The best national courier service?!

[CuppingAndAcupuncture]

Hey All,

Firt of all, Merry Christmas!

I will soon need to ship quite large parcels(10kg, 1m x 40cm x 20cm) across Australia. I am searching for a door to door provider but have no idea who to choose.

Anyone had good/bad experiences with any companies?

[Emroy]

From personal experience, I don't think there is one "master courier" who's great at everything. The follow ones I use.

Interstate to Business
I generally use StarTrack express when going interstate to a business as they are normally very reliable and delivery between 9-5. Because of the larger delivery window, they are normally Cheaper.

Interstate Personal
I use Toll, they can normally narrow their delivery time frames down (To a bout 4 hours) and have a Saturday delivery.

Sydney Metro
Go Logistics. Very affordable and reliable, takes great care of packages. Pickup and Delivery Sydney Metro only. (Avaliable for interstate delivery, but I don't use them) - AM pickup for PM delivery and Visa versa.

Out of Metro Areas
Normally most affordable to use Australia post, but I must stress, only do so with registered post that has insurance. Their track record for care is pretty average. Make sure you package correctly.

I'm sure there are many more courier companies out there that may live do just as good a job, but these are my preferred ones and they have served me well.

[CuppingAndAcupuncture]

Thanks for that Jake.

Would you have any ball park figure to post my parcel size interstate using Toll or Startrack, door to door?

Originally Posted by Emroy

From personal experience, I don't think there is one "master courier" who's great at everything. The follow ones I use.

Interstate to Business
I generally use StarTrack express when going interstate to a business as they are normally very reliable and delivery between 9-5. Because of the larger delivery window, they are normally Cheaper.

Interstate Personal
I use Toll, they can normally narrow their delivery time frames down (To a bout 4 hours) and have a Saturday delivery.

Sydney Metro
Go Logistics. Very affordable and reliable, takes great care of packages. Pickup and Delivery Sydney Metro only. (Avaliable for interstate delivery, but I don't use them) - AM pickup for PM delivery and Visa versa.

Out of Metro Areas
Normally most affordable to use Australia post, but I must stress, only do so with registered post that has insurance. Their track record for care is pretty average. Make sure you package correctly.

I'm sure there are many more courier companies out there that may live do just as good a job, but these are my preferred ones and they have served me well.

[Emroy]

There are so many variable involved, I couldn't give you an accurate figure.

If you register with Toll, they have an online system you can use to estimate the cost of pickup + delivery. With Startrack, it's a simple phone call.

Regards,

Jake

[CuppingAndAcupuncture]

Thanks for the advice.
I will give them a buzz once the 'holiday' period comes to an end.

Cheers

[LeelaCosgrove]

I'd just like to say ... whatever you do ... DO NOT use Australian Air Express!

We have had SO many problems with them!

The couriers seem to think that no one is ever home - even though I work from home - and so can't be bothered walking up one flight of stairs.

I ordered some stuff from a company just before Christmas and the company shipped to have it here on Christmas Eve. It arrived, but the courier couldn't be bothered walking up the stairs so left a consignment note. The note let me know that I could go to Tullamarine on Boxing Day and pick up my stuff - or wait until the 29th when they would reattempt delivery.

So I called the company to complain ...

They said I was a liar because the courier had said he'd knocked and there was no answer (to put that in perspective, my office desk is about 2cm away from the front door. In order to knock on that door they would have to pass the window in front of my desk. That morning, I had been sitting at my desk all morning WAITING for said package) - and she hung up on me.

This is not the first time this has happened.

I've had good experiences with Star Trak.

Just avoid AaE no matter what!

[bradzo]

Hahha!

Leela, I was reading too quickly - I thought you said:

"I've had good experiences with Star Trek."

Star Trek.

lol

Cheers

[King]

Australia post have a parcel contract rate, we are looking at investigating with them. You need to be sending 1000+ parcels per year to qualify.

For us size and weight are an issue, our boxes tend to be a bit big and on occasions over 22kg. They pick up from you.

We have found Fastway to be very good. They turn up pretty much as soon as when they say they will.

NQX, a pain because of the week long delay in getting an account set up. Also big window on the pickup time - a pain cos we only go to our storage to pack and they does not take long, so we are not there time infinitum...

Then there is Couriers Please they were recommended for delivery to certain of our customers.

But you need to pick and choose - Fastway wants to charge us the same to deliver a box 185 km away in the Brisbane Valley as they do to deliver to Adelaide...so look at coverage maps and work out best for which destination...

Sadly only a limited amount of research can be done on the web as most places want to call to quote, rather than have an online calculator.

Then of course is the consultancy angle - once you have done the research, you knowledge can potentially be 'sold' to other businesses, as in 'logistics consultant'

[LeelaCosgrove]

Originally Posted by bradzo

Hahha!

Leela, I was reading too quickly - I thought you said:

"I've had good experiences with Star Trek."

Star Trek.

lol

Cheers

Ha!

I have had good experiences with Star TREK too ... Old school geek!

[KarenC]

We are in an OUT OF METRO area and the best courier service for us for the past 18 years has been Couriers Please www.couriersplease.com.au They deliver all over Australia.

You can buy packs of coupons or bags or even coupons for pick up interstate. They have been the most reliable service. I purchase coupons in advance as it's cheaper that way and they pick up and deliver with a scanner barcode on our office window even if I'm not at the home office. And you can track all the parcels online and even see who signed for them.

For smaller parcels I use Australia Post.

And I agree with Leela re Australian Air Express.

Fastaway are ok. But Couriers Please is still the best for us.