Let’s take a look at a checklist you need to keep in mind when researching a potential courier.

Reliable

Reliability and consistency is as important in the courier industry as it is in just about any other! A courier that isn’t punctual and can’t be trusted to deliver packages when they are expected, is probably more trouble than they’re worth. Reliability is the first thing you should be looking for when choosing a potential courier as this can define your experience of their service and determine whether you get your package on time.

Communicative

The cornerstone of any good company, communication is a very important aspect of customer service. Ideally, you don’t want to have anything go wrong when you’re dealing with a courier, but the fact is that things do go wrong from time to time. When this happens, you’d much rather a provider that is honest, upfront and communicative. If your package delivery is going to be delayed for whatever reason, a good courier will always take the time to get in touch with you, explain and apologise if necessary. Customer service goes a long way and can turn what would otherwise be a negative experience into a positive one. Providing good communication also involves being available to answer enquiries and questions, as well as being responsive.

Versatile

If you’re planning on working with a single provider, it’s best to find a courier that can provide you with as comprehensive and versatile a service as possible. This means that your courier will be able to delivery your packages at an affordable rate whenever you might be sending them. This becomes more important if you have clients, friends or family in different parts of the world. Some local Australian couriers simply won’t have access to delivery channels in Europe or Asia, for instance. The ideal courier company will have a global network to be able to transport your goods wherever you need them sent.

Well-presented

Your courier’s appearance is also of utmost importance, especially if you are having goods delivered as a part of a commercial transaction. If you’re selling products online for instance, you may never have any face-to-face interaction with your customer, so your courier’s appearance can reflect on you. A courier company that maintains clean trucks, uses a smart uniform and employs polite, well-spoken drivers is ideal.

The courier company in Melbourne that has the discussed characteristics is likely to give you the kind of service you’re looking for every time. It’s important to always do your homework and research when choosing a provider. You can find out about their services by giving them a call or checking their online profile. We’d recommend getting in touch with Send it Easy today and find out how we can help.

It’s no secret that souvenir gifts tend to get old fairly quick and many are novelty items. But there are some items that are uniquely Australian and make terrific gifts to send to relatives overseas, whether you have friends or family in India, Europe or the USA. Like nearly country, Australia has its share of things that really can’t be purchased anywhere else!

We’re particularly fond of the food items that are available in the land down under that can get nearly anyone excited. In this article, we’ll take a look at some tasty foods options you should keep in mind if you’ve got any birthday’s coming up for friends overseas.

Vegemite

Source - http://www.bandt.com.au

The brand is known around the world as something uniquely Australian and it’s rarely available overseas. A great option when spread on toast, crumpets or crackers, Vegemite is something As you no doubt know, the spreadable is quite bitter tasting at first, but you soon grow to love it with time.

While it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (even some Aussies aren’t a fan), sending your pals in India a jar of Vegemite makes for a fine gift and as good a reputation of life in Australia as anything! Preservable foods that can be transported long distances always make good gifts to friends overseas and there’s nothing that screams Australia like Vegemite does.

Milo

Source – http://travelwithbender.com

It’s true that Milo is sold and enjoyed in other parts of the world. It’s popular in Colombia, Brazil, parts of Asia and over in New Zealand too. But there’s no doubt that Milo is an Australia invention and a popular import. Many Australians enjoy this malt, chocolate drink with milk, and we all have our own ways of taking it.

There is some speculation that the Milo available in Australia is actually quite different to that overseas, meaning there’s an even better reason to gift it. We’d like to think the original is by far the best!

Tim Tams

Source – http://phoodie.com.au

An item that is a hit with Australian and foreigners alike, Tim Tams are frequently found in the hand luggage of visitors heading out of the country. These chocolate biscuits have become an Australian icon and are nearly impossible not to like no matter where you’re from. There are assorted flavours available including white and dark chocolate variations on the original, which is still the best seller of the lot. If you’re planning on sending Milo and Tim Tams to your friends over in India, suggest they try out the ‘Tim Tam Slam’, it doesn’t get more Australian than that!

