Parcel motel introducing a peak season surcharge

30-10-2020 4:26pm #1

Just got the email below from parcel motel. I wonder what the investments their making are?

Edit: never offered my opinion. If the service is visibly improved then I don't have an issue (saying that I use it a lot and have never had any issues but if the reason for the increase is to provide a better service then I'd like to get a better service). Part of me wonders if its a blt of a cash grab as well though. With no one really knowing what's going to happen with Brexit I wonder if buying from the UK will be as lucrative next year.

"With the holiday season around the corner, the number of parcels moving through our network will grow exponentially over the coming months. During this busy period, we strive to provide our customers with the reliable and timely service they have come to expect from Parcel Motel.

We continue to maximize the efficiency of our business processes in order ensure that our prices remain among the most competitive in the market. Our focus has always been on providing excellent value and we have work diligently to offer the same prices to our customers since 2013.

As always our highest priority is to ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers while meeting our service commitments. The surge in online shopping due to the pandemic coupled with the busy holiday shopping season will necessitate that we invest more in workspace in order to properly service our business, ensure social distancing and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our people throughout the peak season.

Please be advised therefore, that effective from 4th November until 31 December 2020, when collecting a parcel a peak season surcharge will be applied to the base price, changing the price from €3.95 to €4.50. All other prices will remain the same.

During this time, we can no longer process very large items measuring more than

95 X 48 X 55cm (roughly the size of a wheelie bin) and such items will not be accepted in our receiving centres in Newtownabbey or Dublin.

Our priority is to continue providing the best possible service to our customers during the season. We value your business and look forward to delivering your shopping this Christmas."

recipio · 30-10-2020 4:33pm

That really means 'we have a chance to gouge you for Xmas shopping and we're going to do it'. I never heard of a business increase prices just because they were busy.

jimmycrackcorm · 30-10-2020 4:37pm

I got a deliverybox from An Post which means between that and amazon prime deliveries with notifications of how many stops away they are, I rarely need to use parcelmotel now.

But not getting replacement wheelie bins via PM is going to be a huge issue...

ec_pc · 30-10-2020 4:41pm

It's certainly an interesting move considering the huge upturn in internet shopping and demands on couriers and these types of services. Even in previous years Parcel Motel were swamped in the run up to Christmas and their reputation did suffer as a result.

I am sure they do have additional costs to provide the same service we are used to at Christmas. I use the Newbridge PM and I know at times they had 2 Parcel Motels there along with 2 vans full of parcels because the lockers were full. So this all introduces extra cost they do not have during the year normally.

Also interesting that they are dropping the larger packages. Nobody likes a price increase, but even for 4.50 I think its fair to say it does represent value for money and is a very reliable service.

30-10-2020 4:45pm

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I got a deliverybox from An Post which means between that and amazon prime deliveries with notifications of how many stops away they are, I rarely need to use parcelmotel now.

But not getting replacement wheelie bins via PM is going to be a huge issue...

Does the delivery box allow you to order items that don't ship to Ireland or to skip the exorbitant delivery charges some UK suppliers charge to send stuff over here?.........Didn't think so.

People like to give out about PM, when the reality is they are an absolute godsend. If you don't like the increased price, change to Address Pal and wait an extra week for your stuff. I'll pay the extra 55c for the convenience and savings that a PM account normally brings.

Atlantic Dawn · 30-10-2020 4:47pm

I don't mind it once it means my parcels are not stuck for nearly a week because they have no free lockers to put them in. I presume they will offer more locations?

um7y1h83ge06nx · 30-10-2020 4:55pm

It could be worse but they didn't really give too much notice. I reckon they will be hammered altogether this year, all postal systems and couriers will be.

pissed · 30-10-2020 5:41pm

Just received an email from Parcel Motel about price changes and sizes.

Please be advised therefore, that effective from 4th November until 31 December 2020, when collecting a parcel a peak season surcharge will be applied to the base price, changing the price from €3.95 to €4.50. All other prices will remain the same.
During this time, we can no longer process very large items measuring more than
95 X 48 X 55cm (roughly the size of a wheelie bin) and such items will not be accepted in our receiving centres in Newtownabbey or Dublin.

Trampas · 30-10-2020 5:59pm

As someone said in other thread. Give incentives to get your package quicker so more space.

They just don’t want more business is what it says to me

Dravokivich · 30-10-2020 6:02pm

Trampas wrote: »

As someone said in other thread. Give incentives to get your package quicker so more space.

