There are many reasons you may need to employ the services of a courier
. You may need to send a one-off parcel to a friend, you may need a regular service for delivering goods from your business, you may need to deliver a large palletised item or you may need to make a delivery abroad. Whatever your requirements there are some important points to consider in order to determine what sort of courier service is appropriate for you. Couriers differ in the services they offer so here are a few tips to help you find the right one and ensure you get the best deal possible.
If you have never used a courier before it can be difficult to know what to look for when shopping for a delivery service. A good place to start is to think about the size of your delivery. Most couriers have a size and weight restriction that will vary from service to service. Some couriers specialise in handling large freight or palletised deliveries so if your parcel is over 1m3 and weighs more than 30Kg then you will need to look for this type of service.
If you only need to send a one-off small delivery then there are a number of home and commercial courier services that will allow you to arrange a single collection and delivery. Prices can vary depending on how quickly you need the parcel to be delivered and where it is going. Sometimes couriers offer a discounted rate for deliveries to certain postcodes so this can be worth looking out for. A courier that specialises in next day deliveries or slower deliveries may also be able to offer a competitive price on the timescale you need.
Next you should think about whether you are likely to make regular deliveries or send consignments comprised of multiple parcels. If you are sending out parcels on a regular basis, several times a week, then you will probably be eligible for an account with your chosen courier. This should allow you to benefit from discounted rates as well as the benefits of a monthly invoiced account, which means that you won't have to pay upfront each time you need to arrange a collection. If you often send consignments of multiple parcels then there are couriers that charge a rate calculated by the overall weight of the consignment rather than the number of parcels. This can work out a little more cost effective.