Author: affordablecourier

Small businesses are busy places with limited resources and lots of demands. For many businesses, it can always seem like they’re perpetually one step away from disaster. There’s always a situation that requires a reaction – whether it’s a crazy customer request to something you never thought you’d ever have to do. 

And as the owner of a business, you’re invested in the idea of ‘getting it done.’ If something needs to get done, you’ll just do it yourself or delegate it to one of your employees. Problem is – this doesn’t always work. And ‘keeping it in-house’ can prove to be overwhelmingly costly. 

Deliveries are one of those areas where we frequently see companies try to do just that – save money by doing it themselves; but when in reality, they’re spending more than they should. So, today, we put a list of the costs that you’ll be incurring should you choose to make deliveries an in-house service.

Productivity cost

The simple fact of the matter is that if you’re doing something, then you’re not doing something else. And that also applies to your employees. If you or your employees are delivering goods, then what are the things they’re not doing? Are you taking them away from their original job? Is delivering more important than them doing the aspects of their job they’re used to doing? This is called productivity cost – and from just the cost of things not getting done to paying overtime or asking for other employees to cover – it can get pricey. 

Fuel and mileage

Gas ain’t cheap these days and realistically – it won’t be getting cheaper anytime soon. If You use your own car maybe it’s coming from your pocket. If it’ an employee using theirs, then well – someone’s going to have to compensate them for it. 

Parking

You can’t just leave cars wherever you want in a big city. Cars need to be parked – whether on the street, in a garage or a lot. And parking in a city almost always costs money. And then if there’s a ticket or a tow? These are expenses that can add up quickly.

Insurance

This is the big one. If you use a vehicle for business purposes, the cost of insuring it goes up. And insurance isn’t inexpensive either. That’s not even factoring in maintenance, repairs and the like. Long story, short – every vehicle on the road is going to cost you money to put it there. 

So while these things seem like small expenses, when you add up the expenses, its becomes a lot more difficult to do business in the way and manner that you want to. And that’s going to make it more difficult for you to eke out a profit. 

If you’re thinking about outsourcing your delivery services, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to discuss options with you. Until then, good luck!

Rising gas prices aren’t really news to anyone these days. At the individual level, we’re all shelling out at the pump, but if you’re in business – well, that’s where people are really feeling the squeeze. That being said – even though rising gas prices have an impact on the economy, it’s not all bad – and that’s what we’re going to discuss here today. 

Here are some ways where courier services can actually help you snag an edge in an economy where increased costs and delays rule the day. Let’s jump right in. 

The automotive industry

One of the more pronounced areas of pressure on the gas industry is coming from the automotive industry. For everyday transportation – gas prices become a big hit. That being said, these murmurs and grumblings from disgruntled customers are fueling innovation among vehicle manufacturers. 

When gas prices go up, people drive less. Less driving means less revenue for anyone with a business that you need to drive to in order to get to. It also means that automotive sales take a hit because people are not buying as many cars. So as a result, manufacturers are trying to keep people on the road and the economy in full swing. 

Electric vehicles are becoming more of a thing – less to no fuel required. Hybrid vehicles are neither prime examples of high gas costs resulting in something that could potentially benefit all of us. 

So what does this mean for courier services?

It means that while you might be grappling with price increases, there are ways to still save money and be creative in the face of rising costs. Couriers save you money – logistically and otherwise – by getting your goods to where they need to be as quickly and as efficiently as possible. While gas prices and slower logistics means longer turnaround times – courier services are agile and move fast – meaning that in an economy where everything has slowed to a seeming crawl recently – that you’ll have the means and ability to move at a more normal pace. 

And that’s what gets everyone through tough times – creativity and agility! If you’re interested in what courier services can do for your business, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!

Folks who are new to what we do mix us up with the postal service all the time and truth be told – it’s not hard to do! But at the end of the day – courier services are different from postal services. Courier services offer a premium, all-inclusive service that is designed for deliveries that need to get to their destinations as soon as possible. Postal services are generally for delivering letters and parcels that can take some time to arrive at their eventual destination. 

There are some other important differences, too – some of which we’re going to cover here today. So are you unsure of what the difference is between a courier service and postal services? Today’s blog is for you. Let’s jump right in.

Speed and efficiency

Postal services aren’t slow or inefficient by any means – especially when you consider the sheer volume they need to manage every day. It’s always a good option. 

But courier services are fast. Intentionally so. If your business revolves around deliveries being made and time always being of the essence, it’s going to be a courier service that’s more effective. 

Fewer restrictions

Like we said – the postal service can handle a lot. Literally and figuratively. When it comes to a courier service though – they have far fewer weight and size restrictions – meaning that if you have a unique item or something in bulk that the postal service couldn’t handle; chances are a courier service can handle it. 

