Thread: COURIERS - getting a good price.... how to

Three times recently I've been asked (due to my sales on the forum)...

"How do I get such amazing prices?"


Well, I get what anyone can, really, but there is something to know about HOW couriers work and how to exploit that.

Most couriers HATE consumers. Actually, that's wrong, ALL of them do. Why? Because the ordinary consumer is a complete right pain in the cornhole, with lemon juice, salt and an extra spanking thrown in for good measure.

A courier WANTS your business. They dont want the BS that comes with it.


FIRST

I use TransDirect.com.au and e-go.com.au

TransDirect are a multi-vendor competitive booking service. They work as an aggregator. Their business model is one where they take all the business hassle off the hands of the actual couriers (and the risk) and take a cut for Making It Easy.

• Sign up (free) and you get an instant 30% discount.
• PUT IN YOUR ADDRESS into the Address Book (important!) and those of any of your main regular deliveries.
• They offer ONLY a phone number to call to solve problems. There is an online form, but well, it ain't great.

E-go are a subsidiary of Hunter Express. It is a no frills, heavy lifting, bulk courier that is designed for people who know what they are doing.

• Sign up for a Platinum account.
• You'll get a 30% discount minimum
• It costs $50 and that goes to your account as credit to use
• If your account goes below $5 they tap you automatically for more
• That credit can sit there for years. There are no fees to erode it.

SECOND

These are business class couriers that allow consumers to use them. Their best prices and service are reserved for regular customers who Are Just Ready.

They both have simple rules. Disobey these rules and you'll find it.... hard.


RULES? WHAT RULES?

I've sent, apparently, over 2500 parcels over 12 years with these two couriers. These bits of wisdom simply are my own experiences, thoughts, findings and doings. YMMV.

• I don't think they keep a "black book" of Naughty Clients, but I've seen too many people experience grief and heartache I never have. It always seems to be people who Are Not Ready.
• If you are Not Ready then... well, perhaps your address is added to the Black Book that doesn't exist?
• Box your parcel well. I mean Really Well. The dude who picks up your parcel does NOT want to see "fragile" stickers or "this way up" or needs some special means of carrying it. He wants a box. With handles. He wants to LEAVE.... as in pick-it-up-and-GO. If you delay him (or, increasingly, her) then you Are Not Ready
• Use tape on those edges and corners. Make it so it WONT come apart. IF it is dropped, or gets bopped around a bit, make it survive. The box will sit in the back of a truck, in traffic, being moved around for hours and hours with 5000 other boxes. It wont be lovingly placed on a thick cushion or foam and secured with a special restraining strap... no matter WHAT you write on the box.
• If it is fragile, pack it well. It is YOUR responsibility, not theirs. They DO NOT have time to read your special instructions. Nor will they.
• For items with corners, make up edge pyramids to take the blows.
• If its valuable, insure it. Most of the booking choices with TransDirect have $1000 and e-go Platinum its part of the price. It can be increased to cover.
• Take a photo of the things in the box. Also, take several photos of the box after you've applied the labels. If it goes missing, this will help immeasurably.

• They dont book in a time. They expect you to Be Ready
• They'll turn up, at any time and expect you to hand it over.... immediately.. no bumbling, no "just a secs" or "be right there".... nope nope nope. You Are Not Ready
• Leave it in a safe place. Cover it with a towel, or tarp, or put it behind the fence, or around the side.... but have the item ready. Leave a note at the time of booking. If you are stepping out, or need time to Hit The Can, put a note on the door and leave it where the dude can grab it and leave.
• (with E-go, you can book in a "arriving soon" call, but my experience is this isn't adhered to. One cannot rely on it.)
• They LOVE IT when you have a place, ready to go, every time. They can rock up, grab the thing and be off. They ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
• If you can, or have multiple items, offer to help them lug it to the van/truck. EVERY time I've done this they smile with a gratitude you wouldn't believe. I'm sure it scores points.

As for labels, I do this:

• I use half a sheet of paper and print the name, address, phone number and email of both the recipient and myself.
• This is stuck down completely with clear packing tape.
• On a yellow piece of paper, if its a bigger box, I write "Box X of Y" and the WEIGHT in HUGE writing (using a thick sharpie) plus the dimensions I used to calculate the booking. They HATE picking up a heavy box and not expect it. Absolutely hate it. Make its obvious its heavy and they'll be prepared for the lift. They'll love you for it.
• Attached are samples of both of these (they are the templates I use)
• I write the booking number somewhere obvious on the box. This in-case of both labels being torn off.

For boxing, I put this in another thread. It is my method, but it works. Well. Try it.

• Make the boxes no heavier than 20kg
• If more, put it on a mini-pallet, pallet or double pallet
• Strap it down with cheap ratchet straps from Bunnings and ask the recipient to return them
• Pack many small boxes rather than one big one. Break it up. The cost of 5 small boxes is less than one big one with the same stuff.

If things go missing, you have those photos right?

• email them. Always. Include the photos. Tell them what was in it.
• Give them time to respond. They'll get to it.
• If you have a spack, or whinge, they dont want to hear it. It may make you feel better for a time, but it wont help. They absolutely do not care if it is your great aunts irreplaceable pottery collection. It was insured and you have photographs.... right? To them its just a box. That is all they are looking for.
• The BIG YELLOW labels make this so easy it isn't funny. As soon as they see this, on the photo, you can almost hear them leap into action.

I'll pop up the attachments soon. Hope this helps someone.