The Courier Blog

New York to London - next day delivery?  No problem! With Christmas time just around the corner, global retailers and online retailers are starting seasonal promotions to help kick off the festive spending spree.  Many of us will soon sit down with a cup of coffee in front of a computer browsing gift ideas for family and friends.  What some of us might not realise though is where the retailer (sometimes also known as eTailer) is actually based - and I don’t mean where they are based within the UK, I mean the world.

Online retailing has grown massively in the last 10 years, and sales figures peak massively around Christmas time, but its fair to say that without the support of International Courier companies these online retailers would not have been able to grow at the pace they have if they were not able to distribute their items efficiently to customers.

The International Courier may have become something that we take for granted.  After all, getting around the globe seems to becoming an everyday occurrence for millions of people and is no longer something considered only by the rich and elite within society.

What should never, ever be taken for granted though is the planning and expertise that goes into fulfilling an international shipment.

Each shipment may change hands 5 or 6 times depending on its destination, and within that exchange the parcel needs to be logged in and out of a hub where it may spend any period of time waiting for the collection and next stage of its journey.  On top of that the international courier must handle all things concerned with customs and excise which is no easy task as different borders may require different protocols to be upheld.

The different types of transport that the courier companies need to use to extend their network world wide and support global retailers can vary from job to job.  The method of transportation can often depend on the type of package that is being shipped.  For example, it would be very difficult to get larger, bulky items into an aircraft so shipping by sea might be the only option.  For smaller time sensitive deliveries air travel is the best way to go as it is much quicker and cost effective for smaller items.

International Couriers aren’t new to us or the industry, but they are becoming more common place than ever.  They silently get about their work whilst we sit in front of our computers ordering gifts and products that eventually turn up on our doorstep.  The next time you order something from the U.S. for example, why not take a moment to think about exactly how it has ended up on your doorstep.

London Courier companies are out in force every single day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. The relentless work that they carry out never ends as the demands of businesses and consumers require that packages, letters, parcels and other items are delivered to their destinations on time and in one piece.

A london courier company is typical of the city itself. From time to time, a courier in London might feel that it is non-stop pick-up and drop off, and this can happen not only during the working day but into the night aswell.

It is not uncommon to see both push bike and motorcycle couriers in London as they set out on short routes to try and beat the traffic. In some cases you may even find a courier on foot if the package is small enough to carry.

London Courier companies provide all different types of services for their customers. Here is a short list of services that you might expect them to deliver:

Same Day
A same day courier service means exactly that. Getting your package to its destination the same day that it was collected. Due to the nature of the service it is not uncommon for their to be a cut off point during the day as to when it is actually feasible to deliver it on the same day.

Overnight / Next Day
Need something delivered the following day? A London Courier can usually do just that. No matter if the delivery is within London or further afield, a courier company can deliver your package to its destination on the following day from pick-up.

Time Sensitive Deliveries
From time to time you might you need to something to a client or customer by certain time. London Courier companies offer a service where you can get something to its destination pre 9am, 10am or midday. These services may also come with penalties should the package not arrive on time.

Nationwide Delivery
London Couriers arent restricted to deliveries within London. They can also deliver your packages nationwide. For smaller couriers this is sometimes done through a network of courier companies, or larger companies may have their own nationwide fleet ready to make your delivery

International Delivery
International Courier services get your parcel delivered overseas. With an understanding of how customs works, and an international fleet of vans and planes, the courier is able to get your package delivered to its international destination with minimum fuss and effort. International Delivery can also cater for large bulky items which are usually sent via sea rather than by air.

The above services are just a few that can be provided by London Courier companies. Ultimately, a courier may be able to customise a service to fit your requirements.

In todays tough economic climate, value for money can easily be interpreted as the cheapest service but the two terms couldn’t be more different.  Value for money is a term used to describe getting the most for your money where as cheapest services are just that - cheap and usually without any real substance.  However, that doesn’t mean that you cant get value for money from a cheap service.

When it comes to International Courier companies, in my opinion, you should never go head first into the cheapest service that comes along, especially if you have clients and customers that are on the receiving end of the shipment.

Value for money can vary depending on your expectations of the service.  Naturally, the most important part of the International Courier (and indeed any courier service) is the ability to get the package to its destination on time and in one piece but there are also a number of extra services that you should look out for when searching for the best value for money service.

Is your package insured?

If the item is of high value its always worth checking with the courier company to see how much they will insure the item for.  Insurance should generally be taken out against damage or loss of the item.

Do they outsource your consignment?

Some international courier companies might pass your consignment between several different companies.  This is very common with international shipments when smaller companies take on the task of delivering your package.  In an ideal world, if you put your faith in one company to deliver your package you would expect them to handle it from start to finish.

Do they offer live online tracking?

Most Courier companies these days will offer a facility to track packages online.  This means that you can see what your package / parcel / letter currently is en-route to its destination.  Live Tracking is generally done via the companies web site and can be accessed via a tracking code that will be issued to you before the package leaves for its destination.  In most cases you will also be able to see who has signed for the package once it has been delivered.

Time Sensitive Deliveries

Again, not uncommon in the industry, time sensitive deliveries allow for your package to be delivered before a set deadline.  If this deadline is not met then penalty charges can be invoked.  It is worth checking to see if your International Courier company offers time sensitive deliveries and how much extra you might have to pay for them.  You could save yourself a bob or two if you plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your delivery to reach its destination.

The important thing to remember is that, whilst on the face of it International Courier companies look the same in terms of services offered, sometimes the quality and professionalism may differ from one company to another.