They just don’t want more business is what it says to me

I'd suggest they are expecting more business so need more people to work with them, more vans to lease, arrange additional temp lockers for areas receiving a high rate of packages.

jimmycrackcorm · 30-10-2020 6:07pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Does the delivery box allow you to order items that don't ship to Ireland or to skip the exorbitant delivery charges some UK suppliers charge to send stuff over here?.........Didn't think so.

People like to give out about PM, when the reality is they are an absolute godsend. If you don't like the increased price, change to Address Pal and wait an extra week for your stuff. I'll pay the extra 55c for the convenience and savings that a PM account normally brings.

You didn't think so?
Perhaps try thinking so.
Who do you think runs AddressPal?

At busy times, I've gotten a notification from PM that my parcel has arrived in their depot and yet it'll be days before a locker is free. the only advantage of PM is that I can get deliveries on a Saturday night, but even Amazon delivered stuff to me both on Sunday and bank holiday Monday this week.

jam_mac_jam · 30-10-2020 6:10pm

They are getting loads more business so they are going to charge more. Ok I will move to another service. That's too much of an increase. If they can't handle more business I am happy to oblige.

Cyrus · 30-10-2020 6:12pm

why would someone use Parcel motel over Parcel wizard? especially now when there is more likely someone to be at home to take the parcel.

Dublinandy3 · 30-10-2020 6:14pm

I don't have an issue with a business increasing a price but they need to hire someone with a bit of sense. Not the best email to read, basically we're going to be busy.
Costs may be more but they should be factoring those into their business model originally.
It is a good service so an extra 55c per parcel won't kill me.
If they use that 55c to hire some good customer service staff then that'd be pretty awesome

30-10-2020 8:23pm

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

You didn't think so?
Perhaps try thinking so.
Who do you think runs AddressPal?
.

I'm well aware who runs address pal, I even mentioned them in my post. It wasn't obvious that you were using address pal for your new delivery box, but now that it is clear, your original post makes even less sense.

You're effectively saying that, now that you have this box you don't have to pay PM their exorbitant €4.50 charge and instead can get it delivered to your house fir the low, low price of €6.95 (not to mention the extra 5 days it takes to arrive).

Corvus Libros · 31-10-2020 1:23am

When you factor in their top-up bonus of €4.50 on €35, the actual cost is €3.99 versus Parcel Wizard's €3.85 and AddressPal's €3.95. It's not a matter of price. It comes down to which service you prefer or which location is more convenient.

It's a bit ridiculous to storm off in a huff over €0.14.

listermint · 31-10-2020 1:27am

14 cent ?

They are increasing their prices 20% , They are doing this on the back of an already abysmal service. They are simply not the service provider they used to be. Between crap check in images and major delays in stuff getting to their boxes. Not to mention simply losing stuff.

The 20% makes no sense.

On top of might i ad, an actual freefall in their fuel prices since January.

This is nothing more than gouging. Id suggest their management team have their heads up their arses tbh.

And i used them since they opened the service. Ive been an absolute solo advertising for their services to family and friends.
Wont be back, im moving elsewhere.

VanHalen · 31-10-2020 1:35am

What's going to happen with PM after Brexit?

I mean if there's duty to be applied to a package from the UK will PM charge you this before they leave it in the locker? If you buy from Amazon US they charge duty when you buy the thing but Amazon UK won't be able to do this as they will assume it's a package being delivered to another part of the UK.

I agree that PM has been a god-send for getting stuff from the UK but if deliveries start attracting duty the demand for PM could plummet next year....

Corvus Libros · 31-10-2020 1:37am

listermint wrote: »

And i used them since they opened the service. Ive been an absolute solo advertising for their services to family and friends.
Wont be back, im moving elsewhere.

How could they do this to you?! You're absolutely right to flounce off like a drama queen.

copacetic · 31-10-2020 1:42am

Cyrus wrote: »

why would someone use Parcel motel over Parcel wizard? especially now when there is more likely someone to be at home to take the parcel.

I was just happy with parcel motel tbh, but with major delays getting parcels, poor customer support on a couple of issues recently and not the sudden no notice increase I’ll be trying out parcel wizard. Have address pal already. Parcel motel been very good for 100s of delivery’s in all the years but going downhill a bit, upping price while service is getting worse is a bit much.

dubrov · 31-10-2020 1:44am

In fairness, the rise is enough to get me to look at the alternatives.

That combined with the suspicious coincidence of non tracked deliveries strangely always going missing

Rodney Bathgate · 31-10-2020 1:47am

Cyrus wrote: »

why would someone use Parcel motel over Parcel wizard? especially now when there is more likely someone to be at home to take the parcel.

I have 2 Parcel Motels within 5 mins walk of me, both open 24 / 7.

Nearest Parcel Wizard is 20 mins walk away with shorter opening hours (closes at 19:00 at the weekend).

