Andrew is a property developer in South London.
With pressure on costs he tries to source as much material as he can from reclamation sites, auctions and so on.
A lovely spiral staircase was too good a bargain to miss for the outdoor stairs on his 4 floor flat conversion…….but they were in Northumberland….that’s a long way from London.
Now he needed a cheap courier or parcel delivery service that covered the UK.
Having got quotes from several couriers and courier delivery companies, and a quote to hire a van for a day (or two!), Andrew was facing greater costs to get the staircase delivered than it cost! Which would knock a great hole in the saving’s he’d made in finding such a bargain in the first place!
A quick online search for large parcel delivery suggested www.stuff2send.com…and MickY….a private courier in Newcastle…..came to the rescue.
Micky gave a great courier delivery service - he picked up the staircase (and also a boiler!) and delivered them to London, in his estate car.
A real personal service, always on the phone and delivered door to door.
Andrew saved costs on delivery service, used a local courier to deliver a large item and didn’t have to take a day off work.
A win-win for everyone…and a great story to highlight that out there, for the 33m drivers in the UK, there’s room for everyone to help others out deliveirng stuff as you drive about.
Go on, deliver something along the way, and earn some cash for your fuel costs
[...] Andrew Saved a Day’s Work and £200 – By Using Stuff2Send.com … [...]
Well, how many Ford Mondeos, have you seen with a Spiral Staircase in them?
It was a Great Job for me, something different to carry, and as mentioned, a Great saving for Andrew.
Thanks to Colin, (site founder), we all won. Not only doing the job, but meeting a new friend, and contacts, all through Stuff2Send.com.
Thanx
Micky
KNS Express Deliveries
07941888270 – 24/7
‘A lovely spiral staircase was too good a bargain to miss for the outdoor stairs on his 4 floor flat conversion.
Micky gave a great courier delivery service – he picked up the staircase (and also a boiler!) and delivered them to London, in his estate car.’
I’m sorry but how do you get a spiral staircase big enough to scale four floors AND a boiler in an estate car, As a professional courier I take great offence at your sales line. I have just now come off the phone to Micky, nice guy, but I have the following points.
Your tale tells of the four floor flat conversion and with it the spiral staircase, which I take to mean big enough to scale all four floors. That’s not the case is it? He doesn’t have any Goods in Transit insurance does he? The reason professional companies charge what they charge is obvious. From the sound of it he didn’t even make any profit on the job. I know you will respond to that by saying that’s not the idea of the site, but I don’t believe he was going to London anyway. I have no problem with the site and certainly none with Micky and I’ve told him about my response, this is in no way aimed at him. I just think it’s a bit sly the way you’ve done it. Rant over.
Hi Paul
thanks for your comment – approved above.
Not sure about how Micky fitted it in, but the point is this.
1. We’re not taking away your business. This item was on the site for anyone, including you to make an offer on. We’re offering items up to you, and every courier in the country to make offers on. It’s your choice to do so or not. If you don’t you can’t really complain if others do.
2. There’s a huge difference between a professional courier service (business) and an individual, and there’s nothing to say 2 private people cannot do each other a favour. Private motor insurance guideleins from the ABI allow “liftshare” for money. That’s all Micky was doing, or Alan the student or any other private individual. One is a business arrangement, the other a private agreement.
3. As for Andrew, it was his choice to choose what he wanted – a more expensive business offer, or a private offer. He made his choice.
4. Sorry, you assertion about “going to London anyway”…..not appreciated. What happened between Micky and Andrew was between them and in no way was engineered. I’d ask you to retract that comment and your coments about the sales pitch.
The site offers you a new way to get business. It’s up to you, and in most cases people will choose you, and pay for the professional service you offer. On occassion, when you can’t offer the service they want, why worry? It’s all there for you to bid on….
Hello Admin,
Firstly I wish to say I don’t want to go to war with you but as a professional courier I feel I have a valid point
Point 1
I spoke to Micky and as I understand it he was not going to London anyway, he went specifically to do this job. That makes it for Hire & Reward not private.
Point 2
‘Private motor insurance guidelines from the ABI allow, “lift share” for money’
I have just spoken to the ABI and Lifshare is what it is, i.e. you can give a person a lift for money as long as it’s not for profit, a cost to cover your expense. I have quoted the ABI website below
Giving Lifts – All ABI motor insurers have agreed that if your passengers contribute towards your running costs your insurance cover will not be affected, as long as lifts are given in a vehicle seating eight passengers or less. This agreement does not apply if you make a profit from payments received or if carrying passengers is your business
Where in there does it say you can carry GOODS or a fire escape or anything else for that matter?
I’m sorry you don’t appreciate my assertion that he was going to London anyway”…but I say again as I understand it that was the case. I in no way implied it was engineered. Yes Andrew as consignor is free to arrange his transport as he sees fit, that’s his decision.
I apologize if the word sly offends I take that back, however I maintain that the general perception that you are giving is in some way a little misleading or at best does not fully explain to the general public who may place ‘Goods to Move’ on here that
1. If the goods are moved by private vehicle, then the vehicle itself may not be insured for the carriage of said goods on the public highway.
