Courier for small packages to UK & collections from UK

MrScootch

Can anyone recommend a good & cheap courier service to send small packages to the UK that has proof of delivery?

I want to sell some stuff on Ebay UK and An Post seem really expensive for their tracked service. I could also do with being able to have stuff picked up for when I give in to the evil Ebay buying addiction!

Parcel2Go get such mixed reviews... Would it be worth opening an account directly with FedEx or something?

Ta!

Celeron Media

Hi,

I'm a Ebay silver power seller, the cheapest for small packages by reg. post to the UK is with An Post unfortunately.
Fedex, DHL, UPS are very expensive for small packets.

Send cheap items by standard post and expensive items by Reg. Buyers cover the postage fees.

Also note: with An Post, items are no longer insured when shipped outside Ireland by reg post.

andreas_220D

Celeron Media wrote: »

Also note: with An Post, items are no longer insured when shipped outside Ireland by reg post.

Not completely true.

From http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/Sending+Mail/Security/Registered+Post+International.htm

Insurance2 cover for the declared value up to

• €320 - UK
• €150 - Europe
• €100 for Parcels & €35 for all other items outside of Europe

The following articles will be accepted but are not insured

1. Cash and coins
2. Bank drafts
3. Vouchers with a monetary face value*
4. Passports
5. Jewellery**
6. Glass
7. Precious metals such as platinum, gold or silver, whether manufactured or not in the form of a finished article.

* Postage stamps are excluded. ** Customer wishing to send jewellery to the UK are advised to avail of our PakSafe service. A full list of items which cannot be insured is available by contacting Customer Services on CallSave 1850 57 58 59

So as long as you don't ship any of the items above your delivery is insured.

Judgement Day

I have used Parcel2Go on a number of occasions and find them reliable and not too expensive. They are good for heavy items that would be too expensive to send by post.

MrScootch

When I was looking at An Post I was thinking 'Packet' had to be something like a Jiffy bag. Parcel is €25 for 0.5kg which I was thinking was a bit steep.

"Maximum dimensions: for a packet are a combined length, height and depth of 900mm." I feel like I'm being a bit simple here, they mean L+H+D right (not multiplied), so a small box would be OK?

Maybe parcel2go are worth a look if you stick to the reputable carriers then. By all accounts they're a nightmare if you have a problem though.

Celeron Media

Also note: with An Post, items are no longer insured when shipped outside Ireland by reg post.

Ask at your local post office, An post are very sly and try hide this info from Comreg. I'm told every time at the counter my reg shipments over seas are not insured.

There website also mentions you can post a DVD for 95c but when you try post a DVD they charge €2.40+ at the counter.

There website also doesn't mention anything about an extra €6 or €8 additional postage fee when you items got checked by customs when importing.

DHL are the same, Prices quoted on their website are cheaper but when you go to their depot in st. Margaret you are given a different price list and more expensive. And told that the website hasn't been updated yet.

andreas_220D

Celeron Media wrote: »

Ask at your local post office, An post are very sly and try hide this info from Comreg. I'm told every time at the counter my reg shipments over seas are not insured.

I post about 750 registered items each month, mostly to Germany and UK. I use the forms from the C1027 Customer Posting Book where you declare the value of your packet. Never had a problem with the guys in the post office. This is what's printed on the last page of the C1027 book:

"Compensation
The registration fee includes compensation of up to €320.00 for items for delivery in Ireland and the UK based on the declared value at the time of posting; up to € 150.00 for items for delivery elsewhere in Europe; up to €100.00 for parcels and €35.00 for letters for delivery outside Europe."

I had a total loss of four packets (2 deliveries to Germany, 1 to Austria, 1 to France) during the last 12 month, each of them was compensated without hassle.

5500

Registered post outside of Ireland is most definitely insured, I just had a claim paid this week for a loss on an item being sent to austraila, I've also recently had one for an item going to china

sandin

MrScootch wrote: »

When I was looking at An Post I was thinking 'Packet' had to be something like a Jiffy bag. Parcel is €25 for 0.5kg which I was thinking was a bit steep.

"Maximum dimensions: for a packet are a combined length, height and depth of 900mm." I feel like I'm being a bit simple here, they mean L+H+D right (not multiplied), so a small box would be OK?

Maybe parcel2go are worth a look if you stick to the reputable carriers then. By all accounts they're a nightmare if you have a problem though.

A lot of people make this error.

You are correct

a box that is (in old money) 20 inches long, 8inches wide and 8 inches deep - the size of a large shoe box, is covered as a packet.

Unfortunately some post office staff don't realise this, so you have to understand the sizes yourself to get max value.