Customers frequently want to send a parcel, but they also want to minimise the cost.

But this desire to save money also needs to take into account the quality of service. After all, whilst you may want a cheap price, you’ll also want your parcel to arrive safely.

Maybe you’ve been wondering whether cheap parcel delivery is actually a good idea. I think it depends on who you commission to handle your parcel.

Perhaps you’d feel more secure handing your item over to one of the big brand couriers – for example ParcelForce Worldwide, City Link or Yodel. After all these brands have got a reputation to protect. In addition they operate a well-honed global network of parcel distribution and are generally reliable.

But perhaps you’ve dismissed using them because you thought they would be too expensive.

Well that might not actually be the case.

That’s because it is possible to get cheap parcel delivery and still use one of the big brands. You just need to know where to look.

Let me explain…

If you use a parcel booking agent or a parcel re-seller, it is possible to access the courier network of the big brands AND pay less. That’s because the booking agents and re-sellers can arrange the service on your behalf, often at a cheaper price than you could get by going direct. The reason for this is parcel re-sellers purchase collections on behalf of so many customers that they get a bulk-buying discount. Then they pass some of those savings on to you.

Which means cheap parcel delivery does not necessarily mean a compromise on quality. Intrigued? Then why not check it out for yourself?

Online retail is booming.

It’s no surprise considering the relatively low set-up costs in comparison to a bricks and mortar business. Small, home-based retail outlets are taking advantage and a number are springing up – after all the advancements in e-commerce have made remote selling a viable possibility.

It just leaves the challenge of how to fulfill customer orders…

Postage and packing are a significant cost. It affects your bottom line and can also influence the buying decision of your customer.

What’s more, customers choosing to buy online want confidence that their goods are going to arrive on time and in one piece.

Did you know that using a courier could help address both these issues?

The competitive courier market means it’s possible to secure cheap parcel delivery. In addition, the range of courier products available gives your customers a greater choice. Next Day delivery is arguably the most popular delivery specification, but in addition to this Timed Services are available in addition to a 48-hour service.

It’s even possible to dispatch orders overseas.

A further advantage of a courier provider is that they will collect your parcels from the address that you specify. This has significant advantages for the online retailer. Instead of leaving the office to take the parcels to the Post Office, they will be collected directly from you.

If lack of time is a problem this could offer a real solution. After all, how much time could you save if you didn’t need to do your daily parcel run?

Finding a courier partner for your online retail business could prove to be a smart move.

Why not find out for yourself…

Do you sell items on eBay?

Perhaps you use the selling function on an ad-hoc basis as part of your efforts to de-clutter and minimalize. Or maybe you have a small online retail business and use eBay as one of your sales outlets.

Whatever your reason, you’ll want to minimise your delivery costs whilst ensuring a reliable service. After all, you don’t want to attract customer complaints for missing parcels.

If so, it’s worth checking out a courier service when you have a parcel to go.

That’s because modern courier services offer lots of advantages to both the ad hoc user as well as posters who require a more regular service. For example:

1.      Convenience:

Your chosen courier will collect your parcel from the address that you specify. This means you don’t have to make a trip to the Post Office. This could be a real advantage if it’s difficult to get out of the house or if you have a number of parcels to send.

2.      Reliability:

A courier’s reputation will be influenced by its ability to deliver its advertised service specifications. As such, whilst mishaps can occur, couriers do all they can to deliver on time, to the right destination and in one piece. In addition, electronic tracking makes it easy for you to check your parcel’s progress online.

3.      Price:

The courier market is so competitive that it’s now possible to get cheap parcel delivery. It’s worth shopping around because you’ll find different couriers offer different prices depending on the delivery specification. In addition, if you don’t have the time, you could try a parcel re-seller. You’ll be able to compare prices for a range of big brand couriers as well as booking a collection online.

Next time you need to post that eBay parcel, consider the courier route.