Monday 28 February 2011

Small Business Courier Services

Every business, whether big or small, has to deliver parcels or documents across the city, country or sometimes even across the globe. These parcels have to be delivered in a specific time so as to maintain a good relationship with the clients. The postal service also delivers the parcels, but it is very slow when compared to courier companies.

Delivering your parcels and documents in time to the clients is important to ensure the proper functioning of the business. Many times ordinary mail services do not deliver the parcels on Saturdays and Sundays. Courier services beat the ordinary mail services when it comes to providing a quality service. Courier services guarantee you the delivery time, and at the same time also ensure that you get a confirmation receipt for the same.

Many times, when you have an urgent requirement to deliver your packages, you can opt for a premium courier service which might cost you a bit more, but will deliver your parcels on Saturdays as well as on Sunday mornings. Courier companies understand that your business is very important and when it comes to delivering a package to the clients they do their work very professionally. Courier services help you provide timely service to your clients and let you concentrate on your business without worrying about your parcel delivery.  Courier companies work more efficiently than ordinary mailing services and hence you can rely on them to keep your business functioning smoothly.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Send a Safe & Secure Parcel by International Courier

Do you have something you want to send overseas? If so, here are 10 steps to packaging your parcel safely and securely.


1. Securing your parcel by choosing a box that is the right size for what you are looking to send. If it's too big, there is a risk of it being crushed during transit, and if it is too small it it may split and the contents get lost.
2. Make sure your packaging is strong enough to stand up to the journey it has to take.
3. Corrugated cardboard boxes are always a prefered option for providing protective packaging for a parcel. They are extremely strong and can withstand more pressure than other forms of packaging.
4. Mazke use of cushioning around the items you're sending. Bubble wrap and foam are the will help to keep your items safe.
5. Make sure the most fragile items are in the middle of the parcel, away from the edges, as this will be the most vulnerable part of any package.
6. Once it's wrapped, make sure you add tape to edges and openings to secure your parcel even further.
7. If you're sending something that already has its own parcel, covering it in brown paper may be enough. However, if you want extra assurances that your item will arrive securely, it may be a good idea to repackage them in a bigger box.
8. For parcels containing liquid or powder, you need to make sure the lids are fastened tightly and that extra precautions, such as waterproof bags, are used to protect the outer-layer of the parcel.
9. It's also a very good idea to package up liquid items separately from other items you wish to send. This will minimise the risk of damage to the non-liquid items.
10. Finally, for extra peace of mind, make sure the parcel is labelled up clearly with the address and any directions (such as 'this way up').


Once your parcel is secure, you need to find the right international courier service. If you need to send a parcel to the USA, Australia or anywhere else in the world, make sure you find a service that can ensure its safe and secure arrival. For help and advice in choosing the right international courier service, click here.


For help getting the best deal for your worldwide parcel delivery needs, visit TransglobalPremium.co.uk and get the right global courier for you.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

DHL Express receives ISO 9001 certification

Quality certification covers all European and US facilities.
 
DHL Express has obtained an ISO 9001 quality management certification from the International Organization for Standisation for all its US and European locations. The certification recognises transparent, integrated and standardised quality management across all functions, such as commercial, operations and finance.

The US and European certifications are part of a wider programme, which aims at achieving a global multi-site certification for all DHL Express entities.

In the past months, teams of independent accredited ISO auditors scrutinised quality processes at DHL Express US and European facilities, including its service centres, gateways and main intercontinental hubs Leipzig (LEJ), Germany, and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport (CVG), US.

Having reviewed key areas such as shipment handling quality processes, procedures for addressing customer concerns and regulatory compliance, the auditors concluded that DHL's quality service and management met all the required criteria.

Article credited to www.analytiqa.com

Monday 21 February 2011

Send a Parcel to China, India or Australia - How using an International Courier could help

Sending your parcel to China, India or Australia, or indeed any international destination has never been easier. With a wealth of different mail, parcel delivery and courier services to choose from one, why would you choose to send your parcel by international courier rather than traditional postal services? What are the advantages of using an international courier?