These delicious food items make great gifts when you’re sending from Australia to India, just make sure you work with a trusted courier. Send it Easy’s courier service to India from Melbourne are highly reliable and one of the only that offers genuine door-to-door delivery options, perfect if you need a gift to arrive at a certain date. Get in touch with our team today for more information.

While overseas package delivery and international courier delivery services are very versatile and convenient in terms of what you can ship, there are certain items that simply don’t belong in packages. Whether you’re sending items into Australia or another country, it’s important to be weary of the local laws that may outright prohibit certain items from being shipped. This article will go through a few of the most widely prohibited items, all of which have good reason to be avoided!

Drugs and Chemicals

There are a range of different chemicals that make for a serious safety risk if shipped or delivered in a package. All flammable liquids and gases are prohibited. Oxidising substances such as bleaches, fertilisers, disinfectants and the like can lead to combustion in some cases and must be avoided. Toxic and infectious substances that can lead to damage or injury if either swallowed or when making contact with the skin can also not be shipped via a courier delivery.

Illicit drugs are quite obviously prohibited from being shipped, yet the reality is that drug traffickers often will use the post to distribute their product to buyers. In fact, some years ago, an anonymous online marketplace by the name of Silk Road was active, connecting buyers and sellers of illegal drugs and using the post to distribute them. Eventually, it was shut down by law enforcement after facilitating transactions that totaled hundreds of millions of dollars.

Live Animals

This one may seem painfully obvious, but the shipping of live animals is best avoided unless you have made arrangements with a specialist in this field. So if you were planning on shipping your dog overseas for a holiday, it might be wise to think again. That said, there are exceptions to this rule. Some couriers, Australia Post included, allow for the shipping of certain insects such as bees, silkworms and even leeches in some cases. Certain parasite can also varieties that serve the practical purpose of controlling populations of other animals can also be shipped, provided they meet certain criteria.

Cash

The shipping and parcel delivery of banknotes and/or coins is prohibited, and there are valid reasons for this. Basically, it’s to avoid the chance of the money being lost of stolen, given the number of people that may be handling the envelope of parcel, particularly if you’re sending money overseas. This may seem odd, given that many other highly valuable items are sent via the post.

Many courier delivery companies and Australia Post essentially prohibited the sending of cash due to it being a liability issue. If a great deal of money is lost or goes missing somehow, it is a problem for everyone, so it is advisable that to send a check or money order in these cases.

While these items are prohibited by most postal services and couriers worldwide, there are exceptions and it’s well worthwhile discussing what you can and can’t ship with your provider. For more information, get in touch with a premier international courier service like Send it Easy today.

There are is more of a market out there for courier services than ever before, and it’s not at all surprising the this is the case. As retails sales move increasingly online, there is greater demand for courier and postal services. This has led to considerably more choices for people looking to send goods either domestically or internationally. As a customer, it’s important to have a handle on how courier companies work, the rules and what expect from these kinds of services.

If you’re looking to find a provider but you have limited experience working with them, this article will take you through some of the most important considerations.

Services Vary According to Speed & Weight

In addition to the obvious location factor (i.e. where you are sending your package), the weight of the items you are shipping and how quickly you need them to be delivered will determine the price you are paying. Generally, courier will offer at lease two options; standard and express delivery. When you factor in the weight and location, pricing can be complex and difficult to predict. This is why, particularly for larger items, it’s necessary to get a quote from the courier before hand.

There may be other add-ons such as insurance, if necessary. You can ask your courier about their insurance terms. For particularly expensive items, getting insurance can be a good idea for your own peace of mind.

Packaging Is Super Important

Improper packaging can be a big problem when you’re sending off goods overseas or domestically. That not only includes providing ample protection for the contents but also following the labelling conventions that make it easy for the courier to ensure it goes where it’s supposed to go. Provide as much information as possible in clear print when you’re putting down the address, and of course, include a return address should their be any issues.

When you’re packaging the item, make sure you make sure it’s secure and that it won’t move inside the package. It should be held firmly in place within the box. Otherwise, some couriers also provide packaging services so you don’t even have to worry about it!

