How to choose the right courier broker

The growing popularity of online shopping has seen internet sales increase drastically leaving consumers and businesses looking for reliable courier services. Aside from the many individuals who send the odd parcel here and there, businesses and online retailers are now heavily reliant on courier services to have their products sent to customers whether it be domestic or international.

There are so many different courier companies and comparison sites out there. This can make it somewhat overwhelming trying to find a dependable courier who can best meet your requirements. At Interparcel, we understand how important it is to find a reliable courier at the right price. Below are some key factors to consider which will help you to choose the right courier.

Standard postage vs courier service

The growth in courier shipping has greatly overshadowed other postage methods in recent years. This is mainly due to the fact that courier services are convenient, offering collections and deliveries to and from homes, offices, warehouses and business premises. Rather than having to head out to a local post office, parcels can be easily collected, resulting in significant time savings.

Service options and cost-effectiveness

The suitability of a courier will largely depend on what you’re sending and where you’re sending to. While some courier services are more suitable for domestic deliveries, there are others which specialise in deliveries to international destinations. It’s always worth comparing the different services which courier companies offer, as well as their areas of specialism.

If you ship to multiple destinations, you may want to choose different couriers for each destination. For instance, one for domestic deliveries within Australia and one for international shipments. Booking with Interparcel allows you to pick and mix services to suit every parcel you're sending with just one payment. Some couriers will be more competitive to ship the smaller packages whereas others will provide a specialised pallet service for heavier items. It really comes down to what you're sending and how quickly you would like it to be delivered.

At Interparcel we try to be as transparent as possible. For example, we know which remote areas incur an additional charge so as long as you enter the correct postcode, we'll reflect this in the price you see. Our quotes are based on the details entered at the time of booking and as long as you've entered accurate details, the price displayed is what you will pay at checkout. This excludes any add-on’s such as text notifications, Enhanced Transit Warranty etc.

Level of customer service

Although courier companies and comparison sites will urge you to use their services by offering some of the cheapest rates, this will likely be at the expense of customer services. The lack of customer support can be a real problem with courier companies, especially if there are any issues with deliveries.

Before you book your delivery service, be mindful of what customer service they offer. How easy are they to contact? Do they have a phone number? It's great to email, but who wants to be waiting on a response, wouldn't you rather know straight away?

Our phone lines are open between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday and we're monitoring emails and live chat during this time too so you’ll always get a fast response however you choose to contact us. All our staff are trained to know the ins and outs of all our services so if you're not sure of who to book with, how, or what to expect, reach out to us.

We have the ability to track every order behind the scenes so if there are any issues holding up your parcel, contact us and we’ll liaise with the courier to have this dealt promptly. This will give you complete piece of mind that not only have you booked through one of the premium brands but that Interparcel are looking after your delivery too.

Too many shipments to keep track of? Simple; add a text message option and we'll let you know when the parcel is loaded for delivery and again, once it’s been safely delivered! We also offer additional benefits if you create an account with us, It's so quick and easy! If you’re logged in you'll have your very own address book so you don't have to type in delivery addresses every time, you can customise how services are displayed, for example always order by cheapest, or by a certain courier. You can also click on your ‘orders’ page to see the status of each delivery in one place, plus many other features. We know all of these things are really important, especially if you're a regular shipper and we’ve got it covered.

Reviews and reputation

Word of mouth, recommendations and online reviews can give a good insight into how good a company is. However, all couriers will encounter some issues due to the nature of the industry so there will always be a small element of negative comments on social media or online review platforms. Instead of fixing your attention on negative reviews, also see how the company responds to messages and if they offer genuine resolutions.

We believe that a negative situation, although regretful, is our chance to show our customers how good we really are and we'll always do what we can to turn that negative into a positive. Whilst the Internet is a great platform to book 24 hours a day, it's great to know there's actual people behind the scenes that care when you need that little bit of help.

Sending specialist items

Before booking your next shipment online, we always advise customers to check that the items being sent can be safely handled by your chosen courier. There are some items which a regular courier will deem as unsuitable for their services. Usually, these will be classed as restricted or prohibited items and will tend to vary between couriers. Examples include high-value items, fragile or delicate goods, sensitive documents and certain liquids or medications which should be safely stored at a specific temperature.

We have put together a general list of Prohibited and Restricted Items which applies to all the couriers we deal with, and also additional items that apply to certain countries by certain couriers. Just choose which courier company you'll be using and where you are sending to and you can easily check which courier is able to handle your goods.

Delivery times

The top concern when sending a parcel is whether an item will arrive at its final destination on time.

Couriers differ greatly in the services which they offer and their estimated transit times. When you enter the collection and delivery addresses on our site, we'll show you the expected delivery date for the postcode you've entered. We’ve made it easy for you to make the choice displaying suggested delivery dates and pricing all on the one page.

Our aim is to give you the best variety and offer a range of services so you can select what’s best for your needs. No two customers are the same and no two parcels are the same so why choose a one size fits all delivery service? Well, now you don’t have to, we offer overnight and same day deliveries for those really urgent parcels or standard services for those less urgent but more price sensitive shipments.

Tracking and transit warranty

Most reputable couriers and comparison sites will provide a full tracking service so that you can track each stage of the parcel delivery process. Tracking should be accessible and easy to use. On our site you can easily track your parcel and monitor its progress at any time online allowing both you and the recipient to stay updated on the shipments progress.

You should always check what a courier offers in terms of insurance or transit cover. Often quotes will display an inclusive amount of free transit cover as standard but this can vary greatly between different courier companies. For more valuable goods, Interparcel offer Enhanced Transit Warranty so you can fully protect your parcel in transit giving you peace of mind in those rare but unfortunate circumstances.

How long will it take to process a claim if you had to go down that path? With our own in-house claims team, once all the claim documents have been received by us, we’ll work to complete it for you as soon as possible. We normally advise a 28 day turnaround, but most claims are concluded within 14 days.

Choosing the right courier

Finding a courier service doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve done the hard work and made it easy for you to choose the right courier service. All you need to do is simply enter your parcel details and begin comparing options using our online quote tool.

Interparcel offer some of the most competitive delivery prices with established couriers and ensure that all services are fully trackable. We value our customers and therefore invest in our customer service team so that you can contact us via email, telephone and live chat. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ways we can improve, contact us!