How to avoid costly mistakes when using a courier

As small business owners, we understand how frustrating it can be to pay more than you have to for something. In times like these, when every cent counts, it’s important to know how to avoid costly mistakes that could harm your business.

Unfortunately when it comes to courier services, some people make some of those same mistakes. Today, we’re going to talk about what some of those mistakes are and what you can do to avoid them. Let’s jump right in!

Choosing the wrong kind of service

Make sure you take the time to choose the right service! Give us a call and let us walk you through what we have to offer. A lot of people more or less blindly select options and then order when in reality, they’re over-paying relative to their needs. Courier services offer a lot of different options, so let them walk you through what they have so that you’re not over (or under) spending.

The wrong number

Many times, clients will have us pick up their package directly at a manufacturer’s worksite. Our drivers go to will call but if they don’t have the purchase order number, it gets difficult to find the package. Then our driver calls the office, we call the client, get the number, back to will call, etc. That’s all wasting time; time that will get billed.

So the solution is pretty simple: Make sure you always provide an identifying order number and make sure it’s accurate. And let us know via telephone and in writing. That way, there’s no wiggle room for mistakes.

Understanding policies and procedures

Make sure you go over rules, policies and procedures with your courier before signing on the dotted line. While it’s not something we do, there are couriers who have fees attached to a lot of different services and requests, so be sure you know what you’re signing up for. It’s just as much your responsibility as it is the courier’s to know what you’re getting yourself into – and if the courier doesn’t address their policies and procedures directly, you should bring it up yourself.

Not contact info

This might seem mind boggling when you’re in the delivery business; but you’d be surprised at how little contact info we’re given sometimes. Who is the package coming from? Who is it going to? Are we leaving it at the front desk? If so, how do we get ahold of them? Especially when you’re dealing with bigger businesses, it’s really important we have both the contact’s name and direct phone number so we can track them down quickly. In certain cases, it can turn into something akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

f we’re delivering something sensitive – these details need to be spelled out specifically. There can’t be margin for error.

Additional details

A lot of times, certain deliveries will have specific instructions not just of whom to deliver a package, but how it needs to be delivered. Maybe we need to go through a side door or out around back of the building, etc. If there’s some sort of trick we need to know in order to deliver your packages the right way – let us know! And again – this is doubly important when it’s a sensitive or rush delivery. Seconds count – so we need to make sure things go as smoothly as possible.

At the end of the day, we all just want excellent service at a fair price. Avoid some of these mistakes, and we’re sure you’ll be very happy with your courier and enjoy many happy, successful deliveries. Good luck!

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