  
Courier services can provide much more security. Your parcel will be well looked after during transit, and will be delivered with speed and efficiency.
  1. Couriers can provide a much faster international parcel delivery service. By ensuring your parcel or important documentation gets to your customers in the quickest and most reliable manner, you will ensure very good customer satisfaction which will reflect well on your business and encourage return custom.
  2. Courier services are more flexible with the services they offer. They also offer a much broader range of services which allows you to find more of a balance between the price you pay and the service receive. If you have any specific delivery requirements these can also be met.
  3. By using the same courier service on a regular basis you can establish a long and lasting relationship with the courier; knowing that you can trust the safety and the security of the service they provide. You may also be eligible to receive discounted rates if you regularly place high volume orders.
  4. Couriers can meet and deliver parcels to any international destination within short timescales.
  5. Couriers services provide enhance tracking options so you can check the progress of your parcel at any point throughout its journey.
  6. By using a third-party courier company you can take advantage of their discounted prices. By entering your parcels weight and dimensions once into a third-party couriers website, you will gain access to instant quotations from a variety of different courier services.
Regardless of whether you are sending a parcel to India or China, or need important documents delivering in Australia. The current competitive climate amongst courier service providers provides much greater opportunity for you to get a really good deal for a professional courier service. For a free, no-obligation quotation, and to received discounted rates for courier services such as UPS, DHL, FedEx, TNT, please visit Transglobal Premium.

Monday 14 February 2011

Parcel Courier Services - Would you benefit from using a global courier?

Parcel courier services can be of benefit to both private and business customers. They can offer a much more individualised and personal parcel delivery service and you do not necessarily have to pay a premium to take advantage of the benefits.

If the answer is 'Yes' to any of the following questions, you would benefit by using the services of a professional parcel courier.
  1. Do you need something delivered urgently and are you worried that a traditional postal service will not get it there on time?
  2. Do you intend to send a parcel containing a valuable item which would benefit from special care and attention?
  3. Do you want to be kept up-to-date with the progress of your parcel once it is in transit?
  4. Are you a business or solicitors who needs to send legally-sensitive documents to a client which will require great security and high priority delivery?
  5. Do you need to send a parcel overseas and do you need to make sure it arrives safely and on time? 
  6. Are you a product manufacturing company who needs to get a prototype to a client for a presentation at short notice?
  7. Do you need to send a parcel but have specific requirements which determine how they should be transported
  8. Do you have a unique delivery request that traditional postal services can not provide?
Parcel courier services have the flexibility to adapt their service to accomodate your needs. If you need your parcel delivering urgently they will be able to arrange collection, transportation, and delivery of your parcel so that it arrives on-time and in-tact. If your parcel contains valuable contents, parcel courier services can provide great care and attention to ensure that your parcel doesn't get damaged in transit, and all reputable courier services will also offer insurance cover to protect the goods against loss or damage - please check with your individual courier to find out about their standard cover and terms and conditions. Some couriers will offer standard insurance covering items for up to a maximum value (of around £50) which will be included in the price.

Parcel Tracking is one of the key benefits of using a parcel courier. This enables you to use the couriers website to 'track' the progress of your package throughout its journey, and to be the first to know once it has been delivered safely. Courier services offer a much more personal service as well, meaning that confidentiality and security are paramount when delivering important parcels or legal documentation to their destination. Modern courier service operate across a global network which spans out across all european and international destinations. This ensures that wherever you need you parcel delivering to, your requirements can be met with ease and efficiency.

Parcel courier services can provide a much more personal service and will collect your shipment from your door. You may need refridgerated units to transport perishable goods, you may need your parcel delivered in short a timescale, or you may have a large bulky item which is difiicult to transport. Whatever the special needs or requirements of your shipment, parcel couriers will endeavour to provide you with the individual parcel delivery service you need.

Friday 11 February 2011

Parcel Packaging - Protect Your Parcel During Transit

The parcel delivery industry is currently a thriving and highly competitive market, operating worlwide on a daily basis. Regardless of where in the world you want to send your parcel, the process has never been easier and if you are prepared to shop around you can take advantage of some fantastic deals. Regardless of whether you want to send a parcel within the UK, or send a parcel internationally to destinations such as the USA, India or China, it is really important that you think about how you will protect your parcel during transit

How to package a parcel is a technique which is quite often overlooked. A well protected parcel will not only arrive at its destination undamaged, but will also not damage any other parcels within the same shipment. It is very easy to leave arranging a parcel courier service until the last minute but what if you do not have suitable packaging materials to hand to protect your parcel? Would you delay sending the parcel whilst you sourced the materials? Or would you be tempted to make use of any materials you have at hand and send the parcel with 'adequate' packaging? 

