Best postal service to use for an Amiga computer (UK)?

markpjd · 21 April 2019, 16:40

Hello all,

I was just wondering if any of you have sent an Amiga in the post before within the UK, and what service you used/think are the best to use?

I've heard mixed things regarding various companies, some being a bit lackluster when it comes to parcel handling.

Cheers

DonAmiga · 21 April 2019, 17:15

I think you'll just have to make sure the packaging is upto protecting it, I've had a crt monitor delivered from Germany which was perfectly fine because it was well packaged. I like that dpd gives you time slot for delivery so tracking would important for me with multiple updates and not just once it's been delivered.

markpjd · 22 April 2019, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonAmiga

I think you'll just have to make sure the packaging is upto protecting it, I've had a crt monitor delivered from Germany which was perfectly fine because it was well packaged. I like that dpd gives you time slot for delivery so tracking would important for me with multiple updates and not just once it's been delivered.

Ok, thank you for the info. I will look into DPD.

BarryB · 22 April 2019, 13:55

I used Hermes to send an 8833 MkII to a chap in Birmingham to do a chroma mod, the monitor survived the round trip as it was shipped in another monitor box with polys and plenty of packing inside! Also used them to send a couple of 1541's to a chap in Cardiff for repair/alignment, both came back fully working via Hermes!

Better than Royal Fail or Parcelfarce!

Juz400 · 22 April 2019, 14:13

All the carriers are just as crap as each other, simple rule to always follow:

Im guessing you have seen the amount of space in the back of a transit van.
Imagine if you will that space filled top to bottom with all manor of stuff.
Flatpack furniture, sacks of dog food, cans of paint, Iphones, laptops, TV`s
canisters of engine oil, bags full of golf clubs, all kind of stuff.
Your average delivery driver probably goes out at 7-8AM with about 100 drops
(1 or more parcels each) in the back there!
Rule:
Pack your stuff as if its going on the van FIRST with everything on top of it!

-Acid- · 22 April 2019, 17:23

It's all about the packaging... expect your item to be abused along the way so do as much as you can to ensure it will survive the ordeal.

Daedalus · 22 April 2019, 17:59

Indeed, all about the packaging. In contrast to a previous post, I would avoid Hermes altogether. They're often the cheapest option, and that's likely for good reason. We've had multiple packages go missing, supposedly signed for (funny enough, each time the signature was illegible), but never to be seen again. I've shipped lots of smaller things (e.g. motherboards) with Royal Mail and never had any issues, but they've always been well packaged.

Nobby_UK · 22 April 2019, 21:41

Could not recommend Hermes:

One package left in the Bin

another Stolen ---
Supposedly signed for by me

Tajmaster · 23 April 2019, 00:36

I use UPS and am happy with them, although like others have said, make sure whatever you send is packed really well.

gimbal · 24 April 2019, 16:59

Indeed. You can't judge by the company. I'm sure UPS and royal mail are good overall. But you are never guaranteed that the person that is responsible for shipping your precious Amiga has a huge hangover or is otherwise absolutely not in any way interested in if they keep their job or not and thus will just drive like a maniac.

Recently I've been most impressed by the amount of detail Ikea gives to deliveries. The people who delivered my bed were under strict orders to take pictures of each and every box delivered on-site; including a box with nothing but screws and such. Otherwise they simply do not get paid for the delivery.

That should be friggin' mandatory, no payment for you if you just toss the stuff in the bin and call it a day. You have to show proof of delivery into the hands of the person that ordered it. No silly finger scribble on a tablet that has to pass for a signature nowadays, actual photographic evidence.

nogginthenog · 24 April 2019, 19:37

Hermes seems to be 'some guy with a white van'. They tried to deliver my 3d printer to an obviously commercial address at 10:30pm. The next day 8:30pm. Luckily security was there.

Amandad · 23 June 2021, 10:02

I can't judge from others' experience, but choosing from the best courier company in delhi, where I'm studying now, I would choose any time express. They have a partnership with DHL. Which, it's the most reliable company globally, and every time I have shipped a package, it was delivered intact. They invest in their employees, and I know for sure that their van drivers are reliable people.

Havie · 23 June 2021, 20:53

I have used Hermes for years and to be fair, never had a problem. Have sent both a 500 and 1200, I agree that good packing is most important and it's worth paying for insurance. I know others have had issues but that's probably true of all carriers. Lots of Royal Mail parcels end undelivered! And sold off!

Daedalus · 23 June 2021, 22:24

It's a bit of an old thread to drag up

But Hermes deliveries are essentially all carried out by individual private contractors, so the quality of service depends entirely on who the driver is covering your area on a given day, whether they're in a hurry, whether they worry about putting your package in a wheelie bin outside your hose, whether they can be bothered or not. We had dreadful trouble with them for years, many parcels going missing, but because the driver marked them as delivered, neither Hermes customer care nor the sender would entertain any complaints, each blaming the other.

Sure, deliveries go missing with every company, but none with such consistency or lack of discourse as Hermes.