Real time tracking

While the postal service will certainly keep you up to date regarding the status of your package, you have unprecedented control through a courier service. They provide real-time tracking so you’ll know exactly where your package is and when. Especially when it comes to those ‘time is of the essence’ deliveries or something that’s very valuable – you can rest assured knowing that your package is where it’s supposed to be and when. 

A-la-carte services

When it comes to the postal service – the services they offer are the services they offer. With a courier service you can mix, match and blend many of their services to match your needs. While postal services are just fine when it comes to standard shipping needs; if you have a business that is reliant on ongoing, timely deliveries – having the option to cater delivery options to your businesses needs is vital. 

As you can see – courier services have some important differences from the postal service. If you or your business need a new way to connect with your customers, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Until then – good luck!

If you’re here then the chances are that shipping plays a crucial role in your business. In some cases, your customer’s experience with your shipping services can be the difference between earning a customer for life and losing them forever. And as they say, the devil is always in the details and it’s small mistakes that can cost you a lot of stress, time and money. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to remedy those issues. 

Today, we’re going to talk about the most common mistakes we encounter and how you can make sure you don’t make those same mistakes. Let’s jump right in!

Poor packing

Regardless of what you’re shipping, you need to choose the right sized box and the right protective packing material. Faulty packaging can cause a plethora of issues depending on what’s being sent – and in some cases, your parcels can get broken and or damaged. Make sure that whatever you ship – that you do your research or ask your courier service precisely how to package your items. 

Lack of transparency with returns

Make sure that you have a very clear, thought-out return policy that only gives precise instructions as to what needs to go where and how; but what will also happen once the package is received. This is a commonly overlooked aspect of the day-to-day function of a business that can lead to a lot of unnecessary expense. Also – be sure that all of your returns are going to one, centralized place. That way, things will run more efficiently. 

Underestimating the weight of your package

Weight has a heavy influence on the cost of shipping something from point A to point B. This can be an issue because if there’s a discrepancy between what you THINK the package weighs and what it actually weighs, companies can and will charge you extra – and in some cases that cost can be significant. Measure the weight of a product up front and save yourself the headache of unexpected fees and expenses. 

Use delivery receipts 

Keeping receipts is important because it tracks where a package was and when it was there. That way, in the event that something got broken, you can easily track back to when the damage happened and try to get some answers. Even though this isn’t ideal, it’s making the best of a bad situation and will at least show some initiative on your side to help your customers out. 

Companies are always trying to figure out how to get their goods from point A to point B. And it’s always a speed vs. cost question. How fast can you get something somewhere by spending the least amount of money possible. For many companies, it simply comes down to two options: Courier Services or Freight Companies. 

Which is the best for your business? Well, we’re hoping today’s blog helps to bring that answer into a little bit clearer focus. Both offer great benefits, so let’s take a look at both and see which one might better meet the needs of your business. Let’s jump right in!

Benefits of a freight company

Freight companies are an ideal choice for businesses that ship large items and big parcels. Anything north of 70kg should probably be handled by a freight company. They also work particularly well with companies that provide bulk inventory shipments to other businesses like retailers. Freight companies are great at reducing their overhead costs because they don’t deal with customers directly – instead they usually liaise with a smaller network of forwarders and freight brokers. 

Benefits of a courier service

“Small but mighty” is the calling card at the end of the day when it comes to a courier service. If you need something moved quickly, accurately and with precision – then courier services are for you. Think of freight companies as the right way to go for the big stuff and courier services are the superior option when it comes to tactical precision. They also give your customers peace of mind – as they know their package will be secure from beginning to end and even more importantly – that only one company handled their goods. Especially in the event that there are issues with the delivery – you’ll be able to manage any issues more easily and have more control over the outcome. 

So like we said – if you’re going big, go with a freight company. If you need speed and precision; go with a courier service. At the end of the day, both will meet your needs depending on what they are better than traditional shipping methods will. And as always, if you’re in the Largo, FL area and are looking for a courier service, we can help. Until then, good luck!

Many of us tend to roll our eyes when we think of things like the age of ‘instant gratification.’ We think entitlement, unrealistic expectations and difficult customers. While there’s some downside to this train of thought, there are simply some industries where not only is instant gratification OK, but it’s utterly necessary. 

Such is the case in the world of medical courier services. In an industry where any time wasted could mean the difference between life and death, it’s vital that courier services be accurate, fast and ready at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, not all courier companies are that way and that’s what we’re here to discuss today. 

Here are a few of the signs that it might be time for you to look for a new medical delivery service. Let’s jump right in. 

Poor customer service

We’ll start with the obvious but a courier company that can’t be on time and doesn’t treat you like gold can’t be trusted in situations this serious. You should be able to know where your package is at all times, when it will be somewhere and exactly who will be receiving it. If you aren’t being taken care of and the basics aren’t being met, it’s time for a new medical delivery service. 

