Cheap Parcel Delivery

Desperate to send a last-minute package or parcel to friends? If it weighs more than 2kg, you can save an absolute packet (sorry) by using a discount web courier service instead of the Royal Mail - and even have them collect your goods from your house too.

• How does it work?
• Get your packaging right
• Do I need insurance?
• Best Buys: UK delivery
• Best Buys: International delivery
• Report a deal/discuss

When should I use a courier service?

Most of us have grown up instinctively linking the need to mail anything with a trip to the Post Office. Yet for the price-conscious, the internet's changed all that. The bar's been lowered on courier service prices, making them accessible to all.

The following questions should help you decide when a web courier service works for you

• Are you sending something weighing more than 2kg?

  While Royal Mail is still cheapest for sending cards, letters and packages weighing under 2kg (use its Price Finder), anything heavier will set you back over £7, and that's without tracking and insurance. Yet you can buy a 48 hr service which includes both, for around the same price.

• Do you need it there fast?

  Courier services are speedy, and most offer same-day collection if you book early enough. So for urgent deliveries, couriers are the most economical option.

• Have you bought something on eBay, with over-priced postage?

  If you've bought a big item and the seller charges excessive delivery rates, ask if you can arrange your own postage. Then have a courier pick up the item and deliver it to your house, reversing the usual procedure. Of course, this doesn't always work as some sellers rely on taking a cut of postage rates for profit, but it's worth a try.
  
  It's also less worthwhile when the package's value exceeds £100, as the cost of extra insurance can be steep. Read the full eBay Buying Secrets guide.
  

What are 'discount courier services'?

This is a hidden way for you to access big courier firms like DHL or Parcelforce, but only pay the amount that large companies do. It works via middlemen, who buy up postage slots in bulk from the big delivery agencies then sell them direct to the public.

You can usually book a pick-up for the next day, depending on how early you email the postage form. However, same-day pick-up is often available too, provided you meet the daily cut-off time; usually between 6 am and midday.

The cheapest place to buy these discounted mail services used to be via online auction site eBay*, but now many of the top sellers have their own individual websites. Do remember though, you’ll generally be dealing with the middleman company, not the courier itself.

How big can my parcel be?

All couriers calculate costs based on the size and weight of items. However, discount courier companies tend to offer flat-rate prices, based on DHL and Parcelforce's standard maximum dimensions:

• 150 cm length, max volume of 0.23 cubic metres, max weight of 30KG

To calculate the volume of your parcel, it's width x length x height in cm divided by 1,000,000. If your parcel outguns these measurements, you'll have to use a specialist courier. See the best buys for options.

What about the service?

There’s no problem with the delivery service, well no more than if you’d used the big company direct that is; as you’re getting the same service as you’d get if you went direct.

The only negative feedback from MoneySavers (see the Courier Services discussion) is that some discount courier services can be slow to respond to enquiries and sort out compensation claims. Usually this isn't for want of trying; they are small operations and find it tough staying on top of things at busy times.

Therefore it’s a question of balance between price and service. This is a decision you need to make depending on what you’re sending.

Get your packaging right

This isn't just for cosmetic purposes, poor packing can void postal insurance and compensation claims, so package goods properly. You never know how much they'll be thrown around in transit, so take the following precautions:

• Measurements.
  
  Be sure to measure and weigh your parcel accurately when getting a quote. If the package is bigger or heavier than stated then you’ll have to pay a surcharge. Plus, if it exceeds size restrictions it won't fit in the courier company’s depot sorting machines and could be damaged, or just returned to you.
  
  Try sending something weighing over 31.5kg, and it probably won't even be accepted, as Health & Safety laws state goods of this weight should be carried by at least two people. Therefore, you'll need a specialist service; these may be offered, but will cost more.
  
  Note for international shipments only: International delivery costs are often calculated based on 'volumetric weight'. To work out the volumetric weight of your package, the calculations are usually Length x Width x Height in centimetres divided by 6,000. This gives you the volumetric weight in kilos.

• Banned/'no compensation' items.
  
  All couriers have a list of ‘forbidden’ items that they won't deliver, so most couriers will inspect your items on collection. Thus, it's sensible to leave the top of your packing box open until it's been inspected.
  
  Easily breakable items such as china, or antiques, will only be carried by economy courier services on a ‘no compensation’ basis, meaning if they're valuable look elsewhere.

• Packing materials.
  
  All good packing requires is a bit of common sense. Wrap delicate items tightly in bubble wrap. Grab free cardboard boxes from supermarkets, and if you run out of bubble wrap or the item isn't very delicate, pad with screwed up newspaper or even popped popcorn.
  
