Couriers for heavy / large items

[Bolebroke]

Morning - I have to send a box weighing 25kgs, measuring 190cm x 120 cm x 30 cm from SW to Midlands. Value c £1700. Most regular couriers obviously won't take something this size. Parcel Chimp is coming up with DX Freight at £51.63+VAT. Any reason not to use them..?

[Chris200]

Yeah, DX are the worst carrier in the industry. Used to be Night Freight (Night Fright) as we called them in the industry. DX will take everything from an envelope to a 1T pallet on the same vehicle and they damage in the region of 15% of all goods the carry.

They use soley 7.5T vehicle and put small packages on the same vehicle as pallets and everything moves in transit so you might get a 50kg item crushing a 2kg small item.

However, for what you are sending size wise, pretty much only DX and Tuffnells will take. You might get TNT to take it, but would cost you more.

Edited by Chris200 on Thursday 29th May 11:44

[Steve57]

never used them myself.

I have used someone via shipley, L200 canopy, from leicester to east london for £46 from memory. the only thing is the times are not that strict as they plan the journeys once the van is full.

[StoatInACoat]

TNT will take that no problem.

Night Fright are shocking, Lorries loaded in the dark with a slingshot by a gibbon.

[Bolebroke]

Many thanks for the heads up re my first idea !! I have used shiply once or twice but am not sure what to make of this health warning on a few of the quotes we are getting...

PLEASE READ BEFORE ACCEPTING MY QUOTE. PARCEL NETWORK SHIPMENT..THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL SERVICE!!. I USE SUPPLIERS. ALL ITEMS MUST BE ABLE TO BE CARRIED BY ONE PERSON... ALL CONTACT WILL BE MADE ONLINE VIA EMAIL…….ALL EMAILS WILL BE REPLIED TO THE SAME DAY. Please note; We only Collect and Delivery from Residential Addresses- Any access problems should be advised before accepting my bid. Based on your exact stated dimensions/weight our bid is for sending through major national parcel networks with FREE £50 insurance FROM MY SUPPLIERS- This amount covers you for one package and only upto the value of £50 nothing more. Additional insurance can be obtained upon request. PACKAGING…. ALL Items must be properly and securely packaged in cardboard / bubble wrapped or boxed with plenty packing inside- Failure to not package securely can result in a failed collection. We will email you tracking labels to be printed by sender and affixed to the parcel BEFORE collection- These will be automatically sent to your registered email address.-please supply any other email address you would like these to go to. Upfront payment is required by Paypal before shipment is booked. FRAGILE ITEMS! Fragile/Breakables/Furniture/Electronic items are not covered by any carriers and sent at your own risk! Collections take place Monday-Friday 8.30am to 6pm- NO specific time can be arranged. These times can differ from one supplier to another and usually delivered within 24/48hrs, can be longer at busy periods. If the Courier misses you or a failed collection happens on most occasions a card would be left to advise. Confirmation email and PayPal invoice will be sent the same day once the bid has been accepted. If any of the above does not fit your criteria please reject my quote. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION AT ALL PLEASE ASK. Kind Regards

- is this standard nowadays...? All I want is a bloke in a van to drive up North !

[Muzzer79]

What's the item?

Is it fragile/liable to damage?

You're essentially looking at groupage carriers who will load with groupage freight - pallets, machine parts, etc.

If it's susceptible to damage, you need a specialist carrier.

[Bolebroke]

Electric MTB....will be packaged very carefully in correct bike box and the fact that it weighs 25kgs means it is difficult to throw around and has to be lifted / carried into position...just had a quote for £37...£75 insurance then each additional £100 cover is £1.50..so £25 extra to get insured...I assume the fact the guy has 1340 positive feedbacks and 9 negatives from patently stupid people is as good a reference as one can get...

[anonymous-user]

Look at a pallet service....we sent 25 desktop pc's as a half pallet for around £50 a few years back, can't recall company name

[Fishtigua]

We've used DSV for a while now, never had any problems with them.

http://www.uk.dsv.com/road-freight