Courier for hi-fi?

[pstruck]

I'm selling some hi-fi kit, so it's heavy and valuable. I've tried Parcel2go, etc, and most basic services offer limited insurance and when the insurance value is increased the price of delivery goes through the roof. We're talking around £100 to deliver to 12kg boxes with a combined value of £1.3k.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a reliable, trustworthy courier used to handing such deliveries and able to provide appropriate insurance?

[clockworks]

Unless the distance is totally stupid, just meet the buyer halfway, and swap items for cash.

Cost me about £30 to ship an Arcam AVR350, insured for £500. Booked through one of those comparison sites with UPS.

[pstruck]

In some cases the distances are silly though. I have the items advertised as 'cash on colelction', but being down in the South West this rather limits my target audience/potential buyers. It is looking like I need to offer other options to secure a sale and get a reasonable price.

[Teetertank]

You could try sending in multiple smaller parcels.

Personally I find Pacel2go is great but if you can get insurance up to the value of each component on a single consignment, then you could send in three or four boxes as required. The rates are dirty cheap for less than 10kgs etc normally.

...otherwise same tactic with Roayal mail / Parcelforce? Haven't checked but worth a try.

[daveydave7]

pstruck said:

In some cases the distances are silly though. I have the items advertised as 'cash on colelction', but being down in the South West this rather limits my target audience/potential buyers. It is looking like I need to offer other options to secure a sale and get a reasonable price.

Buyer arranges collection option ?
Reason being I had a guy wanted to buy lots of albums off me on e bay best quote I could get was lets say value XXX - this being through a non Post Office courier ( I personally prefer the post office or parcel force but there quotes were way too high)He arranged it himself he just e mailed me the delivery label etc. Was picked up no problem via Parcel Force and looking at the info he sent his cost was X (ie third of my quote). The option was available to him via his company account ( he was an employee ) and I wasn't liable for making sure item was delivered either.
I realise its not the greatest solution but may be worth trying

[edfrp]

pstruck said:

I'm selling some hi-fi kit, so it's heavy and valuable. I've tried Parcel2go, etc, and most basic services offer limited insurance and when the insurance value is increased the price of delivery goes through the roof. We're talking around £100 to deliver to 12kg boxes with a combined value of £1.3k.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a reliable, trustworthy courier used to handing such deliveries and able to provide appropriate insurance?

I've PM'd you some details for a Bristol-based one-man operation I've used in the past - reliable, reasonably priced service every time.

[pstruck]

edfrp said:

I've PM'd you some details for a Bristol-based one-man operation I've used in the past - reliable, reasonably priced service every time.

Got your message. Thanks for that Ed.

[heisthegaffer]

Do not use Farcel 2 go... I recently used them to send 2 different parcels (both separates) to 2 different addresses and firstly they sent the wrong items to the wrong destination. They then collected the items to take to the correct addresses and smashed both items to pieces and won't give me my money back despite the packaging being more than adequate. They have a stupid claims system which is not made clear until it's too late.

They are the biggest b@stards and quite frankly their customer services is utterly appalling.

[P700DEE]

Thought they were just a broker ? Your contract is with the couriers and some of them can be hopeless !!