Plus I would need to go into a shop that always seems busy and the clientele don’t strike me as caring too much about social distancing and mask wearing.

Tom Mann Centuria · 31-10-2020 1:54am

The others won't be shy about upping their prices if they see people are happy enough to pay extra. I use parcel wizard these days because they have a drop off garage 5 minutes from my house and are much less strict about how long I have to pick them up. Have had parcels there for four or five days and not paid extra.

listermint · 31-10-2020 1:54am

Corvus Libros wrote: »

How could they do this to you?! You're absolutely right to flounce off like a drama queen.

You fearful of a jobloss?

It seems so.

Maybe start thinking about the customers a little more. You have gone completely off the boil. Used to be the best in the game for this type of service but flew too close to the sun. Believing your own hype.

AlfaZen · 31-10-2020 2:11am

pissed wrote: »

Just received an email from Parcel Motel about price changes and sizes.

Pure gouging. They will lose a lot of custom for this.

Cyrus · 31-10-2020 8:23am

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

I have 2 Parcel Motels within 5 mins walk of me, both open 24 / 7.

Nearest Parcel Wizard is 20 mins walk away with shorter opening hours (closes at 19:00 at the weekend).

Plus I would need to go into a shop that always seems busy and the clientele don’t strike me as caring too much about social distancing and mask wearing.

Parcel wizard deliver to your house though ? I can understand if home delivery doesn’t suit but apart from that parcel wizard , in my experience at least, is far quicker and better. Drivers generally sound as well.

rom · 31-10-2020 9:24am

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I got a deliverybox from An Post which means between that and amazon prime deliveries with notifications of how many stops away they are, I rarely need to use parcelmotel now.

But not getting replacement wheelie bins via PM is going to be a huge issue...

Got one also. I put a smart things motion sensor in mine so it plays a song on my echo dot when the postman/lady drops something off. It has given me a little bit of joy over the last few months to hear "Stop Mr. Postman" play for 10 secs. Only a bit morto that it happened one day one day he tried to put the parcel in but it wasn't big enough so set it off then knocked on the door, I answered and the song started to play.

...Ghost... · 02-11-2020 3:50pm

ec_pc wrote: »

It's certainly an interesting move considering the huge upturn in internet shopping and demands on couriers and these types of services. Even in previous years Parcel Motel were swamped in the run up to Christmas and their reputation did suffer as a result.

I am sure they do have additional costs to provide the same service we are used to at Christmas. I use the Newbridge PM and I know at times they had 2 Parcel Motels there along with 2 vans full of parcels because the lockers were full. So this all introduces extra cost they do not have during the year normally.

Also interesting that they are dropping the larger packages. Nobody likes a price increase, but even for 4.50 I think its fair to say it does represent value for money and is a very reliable service.

Their reputation suffered because they were not providing the service. They could reward customers who collect their parcels early...maybe half price if collected within 6 hours of drop off and 15% discount if collected within 12 hours of drop off.

They could also bundle items, but again, they do not. I often collect 4 or 5 items at a time and all parcels would fit into the same locker. PM choose to store each item individually and charge me full price for every single item.

I receive 15-25 parcels per week at my locker. This increase makes a difference, but the bigger issue is the refusal to accept larger items. That's just not good enough, as Amazon often send larger boxes than necessary.

I am looking into parcel wizard now.

AlfaZen · 02-11-2020 3:56pm

If you purchased the credit prior to the price increase are they not breaking the contract.

I mean its like filling your car up with petrol marked 1.15 at the pump then when you go inside to pay they say they have just increased their price to 1.20 and you have to pay it.

...Ghost... · 02-11-2020 5:27pm

AlfaZen wrote: »

If you purchased the credit prior to the price increase are they not breaking the contract.

I mean its like filling your car up with petrol marked 1.15 at the pump then when you go inside to pay they say they have just increased their price to 1.20 and you have to pay it.

Good point. I had purchased credit before i even received the email

xl500 · 03-11-2020 10:24am

I really feel this is gouging they are getting more business than ever with the huge increase in online shopping so they should be making more

It's typical of most irish companies though and it's why amazon are relentlessly making huge inroads into Ireland and with them opening a distribution center here their delivery is much quicker and better I have also been a PM user since the start but this price increase which they are quite entitled to do will definitely make me look at all other options

07-11-2020 3:55pm

Well the service hasn't got any better. Package delivered to Belfast on Thursday morning and still hasn't made it to Dublin for distribution to a locker yet.

JustAThought · 07-11-2020 4:01pm

recipio wrote: »

That really means 'we have a chance to gouge you for Xmas shopping and we're going to do it'. I never heard of a business increase prices just because they were busy.