With a little bit of planning you can source suitable packaging materials in advance, find the best prices for your packaging materials, and save yourself the stress of having to make claims for a parcel which has arrived damaged.
  • Use an experienced and reputable parcel delivery service. Make sure that they are equipped to meet your requirements; can they deliver within the required timescale? Do they offer parcel tracking facility? Do they offer standard insurance cover against damaged parcels?
  • Consider how you will package your parcel; what is the size and shape of your parcel? Will you wrap it or would a box be more suitable? Will you need to include a note to the parcel recipient? If so, how will you attach this?

    If
    are using a box to protect your parcel:
    • Find a box the right size - not too small and not too big! If the box is too small for the package it is likely to split in transit and the contents could spill out causing loss and/or damage. If the box is too big the package will be free to move around inside the box making it susceptible to damage.The box could also get squashed by other parcels during transit if there is too much free space inside.
    • Place your item at the centre of the box and use padding to 'cushion' the goods on all sides. This prevents movement and helps to support the box from the inside.
    • Use corrugated cardboard to support the inner walls of the box - this will help to prevent it from buckling easily.
    • Use bubble wrap or foam for cushioning.
    • Use sticky tape to secure the bubble wrap around the item if necessary. 
  • If your parcel item is partricularly vulnerable, notify the courier or parcel delivery service provider when you book the shipment. if necessary, consider leaving a note stating 'Fragile' or 'This Way Up'. This offers no guarantee but at least you are doing your best to notify the driver of the vulnerability of your shipment.
  • Parcels containing liquid or powdered items may be best packaged seperately to avoid damage to other items if there is a spillage. Ensure that all tops are on secure and the goods are very well cushioned.
  • Make use of the couriers parcel tracking facility to check the progress of your goods.
Whilst parcel courier services make every effort to ensure your goods are handled with care and arrive safely at their destination, you should always try to help them by ensuring that the parcels are packaged securely for their protection. Many courier services will check the standard of packaging and can refuse shipment if they consider it inadequate. Save yourself time and hassle by offering suitable protection for your parcel.
Transglobal Express provide discount parcel delivery and courier services with TNT, UPS, DHL and DPD. For a no obligation parcel delivery service quotation, visit www.transglobalpremium.co.uk. We also have a dedicated customer services team on hand to help you. In the unlikely event that there is a problem with your parcel being lost or damaged in transit, we will handle the claims process direct with the courier on your behalf.


Thursday 10 February 2011

Parcel Delivery information available through Facebook & Twitter

Transglobal Express have recently implemented a blog feed direct into their Facebook account.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest advice, guidelines and news alerts concerning all your parcel delivery and courier service needs, and find out about promotional offers as and when they become available. Share information with your friends at the click of a button.
Visit us today and help to spread the word!


Wednesday 9 February 2011

eBay Parcel Delivery Costs - How to reduce your overheads!


We have previously posted an article outlining our top postage tips for eBay buyers and sellers who are regularly trading over the worlds biggest online market place. The secret to success when selling anything is to keep your costs as low as possible to make sure you are not out of pocket, and to ensure that you maximise your profits if you are trading as a business. One of the costs which can not be avoided when buying or selling over eBay, or indeed any internet business, is the cost for delivering your products.

The parcel delivery and courier services industry is highly competitive currently, which is an ideal opportunity for you to shop around. With tough competition, couriers are forced to reduce their prices as low as possible in order to remain competitive. For you, this makes finding a cheap parcel delivery service easy to find.

But with so many parcel delivery services to choose from, how do you know which one is going to be the best to use? Is the cheapest going to be reliable? If you pay a little bit more will you get a better service? Whilst it is important for any business trading through eBay or any online shop to find the cheapest prices possible, it is equally important not to compromise on quality as this can reflect badly on your business.  Be prepared to shop around. Compare not only the prices but also what you will receive for the price. Are you guaranteed delivery within 5 working days? Does the price include any insurance cover?