Poor vehicle conditions

Medical deliveries aren’t as easy as just throwing some packages in a truck and racing around from destination to destination. Contents can range from sensitive records to actual, real organs that need to be cooled and kept at a certain temperature. The vehicles they are transported in need to be equipped to deal with these demands. In addition, vehicles need to be clean as some deliveries require clean environments. Make sure any medical courier service you do business with has these basics covered. 

Unscreened drivers

These deliveries are critical and as such, your drivers need to be properly trained specifically for medical deliveries. Not only does this include package handling, but it also should include HIPAA compliance and the like. These are extremely sensitive and critical deliveries that need to be handled with professionalism and confidentiality. 

Lack of experience

All of the conditions we just described above are simply symptoms of a greater problem – which is a general lack of industry experience. Just because a courier company says they can handle medical packages doesn’t actually mean that they can. Probe, ask questions and ask for references. This is a service where the provider and you can’t afford to be wrong. 

If you’re looking to switch medical delivery services, be sure to follow these tips and guidelines and you should find a good company in no time. If you’ve got questions or would like to ask more questions about the process, feel free to reach out and we’ll answer your questions quickly. Until then, good luck!

White glove delivery service is a premium delivery service among premium delivery services. Not only is your package delivered to you directly, but it can be carried into your house and even unpackaged for you. In some cases, the delivery service might even offer assembly services as well! Even the cleanup of packaging materials is covered. 

White glove delivery is perfect for fragile and high-value deliveries that need the utmost care and attention. If you’re in the market for a white glove delivery service, here are some things for you to know. Let’s jump right in.

The pricing

This will be top of everyone’s mind. After all, the cost of delivery for anything these days isn’t cheap! And while you’d think that white glove delivery service would be substantially higher than standard delivery, you’re actually wrong. In fact, it’s not that much more costly. 

The cost of white glove delivery really comes down to location. If you live in a highly populated, urban setting, cost tends to be quite low. If you live in the middle of nowhere, well, you’ll certainly be paying more. Weight is also a factor. The heavier the load, the more expensive the service. Also, expect to pay more on the holidays and weekends. 

What questions to ask?

While white glove delivery has a ‘shtick’ so to speak, the reality is that every delivery is different, so you should be prepared to ask your courier service a few questions. 

• How are delivery times scheduled?
• What do you charge for weekends and evening deliveries?
• What kind of add ons does your service offer?
• Do you charge more for expedited shipping?
• Are there any additional service fees I should be aware of?

Be persistent in asking your questions. Helping to get these questions answered will help improve communication between you and your courier service and ensure that you get the kind of delivery service that you’re looking for – and more importantly – paying for. 

How do you prepare for a white glove delivery?

While you’re paying for a premium service, there are some things you can do to make your delivery person’s job a little bit easier. If you have a lot of clutter near or around your door, make sure it’s cleared out before they arrive. If you need something assembled, make sure you vacuum out the area before you assemble it. If you have hardwood floors and worry about them being scratched, then make sure you use a drop cloth or thin sheet. This’ll help avoid any possible damage that may occur while the delivery person is unpacking for you. 

Now that you know more about white glove delivery services, it’s time for you to decide if they’re right for you! If you still feel like you’d like to learn more, give our office a call today! Until then, good luck!

As a medical service provider, we know you have plenty to worry about. From patient care and staffing, to procedures, fiscal plans and the like – there are a myriad of challenges that face our healthcare providers. And when someone’s health is at stake, the last thing you want to worry about is a delivery not being made either on time or properly. 

Choosing the right courier service is important; but for some medical service providers, it’s hard to know where to start. Today, we’re going to discuss some of the things you need when trying to decide what service provider to go with. Let’s jump right in. 

HIPAA Compliance

This should go without saying, but HIPAA enforces strict rules and regulations regarding protected healthcare information. Communication with any delivery company should be handled carefully in order to make sure that someone’s information isn’t compromised. Violating these rules can result in fines and even prosecution, so make sure that any delivery service you choose is HIPAA compliant. 

Reliable and on-time

While we don’t mean to be dark, here – receiving a delivery can sometimes mean life or death in the healthcare world. Urgent, detail oriented and punctual delivery is critical. Any courier service that you choose should have the ability for you to monitor delivery in real time, so that you know exactly where and when your delivery is and will take place. In addition, they should be able to demonstrate a proven track record of being on-time and on the mark. If they can’t paint a picture of reliability for you, they should be immediately crossed off the list. 

Proper equipment

Medical deliveries aren’t like other deliveries. Sometimes certain things need to be kept at a certain temperature, packed in a specific way and delivered with a certain level of care. Having the right equipment is essential to both the success and safety of your delivery. Make sure you ask a potential delivery company about the equipment they have and whether they’re ready and able to handle the kinds of deliveries you need. 

