Why Are Parcel Prices so Cheap?

Parcel prices are cheap because they go through a process that is driven by volume.  To take a parcel from London to Edinburgh costs several hundred pounds.  To take 100 parcels costs hardly anything extra, and so that's what the parcel carriers do - it's a volume game.

The Sorting Hub

Firstly, think of the processes that your parcel must go through.  It is collected from your house, and put on a van.  Very rarely will the van be shelved, some of the drivers carry boxes to seperate the larger parcels from the smaller ones, but many of them don't.  This means that your parcel will be sliding around in the back of a van for around half a day.

 

When the van gets to the depot it is unloaded, usually by people taking the parcels out of the van and being put onto a conveyor belt.  Your parcel is now in the sorting hub - think of this in the same light as the Heathrow Baggage Handling System, and won't be far wrong.  It's scanned, so that your tracking record shows it up as being delivered to the hub.  The sorting hubs are busy places, they have to handle vast quantities of parcels during a very short timeframe.

Maximum Parcel Sizes & Weights

Each carrier has different maximum sizes and weights, and this represents the limits that their depots can handle.  Around 1.2m in length and 60cm width & 60cm depth are average dimensions.  The maximum weight is usually 30kg.

You have to imgine that the Parcel on the conveyor belt behind your is the maximum weights and dimensions.  You have to pack your parcel to be able to withstand the knocks that bashes that it will inevitably incurr in this process.

Do I have to box my item?

Right, now that you've imagined your parcel sliding around in the van, getting unloaded into the sorting hub, going through the conveyor belts, you've probably answered this yourself.  Yes, ALWAYS box an item, bubble wrap, or taped dustbin bags are not enough. 

Some products come in a case, and senders ask if they still need to box it - my answer would be, would you be upset if the case got scratched or damaged?  If the case is part of what you are selling or sending, then yes, you should always still box it.

Some items are just difficult to box, for example car bumpers.  However, parcels that are long and thin will get caught up between parcels on the conveyor belts, and in the vans etc, and the boxing protects them.

Again, thinking back to an airport baggage handling system, dustbin bags, loose coverings, plastic ties, etc are all unnecessary objects that will increase the chance of your parcel getting caught, tangled and mangled in the sorting hub process.

So keep it neat.  Box it well, and leave no bits sticking out.

What about inside the box?

Thinking about your parcel trundling through the country, it's covering a lot of miles.  Travel means movement, so protect the contents of your box you have to ensure that its only the box that moves, not the contents inside it.

Choose your box well, a box that is too small will be weakened by stretching, and if you put your item in a box that is too large it will rattle and break.  Fill your box.  There are plenty of options.  Retailers use things like polystrene chips or moulds, for ordinary people there are lots of other cheaper options.

Stuffing the box

Cheap and easily accessible box fillers include;

The secret is that there must be no gaps.  You want no movement, no rattles.  Packing your box fully on the inside makes it stronger on the outside too.

Addressing & Labelling your Parcel

Such a simple one this.  Check your address details properly before sending.  Always make sure there is a FULL postcode, and you can use postcode lookup sites to check them.  All the sorting is done by postcode, if you put the wrong postcode on a parcel it will either be completely rejected, or put on the wrong van. 

If your customer/receiver has alternative delivery arrangements you can write this on the box/label too (eg "can be left in the shed at rear"), this saves the driver taking it away and having to do a redelivery when unnecessary.

If the customer/receiver's location is a little complicated or out of the way, put an extra line onto the label (eg entrance next to ABC carriers).

Getting it Delivered

If your parcel needs a signature then make sure it's expected.  Email your customer/receiver and let them know that you've despatched it, and the date that it's due to be delivered.  Small steps that mean any delays etc are identified quickly.

Authors Experience;

And if you're wondering what gives the experience to give advice on sending parcels, then I used to send hundreds of antiques and collectables, glass, china, and furniture, all over the world, using parcel services.  Parcel problems cost us money, so we developed the best practises we could to make sure as many of our parcels arrived intact.