International Door-to-Door Package Delivery is Rare

For many countries in the world, it is simply not possible to have packages deliver directly to the provided address. Many countries just don’t have the resources and services available, or have strict border control laws in place. This can work to delay the package getting to the recipient. In fact, there are some countries we wouldn’t recommend shipping to at all! So make sure you do your homework and understand that delays are not always the fault of the courier.

If you’re shipping out of Australia, most couriers will offer a pick up service where you can organise a date for your package to be picked up. But be aware that depending where you’re sending and the company you’re working, it may not be possible to have the package hand-delivered. Luckily, Send it Easy has a huge global network at its disposal and is one of the few couriers that offers door-to-door delivery from Australia to countries the the Indian subcontinent, the UK and the US.

This article provides information on some of the most important things you need to know before sending off a package with a courier! For more information, feel free to get in touch with the friendly team at Send it East today.

When you’re sending out or receiving packages, whether it be via Australia Post or a courier company, there are two things you want to avoid;

• having the content damaged, and
• even worse, having the package go missing.

Unfortunately, given the volume of packages that are being delivered and the facts of how such a service works, things do go wrong from time to time and this can happen. Having a package or parcel misplaced can leave you in a difficult position, as you may not be sure of what course of action to take.

Let’s take a look at this situation and what is the best way to deal with it from your perspective.

Avoiding the Situation

There are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood that your package is either lost or stolen, whether you’re the sender or receiver. If you’re having packages sent to you, we’d usually recommend having them delivered to a work address, where you will actually be during business hours. It’s not uncommon to have packages left and eventually stolen, or for someone to pick up a package that isn’t authorised to do so. Also request that a signature be required to ensure security.

When sending yourself, the importance of clearly labeling the package should not be understated either. Make sure the address is clearly printed and is easily read – also, you should ideally also provide a return address. If a package address is not clear and no return address is provided, you’re going to have a problem.

How to Know Your Package Has Been Lost

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the progress of your package by checking the tracking system whenever possible. If you notice that the status has remained the same for 3 or more days, this might be a sign that something has gone wrong. Though it will depend on the specifics of the delivery and the service itself.

The best thing to do is if you feel that enough time has passed that you should have already received the package, get in touch with your sender and/or courier. Given the volume of packages being sent, most courier companies will not investigate specific cases unless given reason to do so, so it’s your job to stay on top of it and if you have reason to believe your package has been misplaced, the courier company will do their upmost to find it for you. You’ll need to provide them with as much information as possible, include the date of sending, the contents, the tracking number, etc.

How the Problem is Dealt with

The courier company will then look into the situation, and a lot of the time they will actually be able to track down the package. More often than not there is some simple error and it could be sitting in a warehouse somewhere, or it was simple delivered to the wrong address. If however it is deemed lost, generally the sender is responsible for this.

When you’ve ordered something online and the package has been misplaced, this will generally be on the retailer to solve the problem and reimburse you. Often they will work with the courier company to come up with a solution. If you are the one that sent the package, you may find that the courier company is liable for the losses and will be responsible for this. Some courier companies also ofter a higher level of cover and insurance if you want to be on the safe side. The policies and specific will depend on the company you’re working with so always be clear on this before choosing your provider.

Send it Easy’s excellent courier delivery and client communication means that we rarely have packages and parcels go missing, and in the unlikely case that this does happen we are generally able to track it down. For more information about our service or our missing parcel policy, don’t hesitate to give us a call today.

According to a recent study, as many as 63% of website visitors will choose to cancel a purchase if they consider shipping costs to be excessive. In fact, these fees are the biggest reason for shopping cart abandonment. This being the case, it becomes clear how important it is for website owners and managers to get the shipping part of the equation right and keep these costs as low as possible. The problem is that going too far in the other direction, and offering excessively low shipping prices can affect profit margins significantly. If you’re running a website yourself, figuring out how to manage your own shipping costs and how to pass them onto customers is a very important consideration.

Let’s take a look at some tips to ensure your shipping situation is as efficient and effective as possible, ensuring you don’t scare potential buyers away.

