Parcel Connect

degsie

Anybody use these for deliveries? Looks like you can elect to ship a parcel to a local shop for pickup. Amazon is one of the online shops you can use this with.

http://www.payzone.ie/cat_news_detail.jsp?itemID=13922&&ecat=0&&cat=11

allthedoyles

Havn't used them but in this small town , there are 5 parcel connect agents .

Probably better that Parcel Motel for larger parcels , but don't offer the option of UK address to save money when buying on Amazon .

Serviced by Fastway Couriers - Parcel Motel are serviced by Nightline

monkeynuz

degsie wrote: »

Anybody use these for deliveries? Looks like you can elect to ship a parcel to a local shop for pickup. Amazon is one of the online shops you can use this with.

http://www.payzone.ie/cat_news_detail.jsp?itemID=13922&&ecat=0&&cat=11

Lol in the area I live the courier phones you before delivery and asks if they can leave the parcel in a shop in town to save coming right out to make the delivery.

JP Liz V1

On the 23rd of September Parcel Connect will enter its next chapter, offering even more convenient services to its list as part of a brand new, user-friendly website. The new services include:

• A UK virtual address: So you can avail of free delivery from UK retailers into Northern Ireland and pay only €4.50 to collect it from your local parcel connect store.
• Divert Option: For all your Fastway deliveries you’ll soon be able to divert your parcels into your local store, making shopping online even easier.
• Seamless Returns: Easily returns your unwanted parcels to even more of your favourite online retailers

We’re opening more and more stores by the day so keep a close eye on the website to see which stores are coming on board in your area.

As part of the new offering we will be adjusting our pricing structure on our existing services. Our customers have embraced their local convenience stores to such an extent that we are forced to raise the price of our home and business collections by €2.

I still see nothing on the website.....have we been had?

I notice they've updated their website......haven't had time to digest it yet but it looks promising....

galwayjohn89

Has anyone used Parcel Connect to collect parcels yet?

monkeynuz

Why not just have the courier deliver to your home?

galwayjohn89

Because I don't live at home. I live on campus and while most couriers have no issue delivering to the main mail room on campus, some couriers refuse to. Therefore it is far far easier for me to get it sent to parcelmotel or parcelconnect, especially for parcels I know I will be away for when they arrive.

Just because you don't see value in it doesn't mean other people don't.

monkeynuz

Steady on, I did not say I don't see value, I was just asking why.

galwayjohn89

Just to follow up. I've used parcel connect for 3 items so far.

You get an email once the parcel has been processed up in Belfast with a Fastway tracking number. The parcel is then delivered to your chosen pickup location the next day where you will get another email with a PIN to collect the parcel. My local place was a bit unsure of the process. Basically when the parcel is delivered to them, they need to scan it, which will trigger the email to the customer (me) with the pin. Then once I arrive in, they scan it again, enter the pin and take the payment.

Overall very happy with the service. Got a 40" TV delivered from the NI address to my local shop for €4.50. It would of been a lot more by Parcel Motel.

usernamegoes

I used the service for the first time and my local store didn't know what to do when I came to collect it, they didn't know what I was talking about, then they couldn't find the package, then didn't know how to scan it or if I had to pay for it.

I got embarrassed in the q as it was holding up everyone. Not Parcel Connects fault, rather the store for not training staff on how to do it.

Price is a little high for regular small purchases.

Zardoz

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Overall very happy with the service. Got a 40" TV delivered from the NI address to my local shop for €4.50. It would of been a lot more by Parcel Motel.

So its a flat charge of 4.50 euro for the virtual address service ,its not based on weight ?

galwayjohn89

Yes just the €4.50 for any parcel up to 30KG as far as I know.

delahuntv

DPD are about to launch Parcel Wizard - from what I've seen it will have an option to collect in the UK and deliver it to your door and on a specific day of your choosing including Saturdays.

They will also allow you register a default day for any DPD delivery - so even if it arrives in their depot for delivery on Thursday, you can automatically have them deliver on a saturday or monday etc. You can also have a default address so that if its addressed to your home, they can automatically change it to your work address (handy for sites that insist on delivery to card address).