21 April 2019, 16:40	#1
markpjd Games-Coffer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London / England Posts: 131	Best postal service to use for an Amiga computer (UK)? Hello all, I was just wondering if any of you have sent an Amiga in the post before within the UK, and what service you used/think are the best to use? I've heard mixed things regarding various companies, some being a bit lackluster when it comes to parcel handling. Cheers

23 June 2021, 10:02	#12
Amandad Registered User Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: NY USA Posts: 1	I can't judge from others' experience, but choosing from the best courier company in delhi, where I'm studying now, I would choose any time express. They have a partnership with DHL. Which, it's the most reliable company globally, and every time I have shipped a package, it was delivered intact. They invest in their employees, and I know for sure that their van drivers are reliable people. Last edited by Amandad; 25 June 2021 at 10:04.

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21 April 2019, 17:15	#2
DonAmiga Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Scotland Posts: 523	I think you'll just have to make sure the packaging is upto protecting it, I've had a crt monitor delivered from Germany which was perfectly fine because it was well packaged. I like that dpd gives you time slot for delivery so tracking would important for me with multiple updates and not just once it's been delivered.

22 April 2019, 13:55	#4
BarryB Amigaholic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UK Posts: 4,676	I used Hermes to send an 8833 MkII to a chap in Birmingham to do a chroma mod, the monitor survived the round trip as it was shipped in another monitor box with polys and plenty of packing inside! Also used them to send a couple of 1541's to a chap in Cardiff for repair/alignment, both came back fully working via Hermes! Better than Royal Fail or Parcelfarce!

22 April 2019, 14:13	#5
Juz400 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: London Posts: 125	All the carriers are just as crap as each other, simple rule to always follow: Im guessing you have seen the amount of space in the back of a transit van. Imagine if you will that space filled top to bottom with all manor of stuff. Flatpack furniture, sacks of dog food, cans of paint, Iphones, laptops, TV`s canisters of engine oil, bags full of golf clubs, all kind of stuff. Your average delivery driver probably goes out at 7-8AM with about 100 drops (1 or more parcels each) in the back there! Rule: Pack your stuff as if its going on the van FIRST with everything on top of it!

22 April 2019, 17:23	#6
-Acid- Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Shields Posts: 812	It's all about the packaging... expect your item to be abused along the way so do as much as you can to ensure it will survive the ordeal.

22 April 2019, 17:59	#7
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Indeed, all about the packaging. In contrast to a previous post, I would avoid Hermes altogether. They're often the cheapest option, and that's likely for good reason. We've had multiple packages go missing, supposedly signed for (funny enough, each time the signature was illegible), but never to be seen again. I've shipped lots of smaller things (e.g. motherboards) with Royal Mail and never had any issues, but they've always been well packaged.

22 April 2019, 21:41	#8
Nobby_UK Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Liverpool Posts: 2,595	Could not recommend Hermes: One package left in the Bin another Stolen --- Supposedly signed for by me

23 April 2019, 00:36	#9
Tajmaster Registered User Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 41	I use UPS and am happy with them, although like others have said, make sure whatever you send is packed really well.

24 April 2019, 16:59	#10
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,905	Indeed. You can't judge by the company. I'm sure UPS and royal mail are good overall. But you are never guaranteed that the person that is responsible for shipping your precious Amiga has a huge hangover or is otherwise absolutely not in any way interested in if they keep their job or not and thus will just drive like a maniac. Recently I've been most impressed by the amount of detail Ikea gives to deliveries. The people who delivered my bed were under strict orders to take pictures of each and every box delivered on-site; including a box with nothing but screws and such. Otherwise they simply do not get paid for the delivery. That should be friggin' mandatory, no payment for you if you just toss the stuff in the bin and call it a day. You have to show proof of delivery into the hands of the person that ordered it. No silly finger scribble on a tablet that has to pass for a signature nowadays, actual photographic evidence.

24 April 2019, 19:37	#11
nogginthenog Amigan Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London Posts: 1,309	Hermes seems to be 'some guy with a white van'. They tried to deliver my 3d printer to an obviously commercial address at 10:30pm. The next day 8:30pm. Luckily security was there.

23 June 2021, 20:53	#13
Havie Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: UK Posts: 1,893	I have used Hermes for years and to be fair, never had a problem. Have sent both a 500 and 1200, I agree that good packing is most important and it's worth paying for insurance. I know others have had issues but that's probably true of all carriers. Lots of Royal Mail parcels end undelivered! And sold off!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

23 June 2021, 22:24	#14
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	It's a bit of an old thread to drag up But Hermes deliveries are essentially all carried out by individual private contractors, so the quality of service depends entirely on who the driver is covering your area on a given day, whether they're in a hurry, whether they worry about putting your package in a wheelie bin outside your hose, whether they can be bothered or not. We had dreadful trouble with them for years, many parcels going missing, but because the driver marked them as delivered, neither Hermes customer care nor the sender would entertain any complaints, each blaming the other. Sure, deliveries go missing with every company, but none with such consistency or lack of discourse as Hermes.