A proven track record

Not all courier service providers are the same. Some excel in some areas and not as much in others. Make sure whoever you go with has an extended, proven track record of handling healthcare providers and perhaps even specializes in your industry. One poor delivery can have dangerous consequences and you can’t afford to roll the dice. 

Hopefully these tips will help your decision of who to go with come into a little bit clearer focus. There are many moving parts to medical transportation and handling things the right way up front can make a big difference. If you need help or guidance, feel free to give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!

Everyone’s been there. You called a business and paid for a service – but you didn’t get what you expected. Or more specifically to deliveries, have you ever ordered something in the mail and not received it on time or at all? We’ve all been there and those experiences are frustrating! And simply put – as a small business owner, you already have a small margin for error and having mistakes happen in your deliveries can cost you a client!

However, if you’re a small business owner – there are alternatives. Courier services can be a god send and a difference maker in your business. That being said, how do you decide who to go with? What makes one courier company stick out from another? That’s what we’re here to discuss today.

Here are some of the most important qualities you should look for in a local delivery service. Let’s jump right in!

Dependability

Above all else, you need to know that your delivery service is dependable. You need to know that they’re thorough, on time and can get the job done that’s asked of them. Make sure you check reviews to see that they follow through on what they promise. Dependability is the most important quality a courier company can possess. 

Flexibility

Does this courier company have enough drivers? Do they have enough vehicles? Are they efficient at planning their schedule and routes so that they get packages to where they need to be on time? Can they deliver packages same-day? The truth is – the more flexible a company is, the more you’ll get out of your experience with them. Make sure they’re equipped to adapt to your needs. 

Convenience

Is this courier company easy to work with? Do they have couriers on call? Is making payments easy and is pricing direct and straight-to-the-point? Can you track packages? At the end of the day, you want a company to be able to deliver a package just like you’d do yourself – without you having to lift a finger. Look for companies that go well out of their way to make your life easier and help your business.

Transparency

Everyone likes to know who they’re dealing with. In addition to having packages delivered on time knowing a clear pricing structure and knowing where your package is and when – is important. That way, everyone knows where everyone stands. Your customers will feel more in control and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that even in the off-event something does go wrong, that you’ll be able to respond in a professional way.

If you’ve spent hours searching for a courier and aren’t sure exactly what you need to be looking for, we hope this blog helps get you closer to a decision. In the meantime, if you have any questions or are in the Tampa, FL area and need a free consultation, give us a call. Until then, good luck!

Transporting large items from one place to another isn’t a cakewalk and there’s an almost endless list of things that have the potential to go wrong. 

Some of these issues can include safe handling of the package, minute-by-minute updates, and above all else – making sure that it gets delivered to the place it’s supposed to – and in pristine condition. Believe it or not, when you’re faced with a situation like this, then it’s usually the best possible time to utilize a courier service. 

Why? Well, here’s why. Let’s jump right in!

Expertise

For both the right and wrong reasons, some folks consider courier companies to be an unusual service. While there’s many wrong connotations with that – this is one of those situations where ‘unusual’  tag is a badge we wear with pride. 

That’s because huge shipments are unusual. In many cases, courier companies specialize in large shipments and everyone from their office staff to the guys doing the transporting – all know what to do, when to do it and how to do it as professionally as possible. They’re well-versed with the unusual, know how to take responsibility and above all else- depend on satisfying you. There’s plenty of options out there, so if the courier staff doesn’t get it right, then that business is going to end up with someone else. 

Connection

Dispatchers are the lynchpin for courier services because they help bridge the gap from point A to point B. They track precisely what the distribution channel will be and will leverage that courier services’ technological capabilities to keep customers up to date – and with precision.

When you ship a large or bulk delivery – you’re investing a lot of time and money in making sure that things are getting to where they need to get to. Courier services will keep you updated – and updated with precision. You’ll know exactly where your shipment is, how things are going and when your customer can expect delivery. 

Details

As they say ‘the devil is always in the details.’ And that’s the mantra of a lot of courier services because in order to be able to specialize in something so particular, courier companies need to have an almost obsessive penchant for detail. 

And to be honest, we don’t usually like the word ‘details.’ It’s really just called ‘being prepared.’ Why? Well let’s face it, courier companies like ours have been providing these kinds of services for a long time. Over time, you settle into routines that allow the execution of a delivery to be seamless. And that’s our goal. We see detail in all our dealings and when the wind blows and throws us a curveball, we’re ready. Why? Because the real work has been done up front. 

Hopefully these reasons will convince you that choosing a courier service is what makes the most sense when it comes to unusually large and bulk shipments. If you or your company are thinking about something big on the horizon, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!