Yggr of Asgard

delahuntv wrote: »

DPD are about to launch Parcel Wizard - from what I've seen it will have an option to collect in the UK and deliver it to your door and on a specific day of your choosing including Saturdays.

They will also allow you register a default day for any DPD delivery - so even if it arrives in their depot for delivery on Thursday, you can automatically have them deliver on a saturday or monday etc. You can also have a default address so that if its addressed to your home, they can automatically change it to your work address (handy for sites that insist on delivery to card address).

https://www.dpdparcelwizard.ie/Welcome#/

oooh PM are getting plenty of competition now! me likey...

Yggr of Asgard

So I tried to register but unfortunately I'm not getting the required confirmation sms, despite that DPD regularly texts me with their predict service. Let's see what customer service will respond.

Anyhow, right now the service offers based on their help pages:

You'll be able to do the following:

Manage your calendar and create schedules for future deliveries.
Receive text and email notifications about where your parcel is at different stages of the delivery journey.
Receive our special PredictTM alert on the morning of delivery - we'll give you a 2 hour window within which your delivery will be made.
Select an alternative delivery address from a list of up to twelve possible other delivery locations that you have registered with Parcel Wizard.
Pin your exact location to a map.
Check the status of your deliveries.

There is no Saturday delivery or UK address pickup mentioned by delahuntv.

Interesting service for those of us who regularly get DPD deliveries, predict was already great.

Martha_Mae

It didn't work for me either at first but then I discovered the 'Resend Code' button

Yggr of Asgard

Martha_Mae wrote: »

It didn't work for me either at first but then I discovered the 'Resend Code' button

That did not work, but what worked was going back to change the phone address and enter it as +353, than I got 4 confirmation messages at the same time.

However at this point it as outlined above only offering co-ordination of DPD deliveries, a great service overall, but no UK address/service (yet).

Zardoz

Deleted User wrote: »

oooh PM are getting plenty of competition now! me likey...

Nice one ,lots of new options.
Parcelmotel told me over a year ago that they were opening a location in my town and no sign of it yet but Parcelconnect have a location here and I get regular deliveries off DPD so I'd prefer that option.

Corholio

Besides possibly cheaper quite large items and having it delivered to certain stores, Parcel Motel is still quite competitive amongst these.

bur

Where/How do you pay to use parcelconnect? I can't see any option to topup my account and it's hard to find any pricing on their site.

galwayjohn89

You pay in store when collecting parcel

bur

This is a nightmare. Customer service know about as much as this virtual address business as the staff at the locations. Parcel is MIA, tracking says it never left the delivery van, but the driver says he left it with staff at the location and they said they would "take care of it". They don't know where it is.
Is he not supposed to scan something that then sends me a 4 digit code?

Parcelmotel have it right leaving it up to the machines.

nava

bur wrote: »

This is a nightmare. Customer service know about as much as this virtual address business as the staff at the locations. Parcel is MIA, tracking says it never left the delivery van, but the driver says he left it with staff at the location and they said they would "take care of it". They don't know where it is.
Is he not supposed to scan something that then sends me a 4 digit code?

Parcelmotel have it right leaving it up to the machines.

Yes the shops have to scan the parcel when they get it that is suppose to generate the text to you with the pin to collect.

I also see a problem with that as parcel connect/shops haven't trained staff on the process. We had a parcel delivered to Spar that they didn't scan when they got it we could see (I think on website) parcel was delivered but we never got the text, we contacted support who give us the code so we went to store, the stored said parcel was delivered to them with other parcels for the store, the other BIG problem was that as in the label the name of the shop was the delivery to address and our name was in small down in the label when they got the parcel they open it thinking was for them, only noticed it wasn't for them when they seen what it was.

I find they will be grand for big parcels too big for PM lockers also for small towns that PM does not serve.

bur

nava wrote: »

Yes the shops have to scan the parcel when they get it that is suppose to generate the text to you with the pin to collect.