Decide on a shipping profile

After you establish how much it costs to ship your products according to

a) the locations
b) the dimensions &
c) the weight

You need to figure out how you want to charge your clients for shipping. A flat shipping rate is one option; where every customer pays the same amount no matter where they’re having their package sent. Under these circumstances you will have some clients paying more than it costs to ship, and others paying less – the idea being that ultimately things will balance out for you. This is the most common way to charge for shipping and often the simplicity of this makes it easy for both customers and for you.

However, if you’re selling a wide range of products, it doesn’t make sense to charge the same amount for every product. You can set up multiple flat rates according to weight ranges that you need to decide on.

Another option these days is to charge exactly what you’re being charged yourself to ship the item. There are ways to set up an instant quote system on your website that comes straight from your courier or package delivery provider!

Frankly, finding the shipping option that works best for you can take a little trial and error and depends greatly on the kind of goods you’re selling.

Free shipping options

Some larger providers selling in bulk will actually provide free shipping on all purchases, reasoning that the risk of losing potential buyers when they realise how much shipping costs makes it worth covering these costs in the long-run. Other online retailers will offer free shipping when a customer spends over a certain amount, using online buyer’s hatred of paying for shipping to encourage more spending.

Develop an ongoing relationship with a courier

Handling your shipping requirements through a courier can be more expensive than going with the basic post system, however often it depends on the courier. There are many reliable international courier service providers out there that may offer you a reduced rate, depending on the volume of packages you are having delivered. There are many e-commerce websites that have been able to cut cost by working with a courier and it’s well worth looking into this option. The more you are shipping, the more leverage you have and chances are that you can work out a deal. Another good idea is to share an account with your suppliers, meaning stock is travelling to and from your premises. This makes it even more likely that courier providers will be willing to offer you discounted rates.

In much the same way, shopping around and using different providers depending on where you’re sending a package is a must. For instance, it may be more expensive for you to use standard post options when sending overseas, compared to using a courier provider.

Needless to say, the retail industry has changed over the past 10 years. More items are sold online than ever before and this has increased the need for courier and shipping services the world over. This change has led to a greater number of courier companies starting up and a more efficient industry as a whole – packages can now be sent all over the world for cheaper and more quickly than ever before and the courier industry is growing at around 9% annually as of late 2016. Indeed, the industry is evolving. But where is the courier industry going and what is in store for the future for courier companies?

This article will take a look at where we can expect improvements and further increased efficiency.

Say goodbye to wide time slots for deliveries

There’s no doubt it’s annoying being told that your delivery will arrive between 9am-4pm. It’s even worse when you decide to duck out of the house for a few minutes at some point through the day and find that is the exact time the courier decided to come! With more technology and greater efficiency, it is predicted that soon we’ll be looking at 10 minute windows for courier arrival, giving customers a great deal more flexibility through the day and generally making things more convenient. It would also lessen complaints from customers, meaning courier companies can use resources elsewhere rather than having to deal with angry customers.

We’ll even potentially see GPS devices fitted to courier vehicles, where customers can use their smartphones to see exactly how far away their package is with minute-by-minute updates.

Large Companies Entering The Market

With the huge growth in this industry and it’s close association with the eCommerce boom, we should expect to see more companies enter the market that have not traditionally been associated with courier services in the past. We have already seen the likes of Uber, Amazon and Google get involved and start up their own courier channels, and we’re likely to see others follow suit. This means greater competition for the existing players in the market, which is ultimately a good thing for the consumer as it drives down prices and encourages innovation, which leads us to the next point.

Innovative Delivery Channels

With these new entrants into the market, new ideas and innovations are developing. There is, for instance, an increasing demand for drone delivery services, which enable packages to be sent out in real time from warehouse to customers’ homes. Amazon has been at the forefront of this and it very well may revolutionise the ecommerce industry, despite the fact that we are still a long way off this becoming a viable option for all.

Amazon is also exploring the possibility of making couriers out of pretty much anyone that has access to a smartphone, offering payment for those who are willing to drop of packages to people during their spare time or as they go about their daily business. Uber is reportedly using its drivers to also deliver packages as well as providing rides to passengers.

Without any doubt, the service offered by couriers is going to change considerably over the next 5 years, as it continues to grow as a result of the impact of the online retail market. It will be interesting to see what other innovations take place during this time and how this makes things more convenient for the customer.