2. The goods, should there be an accident, might not be covered by any Goods in Transit insurance.
Point 3
To all the people out there that fancy themselves as a bit of a courier because the have an estate car and they can earn a bob or two along the way, you also don’t seem to make sure they know all the legal points involved in such transactions.
I have no problem with a free market economy, with your business or anyone else out there making a living, as long as there’s a level playing field. Wee all stand or fall by the service we provide, not only by the rate we charge for it.
I hope you take this in the spirit it’s meant.
Why has there been no reply? Maybe Admin accept defeat?
This issue of insurance seems quite important. Admin states “Private motor insurance guidelines from the ABI allow, “lift share” for money”, well yes, but I think that’s a concession by some (most) insurers rather than being based on any legal necessity.
While the ABI may or may not have said that delivering a parcel qualifies as ‘liftshare’ it’s clear that that statement won’t be binding on their members unless they’ve actually stated that it’s binding on their members and that most insurers, if a claim was to be made, would consider that earning £20 from the delivery of a parcel is clearly Hire & Reward even if the costs for the journey were more than £20. If the journey was being made anyway then the costs would apply anyway, so the driver would be £20 better off.
I think that possibly before stuff2send advocate people carrying out these deliveries they should take some proper legal advice on the matter and/or obtain written statements of the position of the ABI and a sample of major insurers.
Great site by the way, we get loads of callers wanting this type of rubbish moving at cheap rates, I’ll start sending them over here.
Thanks Paul
Points appreciated and your views well meant, but I think you’re knocking something designed to give you visibility of more work.
re your point1, well I think that’s a moot point. It’s up to Micky where he goes and when.
re ABI insurance – I think you make the point for me. Are you suggesting that if ABI are happy to cover the insurance risk of a live human in transit, they’re not for inert object. I don’t think there’s any logic in that at all.
The plain fact is the insurance risk for a live human is infinetly higher than for a crate of wine – millions of £ v …..
You still miss the point – Micky did a private “favour” he was not doing a business. When did the UK not allow someone to go on a trip as a favour for someone?
Or are you saying every time I give a mate a lift in my car and he gives me a fiver, I’m running a public transport business?
Hmmmm
The general impression of the site is what it is – offering people like you a new place to get business. I can’t understand why you’re so keen to knock it. If you don’t like it, then please don’t use it.
As for do individuals understand what they get – I think you understimate Andrew and every senders abiility to make a conscious decision for themself between a a professional business and a private arrangment. If he wants to , and you cannot offer the service he wants, why can he not accept a private offer from another individual, as long as they both accept the risk and trust one another. It’s a free country.
Yes, if there’s an accident and an individual doesn’t have GIT insurance, they’re not covererd. That’s why, on the site, we promote couriers differently, allowing them to highlithg their insruance, so senders can make an offer. But if a sender chooses not to, then why can’t they? It is a free country.
The reality of the insurance risk to a spiral staircase is probably not that high……unless he drives into a steelworks and it gets smelted!
In summary, we offer you a new revenue stream, access to new work, all for a small joining fee. We are not promoting individuals as couriers, simply as an occassional way to consider being a bit greener and makign a few bob for their fuel costs. Our guidance is clear, and the distinction in service between a business and an individual is also very clear on thes siter. The reality is most senders will want you, a professional business (what student is going to lug a 3 piece suite down 3 flights into the back of their polo??). But if they don’t, why can’t 2 people make a private arrangement?
This site offers you more business….it’s there for you to take it.
‘re your point1, well I think that’s a moot point. It’s up to Micky where he goes and when.’
I agree but look at the way he has ended his comments (sorry again Micky, this is not about you)
Micky KNS Express Deliveries 07941888270 – 24/7
Excuse me but that looks like a business to me not someone who just happens to be going in the same direction as a parcel that posted on your website needing to be delivered to the same area or en route.
re ABI insurance – I think you make the point for me. Are you suggesting that if ABI are happy to cover the insurance risk of a live human in transit, they’re not for inert object. I don’t think there’s any logic in that at all.
The plain fact is the insurance risk for a live human is infinitely higher than for a crate of wine – millions of £ v …..
Well actually yes I am. The ABI quite clearly made the distinction this morning to me in person on the phone, that private motor insurance does not cover the movement of goods of any description from and to anywhere from and to anyone. Nor would the vehicle be insured. So when, not if, that accident happens and it comes out that the person involved was taking goods from A to B the proverbial will hit the fan big time.
I’m sorry if you don’t see the logic of that but that’s how it is.
Paul makes an excellent point!
Thanks guys for your comments….
I think I’ve made all my comments, but just to try and summarise, focusing on 2 things you bring out: individuals insurance and scale.
Insurance: As per what I’ve already covered, if you read our guidelines for individuals, and that of the ABI, the simple reality is the guidance is clear. If you’re not doing it for profit, or regluarly, and not adapting your vehicle, most insurers have no problem with an individual dropping something off occassionally, but they should check with your own insurance company.