Not all parcel delivery services will offer you like for like quotations and you will need to think about what you need out of their services. Is speed of delivery a priority? If this is the case you are likely to pay more to reduce the transit times.

Researching potential suppliers and identifying what your costing options are will no doubtedly reward you with lower overheads and more profit. By lowering your parcel delivery charges you will appear much more competitive which may attract new or return custom. As with running any business, it can often be difficult to find the time to shop around. To reduce the amount of time you spend on your research, try looking for third-party parcel delivery or courier service 'brokers'. They should be able to provide you with price comparisons for all the main parcel delivery providers; such as DHL, UPS, TNT or FedEx. This will cut down on the amount of time you spend entering your parcel dimensions into a website. To get prices from each supplier individually would take 4 times as long! 

The added advantage of using a third-party parcel delivery service is that they can usually offer discounted rates for the services of established courier providers. It is often cheaper going through them than direct to the likes of DHL, TNT, FedEx, or UPS due to the volume of shipments they pass on and you will receive the same service. For further parcel delivery advice and tips relating to trading on eBay, please read our article; Top Postage Tips for eBay Buyers.

Tuesday 8 February 2011

International Export Business Advice - Top Tips

  1. Research Your Market
    Regardless of whatever it is that you want to export you must first find out if you prospective customers need what you are selling and if you can sell it to them at a price which will make you a profit. Your biggest expenses will probably be the manufacturing or purchasing of the product and the cost of getting them to their destination. You will need to consider look for a reliable supplier who can offer cost-effective Air Freight or Sea Freight services to export large bulky items internationally. For smaller products you may consider look for a reliable door-to-door parcel delivery and courier service. Be prepared to shop around and find yourself the best price. Find out what your competitors are doing and try to predict how they will react.
  2. Implement an Exporting Strategy
    Put together a strategy for how you are going to get the run your company, how will you get your goods to your customers? What is it your business will gain from exporting and how can you maximise on the opportunity? What suppliers will you use?
  3. Devise an Export Plan
    Think about how you will enter the foreign market? What would your marketing stategy be? Consider what the costs are going to be and allocate a suitable budget to cover your start-up costs. Approach freight forwarding companies and any other relevant suppliers and ask them to give you an idea of pricing.
  4. Identify your Sales Presence
    Consider how you will sell your products in the chosen country. Would using an agent or distributor be more effective or will you choose a more direct approach?
    How will you manage your overseas sales presence?
  5. Product Promotion & Marketing
    Decide how you are going to market or sell your product. How will you create awareness of it? Different marketing strategies will be suitable for different countries so be prepared to customise your marketing strategy towards the target country.
  6. Understand the relevant customs requirements
    Do plenty of research and make sure you fully undestand the customs requirements of any country you plan on exporting too. Don't rely on the freight forwarding companies as they some times only take responsibility of the transport of the goods to the destination but your end contact be have to deal with customs. Some freight forwarding companies may be able to offer customs clearance as an option. Contact HM Revenue & Customs for advice an we always recommend contacting customs at your intended destination, or the UK embassy of your intended country to clarify the requirements.

  7. Payment
    It may sound simple but make sure you get paid on time. Cashflow plays an important role in running any business and is especially important when starting up. Ensure that your cashflow will remain at a safe level and consider taking out insurance if necessary.

  8. Choose your methods of distribution
    Consider the implications of selling goods internationally and think about how you will handle your distribution.
  9. Transportation
    Consider what your transport options are and choose the most effective method for your business. You should consider your products and their intended destination. You may need to consider having a range of suppliers such as
    Air Freight or Sea Freight services or door-to-door parcel delivery and courier services. Find out if the goods are insured either by you or the importer.

US to Canada Freight Transit Times Accelerated by UPS

UPS Freight has again improved transit times between US cities and Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. With a focus on improving service from the Southwest and Western US, UPS Freight now offers two-day service from Denver and Las Vegas to the Calgary and Edmonton markets. In addition, the Dallas Metroplex and southern California now have three-day service to Calgary and Edmonton.

These lane enhancements aim to improve UPS’ overall value proposition for cross-border LTL shipments. These latest moves bring the total number of lane improvements across the Canadian/US border to more than 1,100 in just the last two years.