An Post have already it twice in the past 12
months.

0.55 cent extra for 5/6 weeks for a great service during a global crisis when most retail units are shut - sounds reasonable. And if that makes their delivery guys lifes a little easier or safer then I’m happy to pay the fifty cent for the next few weeks.

Corvus Libros · 07-11-2020 4:19pm

An Post's prices have gone down since last year, not up.

5kg standard post was €15 in 2019, now €11
15kg was €25, now €13
20kg was €30, now €16

07-11-2020 4:22pm

Thankfully I’ve switched to address pal and find it great - I don’t need parcel motel and especially not at inflated prices

...Ghost... · 07-11-2020 10:54pm

PM switched my locker pickup location without any notification. I was standing there like a gobshíte trying to pick up a parcel on my way home and I kept getting the "oops" message. I checked my account and saw the location had changed to what I can only assume is a brand new locker location, because it doesn't show up as one of their listed locations and it's not on their map. It's also no closer to my home than my regular pickup point when driving, so I don't know why they switched it and why they never even told me. Their support page doesn't work anymore, so I have to wait until Monday to ring them on the number they try to hide from their customers. What a shítshow!

...Ghost... · 09-11-2020 5:04pm

I checked my PM account and found my locker location had changed again to my original location and the one they had changed it to temporarily still does not show up on their system. I rang to find out what the hell they are doing to my account and was told that they might send parcels to other lockers because they are busy. I receive a number of parcels every day, so potentially could be sent to 2, or 3 different lockers to collect parcels and they say there is nothing they can do because "Christmas" and "the pandemic". I told the rep that I don't mind if my pickup point is changed to another location, but I want it to be one location where all my parcels go and to inform me of any changes. If it happens again, my business will find another home.

ED E · 11-11-2020 10:51am

...Ghost... wrote: »

PM switched my locker pickup location without any notification. I was standing there like a gobshíte trying to pick up a parcel on my way home and I kept getting the "oops" message. I checked my account and saw the location had changed to what I can only assume is a brand new locker location, because it doesn't show up as one of their listed locations and it's not on their map. It's also no closer to my home than my regular pickup point when driving, so I don't know why they switched it and why they never even told me. Their support page doesn't work anymore, so I have to wait until Monday to ring them on the number they try to hide from their customers. What a shítshow!

This happened to me back in ~2017 around when they launched. The motel I use is on my commute, the one they sent it to was miles away. Pain in the hole. Hasnt happened since though.

FutureGuy · 11-11-2020 10:55am

The cheek of them to charge extra when their service has gone to ****. Item arrived Thursday in Limerick depot. Never scanned it. Sitting there for the last week and never scanned it.

Dublinandy3 · 13-11-2020 1:29pm

Do you know what, I stand corrected.

Yes their customer service is crap and yes when it goes wrong, boy does it go wrong for them, but all companies make mistakes, especially cheap delivery companies.

What I have found recently is their delivery to addresses is quite cheap, what can cost up to 15 20 euro for me with an post I can get delivered for 6 euro in 48 hours to a home address with me dropping off at a box. Likewise, I just sent something to the UK, 14.50 Euro it cost me, will be delivered by UPS that side of the water, an post was quoting me 35 euro and was about the same price with most of the delivery companies.

So while yes, when it goes wrong I swear till I'm blue in the fact that I won't use them again, but I do, and most of the time it's quite smooth.

Happy_Harry · 13-11-2020 8:18pm

recipio wrote: »

That really means 'we have a chance to gouge you for Xmas shopping and we're going to do it'. I never heard of a business increase prices just because they were busy.

Airlines? Hotels ?

I don't find it all that remarkable to be honest- I have used them for many years now. with zero issues and I don't remember a price increase, it is not like Sky or so ..
I can only hope they use the money for continued investment.

I do mind the issue of restricting larger packages , especially as already mentioned because of the unpredictability of Amazon packagers.

I very much like the fact that I am in control. I live pretty rural and I prefer to know where to pick up my deliveries rather than guess where a stressed out courier has left it this time(despite an eircode)

copacetic · 17-11-2020 12:18pm

Good to get the push from parcel motel to try other services properly, gave parcel wizard first go this week, next day delivery to home once arrived in Antrim for 3.95 for oversize package. That would have taken 2-4 days with parcelmotel and cost 16€ Or 8€ if went and collected it from their depot.

A combination of them seems like most likely option, and have moved Amazon prime to home delivery for items that aren’t UK only. Estimate parcelmotel will lose about 40€ a month from me. Although it was just laziness sticking with them and UK delivery will probably not be a big need from January on anyway.

Parcel motel introducing a peak season surcharge

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