Sending gifts half way around the world at the busiest time of the year in terms of mail transportation is often a quite worrying experience for first time users of non-national services. The main worry of many people is how long will the package take in transport, and will it get there undamaged.

Excellent service is needed in the modern age of sending parcels, but if you keep in mind these 5 reasons to think of when looking for a parcel courier, you will be well on your way to having the confidence to send your Christmas gifts all across the globe!

Pricing Of Your Parcel Delivery

The cost of sending your parcels may play a large role in determining which postal service you choose, and whether to send that extra gift or not. Heavier items are often more expensive to send, but some delivery companies offer a set fee for a weight, meaning that you can calculate precisely your costs before you wrap the item up to be sent.

Presentation Of The Company In General

Although it may not make a huge difference in terms of the quality of their service, the presentation of a postal service can often let you make snap decisions on whether this is the company for you. Turning up to pick your item up in a shoddy old van and a guy in no uniform may be unfortunate, but it may also say something about their brand ethos.

Having a well-balanced postal service that delivers your item from a decently protected van, and a delivery person dressed in the company uniform says to the customer that they are taking the company seriously, and are keen to maintain and image for the benefit of their services.

Process Of Your Parcel

The way courier service has evolved by time and the process and the system by which a postal delivery service operates may play a key role in determining how quick your item is collected, how quick it gets to the pick-up point for international flight, how well their customs procedure is and how swiftly it is delivered to the final destination. This process can vary from company to company, so take note of estimated delivery times and make your decisions about the quality of their processing services.

Products & Services The Company Can Offer Its Customers

Playing the key role in the entire operations, the quality of the products and services on offer by the postal company may determine if they garner your custom or not. Many international air freight services offer long haul services but not shorter trips to local regional areas.

A courier service Melbourne wide may be the best way to deliver important documents on a day to day basis, but a larger service for air freight and local courier delivery will be better suited to those one-off parcel deliveries that work out better than using standard international mail.

People Who Work Within The Company

The people who work in the courier delivery routes, the people in the air freight collection team and those who evaluate your postal services play a big part in giving the customer the confidence to purchase their services. A friendly and informative sales representative is always a great way to allay fears about shipping times and delivery status, with round the clock help a great way to determine if the courier is giving you a great service or an average service.

Shop around for the best deals to find a great courier for sending your Christmas gifts this holiday period to find the best deals. Have confidence in some of the well-known courier service companies in Melbourne for picking up your goods and you may find that sending parcels internationally was much cheaper, and faster than you might have thought.

With the festival of Diwali in 2016 coming up at the end of October, people of many countries in the Indian subcontinent will be celebrating by attending firework and lighting displays, decorating their homes and enjoying great food with family too! The yearly holiday is also a time during which gifts are often exchanged between loved ones, and there is also a tradition of giving to those in need.

This being the case, people located all over the world will often send gifts back to India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia (among other countries) to loved ones, and vice versa. Indeed, in India and Nepal, Diwali remains just about the biggest shopping season. It’s a very important time of the year for people from this part of the world, and ensuring packages are received on time is very important. But if you are somewhere in Australia and looking for shipping to India from Australia this Diwali, Send it Easy might be your best option. Don’t let your Diwali festival be incomplete, bring your loved ones closer this year by sending any courier to India or other countries in the region through Send it Easy. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why we can be your best match for this Diwali 2016.

Gifts of all Shapes and Sizes

Presents that you may be buying for loved ones can be small or large, fragile or robust. No matter what it is you’re sending, Send it Easy can accommodate you. With a range of international air and sea freight options, sea and air cargo shipping and courier services throughout the Indian subcontinent, you can be sure your item will arrive safely and intact.

Door to door Delivery

A partner of global logistics company DTDC, Send it Easy has a wide range of delivery options at our disposal, including door to door delivery in India. This makes things very convenient for both the sender and the receiver. Your items can be collected by a courier from your home, packed and taken to be shipped off to India, where they’ll be delivered by hand to the recipient. Send it Easy is one of very few Australian providers that can offer this level of service this Diwali.

