Does anybody use same day couriers

[wack]

I've been in the transport business since 1990 mostly working for 2 regular customers, over the last few years due to a change in their business the work began to dry up for my size of vehicle and go to artics so I sold up and bought a small van to give courier work a go.

I've been doing it since August still picking up the odd job from my previous customers but mostly sub contracting for other courier firms.

I was just wondering if anybody on here uses same day couriers and what criteria do you use when choosing them, price, availability, professionalism.

I decided I didn't want to do it in an old banger so spent 10k on a Fiat Doblo XL which has good economy , a 750kg payload and 1.9m load length for more versatility.

The problem I'm coming up against is the 56 plate berlingo crowd who don't have to worry about depreciation when working out their costs so are prepared to work for buttons until the van is a smoking wreck at the side of the road.

For those that don't know how it works there are websites that have courier firms that quote for jobs then farm them out for people like me to bid on, the problem is there are couriers new to the game that are bidding low to get the work right up to the point they go bust.

[marshalla]

I do, very occasionally, to get urgent case material from my lab. to someone else's. Main concerns are how quickly it can be done and how secure/reliable the courier is. Some of the stuff is a bit sensitive, so we prefer someone who is known to us and who knows the basics of handling evidence.

[mcflurry]

On the flipside, anyone buying on price won't care if you're using a Doblo or a 53 plate smoker, as long as the package is delivered intact.

[fridaypassion]

I use Shiply and Anyvan regularly. Some guys are getting good rates on jobs. I think its best to have those type of jobs as a fill in or backload. I've had some great rates from guys just covering a bit of fuel cost on the way back from somewhere. We have a few now we contact direct that work in specific areas too so building up a run to Scotland or cornwall or even into mainland Europe can work well. We have a Hungarian company that cover all of Germany for me they have been one of the best finds through the courier sites. They go back empty so any of my jobs are a bonus to them.

[northwest monkey]

wack said:

The problem I'm coming up against is the 56 plate berlingo crowd who don't have to worry about depreciation when working out their costs so are prepared to work for buttons until the van is a smoking wreck at the side of the road.

Last time I used a sameday courier to get some documents down to London I couldn't tell you what he turned up in. As long as he delivered, he could have turned up on a BMX for all I cared.

eta - watch "Shipping Wars" on History - they bid each other in the balls all the time.

[matty g]

Where are you based Wack?

[davepoth]

We do at my work. We use the same guy for something, every day, because he's reliable. That's incredibly important for us, and I think probably most other people - if you're spending a lot of cash £10 either way won't matter, but the thing getting there three hours late will.

My guess would be that you may do well to contact the people who book you through Shiply or whatever directly, pass them a business card, and tell them that you can knock a little bit off if they come to you direct rather than through the website. It might make the difference.

[wack]

matty g said:

Where are you based Wack?

Warrington in Cheshire.

davepoth said:

My guess would be that you may do well to contact the people who book you through Shiply or whatever directly, pass them a business card, and tell them that you can knock a little bit off if they come to you direct rather than through the website. It might make the difference.

If it was just cutting out the website that would be possible but I don't look for work on shiply or uship, that's mostly people buying wardrobes on ebay and looking to get them transported 500 miles for £35

It's dedicated courier sites that work in a business to business capacity, when you sub contract it's in a plain van with no sign writing so the customer is unaware the work has been subcontracted, if I started attempting to poach customers by handing out my business cards I'd soon find myself on everybody's blocked list.

The problem with the courier industry is there's a never ending supply of people that spend £2000 on a van and £2500 on insurance then after 6 months work out they've made no money and go bust but have driven the average mile price down to next to nothing.

Edited by wack on Sunday 1st March 14:58

[wack]

matty g said:

Where are you based Wack?

Warrington in Cheshire.

davepoth said:

My guess would be that you may do well to contact the people who book you through Shiply or whatever directly, pass them a business card, and tell them that you can knock a little bit off if they come to you direct rather than through the website. It might make the difference.

If it was just cutting out the website that would be possible but I don't look for work on shiply or uship, that's mostly people buying wardrobes on ebay and looking to get them transported 500 miles for £35

It's dedicated courier sites that work in a business to business capacity, when you sub contract it's in a plain van with no sign writing so the customer is unaware the work has been subcontracted, if I started attempting to poach customers by handing out my business cards I'd soon find myself on everybody's blocked list.

The problem with the courier industry is there's a never ending supply of people that spend £2000 on a van and £2500 on insurance then after 6 months work out they've made no money and go bust but have driven the average mile price down to next to nothing.

Edited by wack on Sunday 1st March 15:06