Information supplied courtesy of http://www.analytiqa.com 

Monday 7 February 2011

International Mail Order Distribution - UK & International Courier Services

Mail order businesses can function in a variety of ways. Whether you are using an online shop or a traditional mail order catalogue, there is always one expense which can not be avoided - the cost of delivering your customers orders! The mail order distribution business model centers wholly around package delivery. When you are operating parcel distribution on a national and international level, it is important to consider the most cost-effective means of delivering your products. 


Why is Cost Reduction Important to a Mail Order Business? 

The most important aspect of any business model is to keep your expenses as low as possible in order to maximise your profits. The cost of parcel delivery can be a huge drain on your business funds if you are with the wrong supplier. Looking for opportunities to reduce your postage costs will not only reduce your overall spend, but also give you opportunity to:
  • Improve you overall profit
  • Reduce your customers charges and gain competitive advantage
  • Reduce delivery fees to attract return custom and new business
In short, reducing your delivery costs will give you far greater flexibility to gain a balance between your charges and your profits. 


Package delivery costs are passed on to my Customer, why should I worry about reducing them? 

Reducing your delivery costs in the first instance will increase your profit margin. If you charge you customers the existing delivery charge and reduce your own spend there will be more money available to invest in your business.

You may also consider reducing your customers charges as this will make you seem cheaper in comparison to your competitors. You could do this either by reducing your delivery charges, or by offering reduced product costs and recouping the loss on your delivery charges.

The lower your charges, the more customers you will receive and the more likely they will be to remain loyal to you.


How to reduce your UK and International delivery costs 

Going direct to the postal services like Royal Mail or courier services such as DHL, TNT and UPS can be expensive. Most of these companies will offer you discounts if you are sending a large volume of packages. As a mail order company you may already be receiving discounted prices but you can still be prepared to shop around.

Look for courier service broker who may be able to offer you a substantial reduction in your parcel courier costs. Courier brokers receive discounts from all the top courier service companies. The chances are that they will be receiving far greater volume discounts due to their buying power.

The added benefit to you as a Mail Order service is that you may also be able to gain further discounts on top of their already discounted courier prices depending on your volume of business. As a mail order service, you may be in a good position to negotiate reduced prices - some third-party parcel delivery providers may offer reduced rates to you once you have established a regular pattern of orders with them.

Air Freight Services to Recover in 2010 Reports IATA

Prospects for 2011 forecast trend growth of 5.0-6.0% this year 2010 as a whole was a year of strong recovery in air freight markets. For the full year, air freight was up by an exceptional 20.6%, however, capacity lagged far behind. As a result there was a significant improvement in load factors, with freight load factors up by 5.2% points to 53.8%.

IATA reported that the year-on-year increase for air freight (FTKs) in December was 6.7%, a higher growth rate than the revised 5.8% reported for November. If the reference months are in 2008 then FTKs in December 2010 were one-third more than in December 2008, whereas FTKs in November 2010 were 17.0% above the level reported in November 2008. Just as November might appear to have been an aberration, there is a risk that December could be too.

By December 2010, air freight was 34.0% above its low and, although 5.0% down on early 2010, was still 1.0% above the pre-recession peak level of early 2008. Comparing performance in December to November, air freight traffic increased by 1.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

While regional variation in freight growth rates remains particularly marked, it is necessary to put into perspective the relative size of each region and the respective impacts on industry growth rates. In particular, freight traffic carried by Asia Pacific airlines in volume terms is some 4.2 times that carried by the Middle East airlines. In fact, in December, the Asia Pacific Airlines accounted for some 45.0% of FTKs compared with just over 10.0% for the Middle East airlines.

Over the last twelve months, all regions have experienced significant variation in the reported freight growth rates. For the industry overall, the range has been between 5.8% (November 2010) and 35.2% (May 2010); for the Middle East 12.2% (November 2010) and 38.7% (May 2010); Asia Pacific 4.6% (November 2010) and 39.9% (May 2010). The greatest range of almost 60.0% was experienced by the Latin American airlines 3.8% (December 2010) and 63.0% (April 2010). There is an inevitability that reported growth rates will slow as comparisons become more onerous given that in the first half (H1) of 2010, FTKs increased at an average rate of almost 29.0%.

After a period of rapid recovery and then a small decline, freight load factors have settled down at a slightly higher level than before the downturn; yield remains a key driver in minds of airline cargo departments.