Friendly Service

With a culturally diverse team of staff, that have many connections to many of these countries, we understand how important it is for your packages to be sent safely and on time. We pride ourselves on offering the highest level of customer service and are available via phone or email if you have any concerns or queries. Our international courier service wouldn’t be what it is without our excellent customer service and we guarantee we always make the needs of the customer number one.

Quick Turnaround Times

Given that Diwali is a five-day celebration, you have a bit more margin for error when sending gifts compared to Christmas, for example. But it’s still ideal to have your packages arrive on time, preferably before the beginning of the festival itself. Send it Easy’s courier service to India ensures delivery within 5-6 days, which gives you plenty of time to shop for gifts and organise for them to be sent!

Shipping Locations

Send it Easy has access to a vast delivery network, spanning across the Indian sub-continent including Nepal, Indian, Pakistan, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and others that celebrate the festival of Diwali. This means that no matter where your friends and/or family are located, Send it Easy can help you get your gifts to them this October efficiently!

So if you are looking for a Australian courier that can help you send gifts to India or surrounding countries in Diwali 2016, contact Send it Easy and find out how our comprehensive service can help. We are also offering special shipping deals thoughtout the Diwali period to India. So don’t be late to grab the opportunity!

Main Aspects Of A Good Service

When it comes to customer service, there are five main aspects that need to be considered.

TANGIBLES refer to the equipment, infrastructure and materials that the company has at its disposals. They play the most important role and contribute the greatest value to the business. They vary from business to business and sometimes the business need not to operate them all on a consistent basis. But the tangibles should be available whenever they are needed and they should be the best in their quality always. Tangibles may include trucks, vans, a team of couriers and access to international delivery channels for example.

RELIABILITY is quite self-explanatory. It’s all about willingness to help out the customer and get the job done under any circumstances, without promising things and not delivering. It may also refer to capability and strong company culture. It is the most important quality to have and should never be compromised for any alternates. In the customer service realm, reliability is one of the most important factors that the customers always look for.

RESPONSIVENESS is all about communication, an important part of any service. It’s about making sure the customer understands the process and not leaving them in the dark. The customers eventually love to evaluate how much the business is responsive towards them. They measure the speed of the service they receive, measure how much the business is concerned about them and how the business response to their changing demands and needs.

ASSURANCE concerns the connection that staff are able to make with the customer. It’s about reassuring them and winning their trust and confidence. It is to keep the customers always satisfied along with taking the constant care of the organization. Whether the business is small or big it is a must to make sure that the business is successful in retaining the customer trust and confidence for the long run.

EMPATHY is about demonstrating that the customers’ interests are always number one and not ignored for the interests of the company. It is the ability to understand the needs and wants of the customers and always giving the first priority to their interests. Having the attitude of “Customer is always right” motivates them to get the best experience. Understanding the customers and giving them the best comfort is vital to maintain the consistent success.

What these all means?

The important thing to note is that these aspects are not all valued equally, depending on the specific customer and obviously the industry. In the international courier industry for example, Tangibles ranks very highly because they, by definition, determine how quickly a package is able to be moved from point A to point B. If this doesn’t happen quickly enough or the number of services doesn’t reach the necessary standard, the overall experience from the customer isn’t going to be a positive one. A courier company should provide a range of services including excess baggage freight, international air freight and door-to-door service in as many countries as possible just like SenditEasy is doing since long!

Reliability is also of utmost importance. A customer is putting their trust in a courier company to deliver their goods, which are often very important, by a certain time. The stakes are often very high and anything other than delivery of the service, as advertised, is not good enough.

On the other side of the coin, assurance and empathy may be more important for those in a service orientated industry, where maintaining relationships and understanding the specific needs of a client is what makes the service work.

This gives you a good framework from which to look at the service offered by your courier company, and whether they are living up to their promise. While reliability and tangibles are the most important characteristics, your courier should be capable in the other areas too. If you’re looking for such a courier company that has all the aspects and can also manage international logistics then there is a Melbourne based cheap courier company welcoming you to meet with all your expected wants and needs and spreading their delivery hands to multiple countries.

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