Scan it with what do you know? How does the shop receive the four digit code i need to present as proof?

It's laughable parcelconnect advertising this service when staff at these locations don't even know what it is, which is just going to lead to delays and hassle. I'm having to explain how there system is supposed to work to someone looking at me like i've escaped the mental home.

nava

bur wrote: »

Scan it with what do you know? How does the shop receive the four digit code i need to present as proof?

It's laughable parcelconnect advertising this service when staff at these locations don't even know what it is, which is just going to lead to delays and hassle. I'm having to explain how there system is supposed to work to someone looking at me like i've escaped the mental home.

They scan it with the scanner in the Payzone machine, that generates your code. Not sure how they do it when you walk in with the code, I say maybe you give them your name, they scan the parcel with your name, that will ask them for the pin code if enter correctly they will hand parcel to you.

Zardoz

nava wrote: »

Yes the shops have to scan the parcel when they get it that is suppose to generate the text to you with the pin to collect.

I just tried out the service and had the item delivered to the pickup point yesterday but no text with pin yet .
If I dont hear anything tomorrow I will have to call into the shop .:(

nava

Zardoz wrote: »

I just tried out the service and had the item delivered to the pickup point yesterday but no text with pin yet .
If I dont hear anything tomorrow I will have to call into the shop .:(

I think you better call Parcel Connect 1st to give you the pin as they shop should not be able to release the package until you give them the pin, not sure after they scan it how long it takes to sms you the pin

Zardoz

nava wrote: »

I think you better call Parcel Connect 1st to give you the pin as they shop should not be able to release the package until you give them the pin, not sure after they scan it how long it takes to sms you the pin

Thanks
They dont seem to have a general contact number only county depots.
I see its Fastway running the service,I've actually had nothing but trouble using them in the past to be honest ,the local delivery guy is a total clown

nava

Zardoz wrote: »

Thanks
They dont seem to have a general contact number only county depots.
I see its Fastway running the service,I've actually had nothing but trouble using them in the past to be honest ,the local delivery guy is a total clown

I think we called the local when we used it.

I hope their service is not all doom & gloom. I have three Masterpiece Transformers around €150 each coming to them. Got tired of Parcel Motel because they've no lockers in Limerick City.

bur

The problem is none of these shops actually know they are signed up to this service. So the parcel arrives and they don't know what to do with it.
Even the local depot didn't know what i was talking about. It's a pity cause it's a great idea, just very poorly implemented.

Ah yes I saw that but I called into the shop I've selected as my "favourite" and was most surprised when they were fully cognizant of the service.

Well my parcel got signed for at 8:53am and at 11:14am I got an email saying it was on it's way down from NI. Anybody know how long before I (hopefully) get a text to collect it please?

galwayjohn89

Deleted User wrote: »

Well my parcel got signed for at 8:53am and at 11:14am I got an email saying it was on it's way down from NI. Anybody know how long before I (hopefully) get a text to collect it please?

Will be tomorrow.

Stinicker

I just ordered my first item into Parcel Connect here, am a long time Parcel Motel customer so am just curious to try out the new service despite the extra 55cent cost compared to Parcel Motel. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

Parcel Motel update their website and usually include a picture when the parcel is checked-in at the Depot and then both email and text the following morning when the parcel is delivered into the Motel.

Does Parcel Connect update their system along similar lines?

Nope. This is my first transaction with them as well. I don't think there's any need to use their website at all really. They email you when the parcel is on the way and I think they text you the PIN needed to collect it.

Stinicker

I find the Parcel Motel website very handy as I can see if a parcel has arrived and been checked-in at Belfast, I actually live 35kms from my nearest Parcel Motel but luckily my sister commutes past it Monday - Friday so I can plan ahead to have it picked up and I just forward on the text then.

At least with Parcel Connect it is available locally to me so if it proves to be a good reliable system I might switch over to Parcel Connect entirely rather bugging my sister to collect each time from the not-so local Parcel Motel.