Momentum going into 2011 did not appear to be particularly strong. Gains in world trade and a stabilisation of air freight volumes point to a further upward leg to the expansion of goods shipped by air. Prospects for 2011 still seem to be consistent with air freight markets expanding close to trend growth of 5.0-6.0% this year.


Information supplied courtesy of http://www.analytiqa.com  

Friday 4 February 2011

Business Courier Services - Choosing the right one!

1. As a business you’ll want to maximise on your profits and choose an intermediary service rather than going to a courier directly. They will be able to provide you with the best possible price from a range of different courier service. This way you can be sure you are getting the best possible deal.

2. When sourcing a courier service you’ll need to know exactly where in the country you want to send your parcel to in order to get the most accurate quotation. You may find that there is a huge difference in the cost of sending a package to populated cities in relation to more rural areas.

3. If your business sells goods online you will be able to link your shipments to your ecommerce system. This reduces the amount of time spent booking deliveries and everything will be automated for you
4. Courier services offering "Express" and "Rapid" services do not necessarily get your parcels to their destination any quicker. Ask the courier directly or refer to their terms and conditions to view their advised transit times.

5. It is common for Businesses to be trading internationally and not just locally. You might need to organise delivery for a specific time, so you need to find a courier company who is capable of supplying this service. Don’t forget to allow for different time zones  if you are sending a parcel to the USA or any other international destination.

6. Find if your courier service insures valuables or whether you’ll need to arrange it yourself. If they do, find out how much they are covered for. You need to will need to decide how important the goods are to you and consider if it is worth taking out the extra insurance.

7. Most courier companies will have size restrictions. If you’re sending large parcels across the world you will need to check that you’re within their maximum size limit.

8. Compare the different services that couriers have to offer. You might need to prioritise and compromise if you can’t get the exact service you need. Is speed of delivery a priority for you or can you save money sending a parcel on a slower service?

9. Use the online tracking tool to trace the progress of your parcel from anywhere in the world.

10. The cost of sending your package shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing an international courier company. A smaller company might be more expensive as they haven’t got the same status a larger company, but might offer a better and more personal service. A larger company might offer a quicker service, but it might be more expensive. You’ll need to choose the best value for money to ensure that your parcel arrives in one piece, and on time.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Top Postage Tips for eBay Buyers and Sellers!

eBay is the world's most recognised online marketplace, with individuals and small businesses trading through it on a daily basis. eBay provides users with easy access to buy and sell merchandise online, and has the capacity to enable them to reach an audience on a local, national and international level. The following guidelines provide some useful tips to help you send or receive parcels purchased through eBay with ease and efficiency.

eBay parcel delivery services with Transglobal Express


1. Make sure you are not paying over the odds for your postage
 
You may have made huge savings by winning your dream item at auction for a fantastic price. Make sure you don't pay over the odds to get it delivered by suggesting to the seller that you will arrange your own delivery service. Get some comparative quotes from parcel delivery carriers to ensure the seller is charging you a reasonable fee.

If you are selling on eBay, make sure your postage costs are as low as possible. This will attract positive feedback from your customers and they will be more likely to buy from you again. Low postage fees reduce your overheads so shop around - your customers don't want to feel as though they are being over-charged.

2. Securely Package your Parcel
 
Any parcel being sent by courier or mail service is at risk of damage during transit. Make sure you securely pack with strong materials to reduce the risk of damage and to avoid receiving negative feedback or having to deal with returned items. Corrugated boxes are ideal for protective packaging. 

If you are reinforcing flimsy items with corrugated sheets, make sure the ribs of the corrugated sheets don't lie in the same direction, otherwise the package will be easily bent. When using Jiffy bags, don't rely on just the sticky strip. These can often be of poor quality. Reinforce Jiffy bags with extra tape to make sure they stay sealed and this will also serve as extra padding. Refer to our earlier entry on DHL Packaging Advice for Safe Parcel Delivery.

3. Be selective with your Parcel Delivery Service

Thousands of eBay users use standard mail services such as Royal Mail and Parcel Force on a day-to-day basis but are they always getting the best value service? With a whole host of courier service around it is a very competitive market and well worth your while shopping round. Don't just go to the Parcel Delivery service direct, third-party courier companies resell the services of all of the top couriers at discounted rates. Further information on choosing the best parcel delivery service is available here.