  If you live near a large Post Office, look inside for packing materials; often, special delivery plastic post bags are available for free. For a full guide to packing parcels, watch this festively themed Royal Mail Video on Youtube.com.

• Delivery forms.
  
  Courier services make you fill in a booking form for each box you send. These can be completed online, or downloaded from the web and printed out. If the form isn’t filled in properly, compensation claims will be invalidated.
  
  Note for international shipments only: To send any items overseas you'll need to fill in a more detailed form for tax purposes. It's fairly straightforward, but if you don't fill it out accurately you risk delaying your package in customs, so be careful.

• Collection/delivery times.
  
  Sounds obvious, but make sure you're going to be in for the whole of the day. If you miss it, you'll likely have to repay and that just isn't MoneySaving! Most couriers will attempt delivery three times at the destination address before returning items to sender, but always double-check.
  

Do I need insurance?

Since you're getting the equivalent of the courier company’s full price service, you naturally get the same protection; usually around £100 per item.

It does vary, however, so always check. Additional cover is usually available for a small surcharge, and if you've any concern you won't be covered enough it's worth adding. Normally you can cover your item up to £500 for an extra £5, and up to £1000 for £10. If you've asked for it, make sure it's included on the order confirmation or you won't be covered.

If the worst happens and your parcel goes walkabout, first go to the middleman discount courier. The company should give you a claim form from the main carrier. It's up to them to deal with any enquiries, and as noted above, sometimes these are understaffed so be sure to chase things up.

BEST BUYS: UK delivery

Here are the current top deals, chosen based on price and also forum feedback. If you discover any issues, or services no longer available, please report them to brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com. All prices include VAT.

• 3-4 day delivery for £6.90 (10KG) - Now get next-day upgrade free!
  
  Until Christmas, ParcelMonkey* is offering customers a free upgrade to next day delivery on it's 3-4 day service, which is already very cheap. The actual courier used can vary (though it's usually DHL). For items under 5KG, MyHermes charges £6.24 for 3-5 day delivery.
  
  
• 48hr delivery for £7.46 via DHL (10KG)
  
  For 48hr delivery, Parcel2Go* offers both DHL and HDN (Home Delivery Network, as used by Tesco and now Amazon) services for £7.46. Interparcel offers a UPS service for £7.48 with good feedback - choose 'Interparcel Economy' - though you do need a printer to use it.
  
  
• 48hr delivery of larger items for £8.75 (10-30 KG) via DHL.
  
  Over 10KG the cheapest reseller's collectmyparcel, which offers a DHL 48hr service for £8.75. However, feedback is quite limited on this service.
  
  
• Over 30KG? Let the couriers bid for your custom.
  
  Two services in particular are great for arranging cheap delivery of larger items. Shiply and Boxby allow couriers to bid for your custom, which can mean great deals on moving large items. Both services work the same way; they allow couriers and larger-scale hauliers to sell spare capacity in their vans & lorries, meaning extra efficiency and cash for them, and a cheaper, greener service for you.
  
  If you use either of these, please feedback on your experience in the Cheap Parcel Delivery discussion.
  
  
• PayPal Royal Mail service
  
  The main selling point of eBay's Royal Mail postage is convenience rather than price; if you've a printer at home you can print postage labels straight from your Paypal payment page, paying conveniently by PayPal. For items that'll fit in a post box it works brilliantly, as you can just print, stick and post. (Terms and conditions)

BEST BUYS: International delivery

When it comes to international postage, the Royal Mail is cheapest for small packages, but quickly gets expensive for items weighing over 500g. Its pre-paid C3 sized envelopes for parcels up to 500g can be bought in the Post Office or via the Royal Mail Online Shop for £6.10 for worldwide postage, or £4.75 for 48hr postage within Europe.

The actual price of sending parcels internationally depends on the destination. Yet the following services are usually the cheapest or amongst them. Below are examples of the type of delivery costs.

• Cheapest Europe Delivery - Berlin. 1-5 days, 10 kg
  
  The cheapest service is ParcelsPlease at £11.50, though feedback is very limited. Pharos comes with more feedback at at £16.20. If you need it there quicker, Parcel2go* charges £21.85 for a DHL 48hr service.


• Cheapest Worldwide Delivery - New York. 1-4 days, 10 kg
  
  The current cheapest is collectmyparcel at £38.38, though it has limited feedback. Parcel2go* offers a FedEx Express service for £49.40, followed by Worldwide Parcel Services at just over £50. Other cheap worldwide delivery agencies include Pharos, Trans Global Express and Interparcel. If you use any of these please let other MoneySavers know how it goes in the discussion.