Look at the alternatives first (Parcelforce)

Member Name: windwhisperer

Product:	Parcelforce
Date:	21/12/08 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They have a good tracking service

Disadvantages: Expensive for many areas of the UK. Recent price increases for overseas is a big deterrent

Unfortunately, Parcel Force, and its ilk, are one of my major gripes. But perhaps Parcel Force more than most because their pricing structure and service has deteriorated so much in the last few years.

From a business perspective, the days are long gone when PF were for me cost effective at shipping larger items abroad. I used to be able to give my customers competitive and reasonably priced quotes on shipping for larger or multiple purchases - not so now. The height/weight/size restrictions are so expensive, they actually deter from selling overseas. The last time I used PF for a single item, the charges had increased so much the customer accused ME of ripping him off and pocketing the excess. Fact was I purposefully undercharged him and lost on the deal, postage wise, purely to meet my obligations.
A further irony being the package was returned to me as 'undeliverable; and thus the whole fiasco had to be repeated.
I haven't sold anything since that cannot be posted via Royal Mail services. Not exactly good for business which is particularly hard to swallow considering the current economic climate.

And lets look at the UK delivery issue, well really that does depend on what PF considers to be the UK. From my location the minimum charge for shipping any item within the UK is £12, I know this because I looked up a price for shipping a 2 litre plastic jug, and of course it goes onwards and upwards from there, escalating practically into the stratosphere.

The UK, as a country, isn't that big. It is also, by geographical make-up, a group of islands - not just one island located towards the southern end of the country! Postage costs therefore should be more standardised to enable parity of communities to function. Courier companies such as PF should not be allowed to serve only the areas they wish to at reasonable prices, they should be providing a nationwide service at reasonable prices. Cherry picking pricing does not make them a serious alternative to Royal Mail.

My conclusion is, if you are thinking of sending an item to one of the more remote areas of the UK or shipping something overseas - check out the weight and size restrictions with Royal Mail first. If your package comes within their guidelines then it would be my first port of call as being the cheapest and most efficient method of posting.

Summary: Okay if items are travelling within areas with motorway networks ... that's all.