4. Insure the package against loss or damage

Always check to see if your parcel is covered under any standard insurance. If you are using a courier service your parcel will often be covered up to a value of around £60. Take out extra insurance on expensive items to cover them for loss or damage. It usually costs around £5 extra and guarantees that neither you or your customer will be out of pocket if anything does go wrong during shipment. Let your customers know the insurance is in place as this reflects well on you and your business.

5. Cover yourself when you send and receive your parcel

Always check the weight and dimensions of your parcel before you send. This avoids any weight and size discrepancies with the parcel carrier. Most carriers will ask you to sign when your receive the goods. This is not only to confirm that the goods have been received, but to confirm that they have been received undamaged.

Always check the goods before you sign - even if they try to pressure you to sign without checking. This covers you if there is a problem and the item is damaged. Remember, it is their policy which states that you should sign to confirm that you have received the goods undamaged therefore they have to weight for you to check the goods - don't let them pressure you!

Wednesday 2 February 2011

The Benefits of Individualised Parcel Courier Services

Millions of letters, utility bills, parcels and packages are delivered on time every day due to the efficiency of private courier services. With a variety of transport methods available to them, carriers are offering more individualised courier services by providing greater flexibility over the method and speed at which your package or parcel will be couriered to its destination.

Courier services quite often use cars, bikes, vans or trucks for delivering your parcel. Air freight, sea freight and courier services combine to create a global network through which your shipment can be transported to any international destination with ease and efficiency. But how do courier services keep track of the exact location of one parcel, when they are dealing with millions of shipments on a day to day basis?

GPS tracking systems are commonly used by couriers to keep track of shipments whilst in transit. This also allows you to keep track of the exact status of your parcel using a track and trace facility which is common in most courier websites.

Once your shipment is collected, your courier will give you a tracking number. This number corresponds specifically to your parcel, and every parcel on the shipment will have a unique 'tracking number' to distinguish it from all others.

The tracking number is also printed onto the airway bill and the bill of lading. As it gets passed on through the various stages of its transportation, the parcel is scanned and its status is recorded against the tracking number. By entering the tracking number into the courier services website you can find out your parcel's last recorded, or current, status.

Tracking systems are becoming increasingly more complex as the complete journey of a parcel is recorded electronically. Parcels can be traced from any location across the world, which is one of the key advantages of using courier services over traditional postal services.


For information about courier services available from Transglobal Express, please refer to our post outlining International Courier Services.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Send a Parcel to USA and Avoid Paying the DHL Remote Area Surcharge

DHL is one of the worlds leading organisations in the logistics industry providing international express parcel delivery, air and sea freight services, road and rail transportations, contract logistics, and international mail services operating on a global network which spans across 220 countries and territories.

As part of their commitment to providing customers with the best parcel delivery network, DHL  continue to offer coverage in as many parts of the world as possible. The inaccessibility of some locations lead to the introduction of the "Remote Area Surcharge" to cover the cost of delivering parcels and packages to remote locations across the world.

The remote area surcharge is applicable to all destinations that are considered 'remote' on the DHL Express Worldwide, Domestic Express and Economy Select parcel delivery services. The cost to deliver your parcel to a remote area is currently charged at a flat rate of £15.00 per shipment, and in addition to the standard parcel delivery fee.


Tranglobal Express are pleased to announce that you can now book DHL parcel delivery services to remote areas of the USA without paying the remote area surcharge. That's an additional saving of £15.00 per shipment! Better still, booking through Transglobal Express will allow you to take advantage of their already cheap DHL parcel delivery rates due to their high volume business.


These savings are ideal for any individual wanting to send a one-off parcel or any business who sends parcels to the USA on a regular basis. For further information about their Remote Area Service you can visit the DHL website. If you are considering sending a parcel to a non-USA destination using DHL and would like to find out if the destination is considered to be 'remote' you can search their Remote Area database.

  • To take advantage of the huge savings available when sending a parcel the the USA or any other worldwide destination you can access free, no-obligation quotations via www.transglobalpremium.co.uk
  • For further information about Transglobal Express and how they are able to offer you cheap parcel delivery services, please refer to our post outlining the benefits of using Transglobal Express