Discussion
We're a small business that infrequently has to send goods by courier (a handful of times a year). It's usually return of demo hardware or RMA repairs etc. In the past we had a Fedex account and they offered really good rates for local deliveries (within our local depot's area). A bit more expensive for uk wide deliveries, but good service. Anyway, they've ramped up their prices to the point that we no longer appear to get any preferential rates (fair enough, I guess they've based it on our low volumes).
I'm looking to send a couple of boxes of IT equipment (just under 15kg weight, value just under £1k). Every courier I've checked includes nominal loss/damage cover, and as soon as I declare the value of the goods they whack a huge surcharge on. Typically about £50! E.g. DPD (Local) want about £15 carriage plus £51 for insurance. Evri similar (not that I'd trust them anyway). Fedex a bit cheaper at £45 all in.
It feels like the only practical option is to take a punt on not covering to the full value, or just a nominal amount of cover. The fact the courier's insurance against loss and damage is so high almost suggests they don't trust themselves not to lose it!
Clearly the distributors/retailers aren't paying anything like these sort of costs, and I can't believe they're all sending stuff uninsured/with no liability on the courier? Is there any way to access a courier service on a low volume basis that doesn't charge such high fees for semi valuable items?
I'm looking to send a couple of boxes of IT equipment (just under 15kg weight, value just under £1k). Every courier I've checked includes nominal loss/damage cover, and as soon as I declare the value of the goods they whack a huge surcharge on. Typically about £50! E.g. DPD (Local) want about £15 carriage plus £51 for insurance. Evri similar (not that I'd trust them anyway). Fedex a bit cheaper at £45 all in.
It feels like the only practical option is to take a punt on not covering to the full value, or just a nominal amount of cover. The fact the courier's insurance against loss and damage is so high almost suggests they don't trust themselves not to lose it!
Clearly the distributors/retailers aren't paying anything like these sort of costs, and I can't believe they're all sending stuff uninsured/with no liability on the courier? Is there any way to access a courier service on a low volume basis that doesn't charge such high fees for semi valuable items?
A Marine Cargo policy - somewhat misleading name, but to cover this sort of thing - would probably be a couple of hundred quid at most. And you'd be able to cover full value.
Sounds like a no-brainer even with the small amount of stuff you've got going out over the course of the year.
Sounds like a no-brainer even with the small amount of stuff you've got going out over the course of the year.
As a Courier myself, I’d strongly recommend that your goods are fully insured.
I do around 240-280 parcels per day, and I’d say that the losses that I see, (missing or damaged) is around 0.25%.
Given the value of the goods that you’ll be shipping, I personally wouldn’t want to take that chance.
I do around 240-280 parcels per day, and I’d say that the losses that I see, (missing or damaged) is around 0.25%.
Given the value of the goods that you’ll be shipping, I personally wouldn’t want to take that chance.
nobody wants to pay the fair price
how do you feel about people chipping away at the cost of your goods?
im in freight and courier stuff booked with me is a faff,
people expect daily uipdates but dont want to spend 40 minutes on the phone ot the courier
so get a freight forwarder to do it
how do you feel about people chipping away at the cost of your goods?
im in freight and courier stuff booked with me is a faff,
people expect daily uipdates but dont want to spend 40 minutes on the phone ot the courier
so get a freight forwarder to do it
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