Which delivery for shipping tech kit

[EdT]

Been selling a few things on eBay. Last year had a few issues with the recommended courier sevice (they may as well have played football with the DVD player), who is better? Need to send them tracked.

[gpo746]

In all honesty Royal mail
The reason is whilst their claim procedure is long winded 9you have to wait around 30 plus days it is quite transparent if you claim. I had a kindle lost sent recorded admittedly I could only claim up to £50 plus the postage cost as that is/ was/ please check which applies the maximum amount you could claim on a signed for. The claim procedure was relatively was easy I just linked to the e bay reference number that therefore determined its value. had I sent it Special delivery I could and would have claimed the full value of the sale price of £65 - the difference was my fault for not sending it Special delivery.

The other reason I suggest Royal mail is that one some of the cheaper alternatives whilst they seem to have some cover included in the price that cover can specifically EXCLUDE electrical items. that is one of the major reasons I only use My Hermes for non electrical stuff. I believe that some of the " broker type sites" such as parcel 2go etc have similar terms imposed on them as regards claims.
The 3rd reason I say Royal Mail is that they seem an "easier" alternative for your buyer in that if not in they should be carded if so arranging redelivery is relatively easy as is collecting the item. Some courier services for example may only have one depot for several towns.
I am sure others will reply saying "such and such is great" and that will be the case for them as you go off your own experiences. My personal experience is that Royal Mail / Parcelforce have worked out the best options though not the cheapest options. In many cases an item sent second class signed for arrived next day. Last xmas for example out of 114 items posted Royal Mail signed for 2nd class 110 arrived next day a figure I was staggered at.
One final thing whatever you choose make sure you update your paypal tabs with any tracking numbers you obtain.
I have also used My Hermes and I have a regular guy I buy from who uses them. The turn round is prompt he can have an item collected from him on say Monday and I will get it Wednesday - their tracking system is good in that you can check progress the draw back is the cover not applying to electrical items. My supplier wasn't aware of that but is now but takes the chance, rather than paying an extra amount for Royal Mail

Edited by gpo746 on Tuesday 21st October 02:58

[pavka007]

As above, Royal Mail for me as well.

I would never buy anything from anyone using Yodel, I am sure someone will say that they are great, well they are not great for me. From 4 parcels posted to me with them in the past all 4 have been a major headaches. Twice the delivery driver updated the system with "parcel delivered and left in the front porch"........ I live in a block of flats It turned out that he "made a error with updating the system" according to the head office.
I can go on and on but there is no point. As I've said above if the seller don't post Royal Mail, I don't buy.

[Melman Giraffe]

We deliver all our Kit via UPS globally and very rarely have a problem, some of the Servers can be worth up to and beyond 10k.

[EdT]

Assume Royal Mail means a trip to the PO correct?

[TonyRPH]

I've used Parcelforce many times with no issues at all.

And they'll also collect from you which for me a bonus.

[Who me ?]

It's the old problem of paying peanuts /Who employs the sorting centre staff/ Are the delivery drivers self employed?
AFAIK from pickup to delivery RM/Parcel force staff work for RM/Parcel force. Hermes depots use agency staff ,on the whole. Staff who can be asked to either turn up for work and find that Hermes have overbooked and send some home( so it's like the old historical system in the docks of the 50's) or need more staff than theyve allowed for and have to either ask staff to work doubles or call in staff .Other places use self employed couriers ,who are paid by delivery. I always insist on a delivery to persons in my home, after I came home in damp weather to find a card in the letterbox to say parcel ( cardboard package containing expensive shoes ) in rear garden( thrown over fence ) another ( obviously computer parts)signed for by persons unknown and left on front doorstep.

[gpo746]

EdT said:

Assume Royal Mail means a trip to the PO correct?

To answer directly
Yes in the case of Royal Mail
Not necessarily in the case of Parcel Force who can collect

Now to throw a "what if" into the works: A few years ago I sold off my beloved Vinyl collection on the bay of e. I dealt with one guy who was very straight foreward. He asked if I would be prepared to deal with him on the basis he arranged the collections. I was happy enough with this as he gave me a written message saying that he assumed full responsibility for the transit of the items and that the courier was working on his behalf.
He arranged it via Parcelforce 48. He sent me over the labels to print out from e mail. I saw the figure
MASIIVELY cheaper than what I had done myself just a week before via Parcel Force.
He did it via his company who obviously had a contract or whatever with Parcelforce.

Just a thought if you knew someone that worked for a firm that did similar etc.

[megaphone]

I use UPS for all my eBay stuff, never let me down yet. I use the local drop off service at my newsagent. Good value if you buy via http://www.parcel2go.com