficult to find a guaranteed 24 hour courier or refrigerated transport service for a relatively small shipment.

Can anyone help me with this?
If you havn't already try these guys

http://www.sawyerstransport.com/



FaineantFreddy

Original Poster:

8,577 posts

244 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestion. I fear they will only be interested in a pallet load or more, which is a bit larger than I need. I reckon my package will end up being 20-30Kg and small enough to fit in a car boot or small van.

stevieturbo

17,527 posts

254 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
FaineantFreddy said:
A bit of a long shot, but is there anyone driving from NI to southern England (Hants, Berks, Surrey area ideally) between now and Christmas?

I'm trying to get some chilled food from NI but it's proving very difficult to find a guaranteed 24 hour courier or refrigerated transport service for a relatively small shipment.

Can anyone help me with this?
Any mode of transport is subject to flights etc, so it depends what you class as guaranteed.

But virtually all couriers, from Royal Mail to the various parcel couriers. If it is lifted one day, the chances of it not being delivered the next day are very slim.

If you pay extra, it can be put out for early delivery at the other end too. Or specify that you will collect at the depot.

And if you were in a position to drop the goods off at the depot in NI, then you could leave it until around 5pm or so

But TNT, Nightline, DPD, DHL etc will all offer a Next Day service. But obviously nobody can 100% guarantee. Same with someone taking a ferry. Weather could cancel them, delay them etc etc

But obviously it's up to the sender to ensure packaging is suitable. Ive seen chilled goods being moved through normal parcel networks. Some successfully....and the odd one not so lol

If you are prepared to pay big bucks, then most stuff can be sent on a sameday service as well. TNT and other freight handlers can arrange this.
Or I think even private individuals can also do it directly, but that would be an airport-airport deal only.


Edited by stevieturbo on Friday 4th November 00:06

FaineantFreddy

Original Poster:

8,577 posts

244 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
From my experience, no couriers currently offer a next day service between NI and the mainland. They all quote 48 hours or more.

Royal Mail's Special Delivery is the only way to get a small package to or from NI within 24 hours but the weight limit is too low for what I need.

It used to be possible with DHL by air but they've stopped that service now I believe.




will2020

433 posts

186 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
FaineantFreddy said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I fear they will only be interested in a pallet load or more, which is a bit larger than I need. I reckon my package will end up being 20-30Kg and small enough to fit in a car boot or small van.
No harm in giving them a call, if they have a delivery anywhere near you, offer to meet the driver rather than him coming to you.

stevieturbo

17,527 posts

254 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
FaineantFreddy said:
From my experience, no couriers currently offer a next day service between NI and the mainland. They all quote 48 hours or more.

Royal Mail's Special Delivery is the only way to get a small package to or from NI within 24 hours but the weight limit is too low for what I need.

It used to be possible with DHL by air but they've stopped that service now I believe.
I've worked for tnt, dpd and nightline, they all offer a next day service. It's a totally normal service and the chances if it not happening are quite slim. But as I said a 100% guarantee is difficult. TNT absolutely offer a sameday service, but obviously it will come at a price.

Edited by stevieturbo on Friday 4th November 10:45

FaineantFreddy

Original Poster:

8,577 posts

244 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
You are correct that TNT do, but they quoted £252 for a 20Kg package for a 24 hour delivery, so I suppose I should have added "at a reasonable price" to my previous post!

You have prompted me to call DHL again just to see if they can do anything and it seems they may be able to offer a 24r service or even an AM delivery so that might be a fall-back if all else fails.

FaineantFreddy

Original Poster:

8,577 posts

244 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
will2020 said:
No harm in giving them a call, if they have a delivery anywhere near you, offer to meet the driver rather than him coming to you.
Have tried them but they can't help with small loads like this one.

stevieturbo

17,527 posts

254 months

Friday 4th November 2011
quotequote all
FaineantFreddy said:
You are correct that TNT do, but they quoted £252 for a 20Kg package for a 24 hour delivery, so I suppose I should have added "at a reasonable price" to my previous post!

You have prompted me to call DHL again just to see if they can do anything and it seems they may be able to offer a 24r service or even an AM delivery so that might be a fall-back if all else fails.
That sounds strange. That sounds almost like a partially dedicated vehicle service price ( ie sameday ). IMO nearly all stuff goes next day anyway.

The goods are brought into the depot, get sorted and generally leave air mail around 8-9pm to the main sorting depot. These get sorted overnight to the relevant local depots for redistribution.
Yes there is a lot of stuff that goes via road but even then, that's a 2 day. But there are thousands of parcels every day that come 24hr. And people are not paying a fortune for them !

This is pretty much same for most places.

Also, dont overlook senditnow or parcel2go, as they are often very cheap.

But Ive used various couriers for stuff from here to mainland. I have never specified next day delivery. But the stuff always gets there next day unless I actually specify a 3-5 day service.

Phone your local DPD, Nightline, Fastway, Citylink etc There really is no lack of them

http://www.senditnow.com/index.epl

http://www.parcel2go.com/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_s...

Where in the country are you based ?

And taken from one of the above, and this will apply with any carrier.

[quote]Perishable Articles
Fresh fruit, meat, fish and other perishable articles should be able to withstand a journey of up to two days, and must be sent on a next day service as a minimum requirement. Packages must be clearly labelled PERISHABLE. Packages of fish should be smoked or chilled, and sealed in vacuum packs before consignment. In all cases they must be enclosed in adequate polystyrene containment to prevent contamination. It is the responsibility of the sender to package all perishable articles in such a manner that during transportation the contents are kept at an appropriate temperature that is unlikely to give rise to a risk to health.
Edited by stevieturbo on Friday 4th November 19:51