Online Courier Service Quotes from Customer Rated Companies

Using couriers for your deliveries

Couriers are an excellent alternative to large logistics firms; if you have large or heavy items which are unsuitable for a normal parcel network, or have an urgent next day or same day delivery requirement then courier services are often the cheapest, most appropriate delivery solution available.

This guide is intended to help users understand the different courier services available, what to expect from the providers of such services, the obligations of the customer and the key considerations to bear in mind when engaging the services of UK courier companies.

Advantages and disadvantages of courier services

One of the main advantages of using a dedicated UK courier service is that there is far less risk of damage or loss. When you send a package using a parcel delivery provider such as Parcelforce or the postal network, your consignment can be handled up to 10 times during a typical transit which can greatly increase the risk of damage or loss, whereas with a courier company it tends to be a dedicated service, in that your consignment will collected and delivered straight to the destination address, thereby far reducing the risk of loss or damage.

Other advantages of using couriers include greater security, as the consignment will only be handled by the one individual (which is particularly beneficial for valuable items), as well as greater flexibility with respect to collection dates and times.

The downside of using dedicated courier services is that because it is bespoke to your requirements it's often not the cheapest solution available, however finding a cheap courier service has become easier with the advent of price comparison websites which provide much more affordable solutions to the customer by enabling courier companies to secure additional work along their scheduled route, thus enabling them to provide delivery services at a far cheaper price to the customer.

Economy services – the cheapest form of courier delivery

In order to provide the cheapest quotes for your deliveries a lot of couriers work on a backload basis. Essentially this is an economy service designed to fit in with the couriers existing delivery schedule and route and as such requires a degree of flexibility with respect to the collection and delivery dates and times.

The way it works is simple: If a courier had a pre-existing delivery from London to Manchester for example and they were planning on returning to London once the delivery had been completed then they are more likely to be able to offer you a cheaper rate of delivery from Manchester to London as they are heading back there anyway. From the couriers point of view it is more economical to travel with a delivery onboard rather than empty and as such they can offer a far cheaper rate than compared with a next day / same day express service.

Express services – next day and sameday couriers

For more urgent consignments you might want to consider the services of a next day or sameday courier. These services are self explanatory in that the courier will collect and deliver either on the same day of booking, or the next day depending upon the service you request. As this is a dedicated service and does not allow the courier to consolidate the delivery into a pre-existing route it will be reflected in the price, however if the job has to be done urgently then an express sameday or next day courier service is the ideal solution.

Packaging requirements when using UK couriers

When organising any form of courier service in the UK, whether it’s an urgent consignment or an eBay delivery, it is absolutely essential to get the packaging right; good packaging will ensure that your packages arrive undamaged and will prevent any costly disputes with the courier company. When packaging an item you need to ensure that it is capable of withstanding impact from other items on the vehicle as most couriers will carry out multiple drops along a particular route which means that your items will be travelling alongside other, potentially heavier, consignments.

For large item courier requirements, such as furniture, bicycles, or garden equipment it is advised that you speak with your courier provider in advance of collection to see whether they are able to provide blanket wrapping and strapping for protection during transit.

Courier Companies & Insurance

All professional courier companies will have Goods in Transit insurance in addition to general vehicle insurance; it is essential that you check to ensure that the level of cover provided by the company is sufficient to cover the value of your goods whilst they are in transit. Don’t be misled by a cheap courier quote; if a courier company only has vehicle insurance it is unlikely that they are a professional business and as such you should be very wary as any damage to your items will not be covered by their vehicle insurance alone; only use professional couriers if your items are of value and do not be swayed by the lower prices offered by none professional couriers.

All of the registered courier companies on DeliveryQuoteCompare.com that are looking for additional courier work are required to detail the level of insurance cover their business provides before bidding on any of the courier jobs. If the level of cover is insufficient, ask to see whether the courier company will increase it for a small additional fee. Furthermore you should always ask to see their insurance documents prior to releasing your goods for collection.

Signing for the courier delivery

It is important to remember that the couriers’ responsibility for the goods ends as soon as they have been delivered to your door and signed for. As such it is imperative that you check the condition of the goods prior to signing for them. Claims for damages will not be accepted after the goods have been signed for. If the consignment is in any way damaged do not sign for it and contact the courier company immediately.

If you are arranging for a courier to deliver a particular consignment it is advisable to take photographic proof of its condition prior to collection; if you are the recipient ask the sender to provide photographic evidence prior to the courier collecting the package and check that it matches the condition of the consignment on arrival.

Different services available

As detailed above there are many different types of service available depending upon what your requirements are; for urgent consignments or high value important items you might want to consider using same day couriers as they can provide bespoke services tailored specifically to your needs. For economy, none urgent deliveries a cheap back load rate will offer the best value for money and for overseas deliveries you will require an international courier service.

When using International couriers you will need to ensure that your consignment conforms to certain dimensions and weight restrictions, which although different depending upon the carrier will tend to be approximately 120cm x 60cm x 60cm with a maximum weight of 30kgs. The same can also apply for European couriers if using air freight.

Local courier services tend to be a very cost-effective solution for most people as the distance involved in travelling to each job helps keep costs down to a minimum, please see our local couriers section for more information on finding a courier near you.

Courier service costs

Costs for courier services vary dramatically depending upon your individual requirements, the distance between the pick up and drop off points, the size and weight of the consignment and the level of insurance required. The amount the courier charges will also be dependent upon the service you require; for example a same day or next day premium service will be charged at a far higher rate than an economy service. This is where we can help by reducing the time and effort required to find a cheap and reliable courier service to suit your requirements.

This is how it works: At DeliveryQuoteCompare.com we help you to compare courier prices online from thousands of UK couriers providing both national and international services. The process is quick and easy; simply enter details of your requirements using our quick quote online form, including the weight, dimensions, pick up and drop off points of your consignment. Once submitted your quote request will be visible to all the registered UK courier companies who will submit their cheapest price to complete the job.

Each time you receive a new quote we’ll send you a quick email alert so you can login and compare the different charges. As well as comparing the different prices charged by each company you can also review previous customer feedback on each of the couriers and ask any questions pertinent to their bid. The service is entirely free of charge and there is no obligation to accept any of the quotes submitted, so it’s a really good way to not only find reliable, cost effective courier services but also to compare prices!

Arranging the courier collection with the carrier

Before you accept a quote it is always advisable to check with the courier when they will be likely to arrange the collection. You can state in your listing whether you are flexible with the courier collection dates, or if not you can specify both collection and drop off dates; as detailed above a degree of flexibility in terms of collecting the package will result in a cheaper price from the courier. Once you’re happy, click the ‘accept bid’ button adjacent to your preferred bid, pay the small deposit to book their services and we will then automatically send both you and your chosen company an email detailing each others contact details so that you can liaise together to finalise the courier collection and drop off. Once the jobs completed don’t forget to submit feedback so that future customers can also make an informed decision when arranging their courier services.

Courier Services Related Links

• European couriers
• International couriers
• Parcel delivery
• eBay delivery
• Large item courier