Individuals reading this take comfort – we have taken legal advise on this, and the guidance we give you is from meetings and conversations with the insurance industry. The guidance is clear, and we recommend if you do want to deliver something, you just check with your own insurance company first.
Scale: Over 800 couriers see opportunity with our site today, and plenty, like IAC, are making money getting on and delivering stuff. The reality is 90% of business on our site is for professional companies, so it’s not like the individuals are taking it away.
Maybe step back and see the opportunity? Everything is there for you to bid on, it’s your choice.
Well I may as well have my little say.
Firstly, I have been busy all day, hence why no response from me earlier!!
Secondly, whether I was going down to the London area, or not, makes no difference, to anyone but myself! I enjoy my driving, and been out on the road. As an ex Dedicated Express, European Delivery Driver, (which is not a ‘Courier’), I know how hard it can be for people to do ‘long distant’ runs themselves, no matter what they are carrying, be it an envelope to Munich, (which I have done ‘numerous’ times), or a staircase to London.
So, if I am prepared to get off my backside and do something which will help another person out, both physically, and financially, then I will do it!
Ok so I may not have made a profit, big deal. At the end of the day, everyone scored, Andrew got his stairs, no matter how big, or small they were, and I done something I enjoy doing. Apart from the business people, not everyone is out to make a profit, for doing something!!
The whole idea of Stuff2Send, as far as I can see, is to keep ‘items’ moving, and to help out with expenses, to both the Sender, and the Carrier. Ok, so I may be the only ‘nutter’ that will do a job, whether I’m going that way or not, for very little, or if any profit at all.
But, that is my decision, and no one else’s!
I have just been in touch with my insurance company, and as I am insured Fully Comprehensive, I can do this sort of ‘odd job between 2, or more, Private Individuals’, which will have NO effect upon my policy. So long as it is not done on a regular/daily basis, and I am not making a profit. Or as in the Ladies words, ‘a huge profit’!
If the Sender of an item knows the Carrier does not have GIT insurance then is upto them, to make some sort of Agreement, or at least discuss the situation, as to what will happen, should any form of accident happen. I suppose it could go down as far as writing it down, and both parties signing/keeping a copy for themselves, until they know the job has been done. Oopps, these documents already exist on this site, how forgetful!
As I said to Paul during our phone conversation, that I am looking to go ‘Self Employed’, once our Wedding is over in a few weeks time. I have the ‘inside knowledge’, if you like, as I have years of experience in this field, both on the road, and as a Transport Supervisor.
As the Admin has said above, that if you don’t put an Offer in, you cannot really complain about ‘loosing out’, can you? If you have made one of your normal deliveries, and are travelling back to base empty, why not put in an offer, for something en-route, it will help towards your expenses for the return journey.
And as to whether my transport is, a skateboard, an Estate Car, or an XLWB Sprinter, if I can get it on board, and do the job, I will do it. In this day and age, people need to help other people out, in all walks of life.
Which, I believe, is just what I did concerning the job mentioned above.
Ok you will not make a living from Stuff2Send, but it can go along way to helping you out.
I will certainly be using it, and recommending it to others.
Well that’s my tuppence worth over.
May I just Apologise if I have Offended/Annoyed anyone, that is not my intention. I just wanted to get my views/points off my chest.
Surely we can all stick together, and work together? That way everyone’s a winner in some respect.
If you enjoy using the site, use it. If you don’t, don’t. Simple really!! Just take the site for what it is and just take some work from it.
It’s hardly going to cripple the Transport Industry, now is it?
Thanx
Micky
PS:- And just for everyone’s interest, I was actually heading down to the Luton Area, with some goods for Family I have in Luton. Not that it has anything to do with other people!!
Very well said Micky!
OMG!! was not expecting the law lesson when I read Andrew’s dilemma!! N e way Mickey, as u like driving, I live in Liverpool and need a moses basket stand delivering to huddersfield (im sure u will well fit that in ur estate lol) give us a quote!!! ha ha x (im serious!)
Certainly Jaime, £205.58p!
One good P take, deserves another!
Oh, by the way, I’m SERIOUS
Its worth coming onto this site just to read the mail.
Good comments from all sides though.
The thing that would worry me is the lifts for people, these days with the best intentions in the world, you wouldn’t know who you were getting in a car, lorry or anything else with, how would you make that safe.
But i think its a great idea for parcels etc.
Hi Carole
I totally understand your concern about having lifts by total strangers, however many of our carriers are individuals and courier companies who are registered.
We do have a feedback section for all carriers profiles and you can always call them and have a chat to put your mind at rest. When carriers join our website they have to pay via paypal (which holds bank details) and they have to give address, driving licence number and also we also carry out spot CRB checks.
That aside, parcels do seem to be the most popular option at the moment.
Good to hear your thoughts….keep them coming.
Andrew Saved a Day’s Work and £200 – By Using Stuff2Send.com « Stuff2send.com great article thank you.