That's kind of the same with me. The Parcel Motel lockers are about 13 miles from me but my brother passes them on the way to work and back home again. I've had enough of asking for favours......hopefully Parcel Connect will come through.

Well I collected my parcel but it was slightly traumatic. Even though I had called into the shop two weeks ago and was assured they knew what Parcel Connect was I was met with puzzled looks this morning.

After about five minutes of chaos I got out with my parcel however I was kind of given out to. They told me the shop was "more a drop-off point than a collection point"!! I told them they were on the parcel Connect website but it fell on deaf ears.

Not quite sure what to do now as I have something else on pre-order (will be in stock on Monday)....I suppose I'd better change my "favourite location"!!

Before anybody chooses a collection point I'd recommend to go into the shop and check that they know what it is and that they're OK about having people collect their items there.

nava

Deleted User wrote: »

Well I collected my parcel but it was slightly traumatic. Even though I had called into the shop two weeks ago and was assured they knew what Parcel Connect was I was met with puzzled looks this morning.

After about five minutes of chaos I got out with my parcel however I was kind of given out to. They told me the shop was "more a drop-off point than a collection point"!! I told them they were on the parcel Connect website but it fell on deaf ears.

Not quite sure what to do now as I have something else on pre-order (will be in stock on Monday)....I suppose I'd better change my "favourite location"!!

Before anybody chooses a collection point I'd recommend to go into the shop and check that they know what it is and that they're OK about having people collect their items there.

Did you contact Parcelconnect about that? as you said if it's available on the website you should be able to collect but looks like shop assistant didn't get training as how it works and what to do or they couldn't be bothered.

From my last parcel going to shop now looks like early 500 is the tracking number, so looks like it could be 500 parcels deliver so far, is your number similar to that?

galwayjohn89

Mine was in the 460 or so. I do think they have had quite a small amount of parcels so far. There was no real advertising campaign about it.

Yes mine is early 500s as well.....as regard the shop well the poor girl at the checkout called the manager over and he told me that they don't do collections as well. He said he'd ring Parcel Connect...

Just fired off an email ....not expecting much help though.

Zardoz

nava wrote: »

I think we called the local when we used it.

3 days later and still no Pin.
I have been ringing the Cork office of Fastway for the last 2 days and no one is answering the phones.No reply to emails either.
I knew never to use Fastway again ,they are a complete shambles of a company.

Yeah I'm going to go back to Parcel Motel. I've emailed the site I made the pre-order on and asked to change the delivery address. The fact the people in the shops know next to nothing about a service they're supposed to be providing just makes me too anxious.

nava

Zardoz wrote: »

3 days later and still no Pin.
I have been ringing the Cork office of Fastway for the last 2 days and no one is answering the phones.No reply to emails either.
I knew never to use Fastway again ,they are a complete shambles of a company.

Maybe contact the Dublin or another office number.

Go or call the store to get them to scan it, that should generate the pin, you might have to wait a few minutes to get the pin. Or they might just give it to you without charge when they see is in your name without scanning.

If parcel connect sees that parcels are handed out without scanning they will do something about it.

I will send them a mail to give them my feedback but we should all do the same.

galwayjohn89

It's a pretty simple process but a lot of shops don't seem to know it and give out about it even though they signed up to do it.

1) Parcel gets delivered
2) Shop scans it in on their payzone machine which triggers and email and text to the buyer with the pin
3) Buyer goes in with pin, shop scans parcel on payzone machine and enters the 4 digit pin. A receipt prints out and shop takes €4.50
done.

Yeah it's gutting that they don't seem to have clued up the shops on it because it was faultless until I went to collect the bleeding thing!!! Hopefully they'll get their act together but I don't intend to be one of their guinea pigs.

galwayjohn89

Not sure who's responsibility it is, if it's FastWay or payzones to provide the information. Suppose I'm just lucky that the 3 shops I've used so far have been extremely helpful. Hopefully it takes off soon and get's more stores involved. Would love it to be as popular as collect+/myhermes over in the UK