Courier Recommendations please?

[pomparella]

Any professional courier recommendations please for the UK?

I am going to be posting high value, reworked fabric items across the UK and have been working my way through assessing potential courier services, specifically looking at their compensation policies should damage occur. The products would be irreplaceable and I do not have receipts for long-held antique and vintage fabrics used.

I would appreciate any insight - thank you x

 

[Patentleathershoes]

Does Royal Mail offer senders to purchase insurance? I know in the United States just buy insurance on the package is the best way to go. Are you talking more about a white glove service? Maybe someone from the UK will come along and offer some advice.

If these are truly coveted items that go for thousands, a person might be inclined to drive to pick it up also

 

[retro ruth]

I rarely send high value items, but the issue with royal mail is that in theory, their compensation only covers what the item cost you, rather than the sale price. This doesn't really work with antiques because it's not like you can just go and buy another at the same price.

In practice, the one time I made a claim, they paid me what my buyer had paid on an eBay sale, that got lost. But it wasn't a high value item. I've heard differing stories about getting compensation from them.

Sorry I'm not much help!

 

[pomparella]

Does Royal Mail offer senders to purchase insurance? I know in the United States just buy insurance on the package is the best way to go. Are you talking more about a white glove service? Maybe someone from the UK will come along and offer some advice.

If these are truly coveted items that go for thousands, a person might be inclined to drive to pick it up also

Thanks for responding. Retro Ruth below explains why Royal Mail are not a great option, even with insurance.

 

[pomparella]

I rarely send high value items, but the issue with royal mail is that in theory, their compensation only covers what the item cost you, rather than the sale price. This doesn't really work with antiques because it's not like you can just go and buy another at the same price.

In practice, the one time I made a claim, they paid me what my buyer had paid on an eBay sale, that got lost. But it wasn't a high value item. I've heard differing stories about getting compensation from them.

Sorry I'm not much help!

Thanks for responding Ruth - this is exactly the issue with Royal Mail and it appears, many other courier services. They refund the cost of the item not the retail sale price. I was hoping there may be a different option on the market but I'm yet to find it.

 

[retro ruth]

Thanks for responding Ruth - this is exactly the issue with Royal Mail and it appears, many other courier services. They refund the cost of the item not the retail sale price. I was hoping there may be a different option on the market but I'm yet to find it.

Yes I thought that might be what you were discovering. I believe people have been successful in getting sale price out of RM (and in my case they did it automatically), but it's hard when you don't know exactly what will be covered.

We also don't really have much in the way of third party package insurance in this country.

I know there are couriers that specialise in antiques, though they tend to focus on furniture and fragile items. But you may find their insurance policies are more appropriate? I don't know any in particular to recommend.

Also it might be worth contacting the companies about your specific circumstances and seeing what they say. I have done that when I was trying to get clarity about jewellery exemptions, because they didn't define what they meant by jewellery, and I wanted to make sure costume jewellery would be covered.

 

[pomparella]

Getting clarity up front for my specific products is a good idea Ruth - at least I'd have emails to refer back to should I need to. Many thanks x

 

[retro ruth]

I wonder who Kerry Taylor uses? She is a member here but I don't think she visits the forums. (London fashion auction house)

 

[pomparella]

Good thought. I'll email. I did email someone I know who specialises in high end textiles who uses DPD Couriers but their compensation policy is at cost too.