Starting own business - questions about couriers

Tweek_1984

Tweek_1984

Tweek_1984

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I'm thinking about starting my own business repairing a particular musical instrument. The low start-up costs are attractive and I do believe I'd have a decent customer base.

However, I haven't the first idea when it comes to couriers and the logistical supply chain.

Basically, the process would go something like this:

  1. Customer orders repair on website
  2. Courier picks-up instrument from customers house and delivers it to me
  3. I repair instrument
  4. Courier picks-up fixed instrument from me and delivers back to customer

First of all, is this process financially feasible for a one-man band business?

Secondly, do any courier companies offer a service like this?

Finally, how would it work in practice? I mean, I imagine the whole process would have to be automated, would it not? Would this be as big a headache to implement as I imagine it would be?
 
I'd imagine the process would be fairly similar to an RMA with an online hardware retailer. I've no idea how easy it is to implement though.
 
Tweek_1984 said:
I'm thinking about starting my own business repairing a particular musical instrument. The low start-up costs are attractive and I do believe I'd have a decent customer base.

However, I haven't the first idea when it comes to couriers and the logistical supply chain.

Basically, the process would go something like this:

  1. Customer orders repair on website
  2. Courier picks-up instrument from customers house and delivers it to me
  3. I repair instrument
  4. Courier picks-up fixed instrument from me and delivers back to customer

First of all, is this process financially feasible for a one-man band business?

Secondly, do any courier companies offer a service like this?

Finally, how would it work in practice? I mean, I imagine the whole process would have to be automated, would it not? Would this be as big a headache to implement as I imagine it would be?
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couriers like parcel2go allow you to arrange a pickup from their website to a client address. Depending how busy you got at first could you not do it manually once a day, and then perhaps have a "bot" written for you that'd automatically fill the details in?

Just my idea anyway :p
 
A company i used to work for did this with computers. As to whether its financially viable will depend on how much you charge to fix this instrument and whether you have the margins to off set this courier charge against the cost.

what instrument is it ? i hope its not a piano lol

MW
 
If its a smallish instrument and your main charge is for your expertise/time then i can see it working if you can get your customers to know about you.

If its a big instrument the courier situation could be the killer. Without knowing the sizes its hard to say whats the best way to do it.
 
Mr-White said:
what instrument is it ? i hope its not a piano lol

MW
Click to expand...

I'd rather not say tbh (don't want anybody stealing the idea - it's rather specific :o). However, they're not huge and akward. Although they are often quite heavy.

[edit] we're talking around the 30lb mark.
 
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Tweek_1984 said:
However, they're not huge and akward. Although they are often quite heavy.
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I'd be seriously wary about using a standard courier for transporting instruments.

Obviously you won't say what it is, but most instruments are still pretty easy to damage even while in their cases. You would only be in control of how well the instruments would be packed for the return journey too.
 
Mickey said:
I'd be seriously wary about using a standard courier for transporting instruments.

Obviously you won't say what it is, but most instruments are still pretty easy to damage even while in their cases. You would only be in control of how well the instruments would be packed for the return journey too.
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Exactly, this is another factor I forgot to mention in my OP. The instrument concerned is fairly rugged, but can be damaged easily if it is dropped/manhandled since it's so heavy.
 
Tweek_1984 said:
I'd rather not say tbh (don't want anybody stealing the idea - it's rather specific :o). However, they're not huge and akward. Although they are often quite heavy.

[edit] we're talking around the 30lb mark.
Click to expand...

Fella,

the chances of someone here thinking 'hey, i know how to repair those and want to start my own business' is very very low.
 
I work for an online shop that sells instruments. We use DHL for deliveries and collections when needed. It costs us £5 for a delivery or collection but as we send a lot through them we get a good rate. Im not really sure how much it would cost you but i would hazard a guess at nearly double that, to begin with at least.

Word of warning, even the most rugged instruments get damaged, regulary... We have a saxophones that have arrived in pieces to customers, electric guitars with holes in them etc. Everything gets pack in 2+ boxes with padding in each one. We had one incident (with a different courier) were a tenor saxophone was thrown over a 8 foot high wall into the customers back garden because they werent in....
 
Repta said:
I work for an online shop that sells instruments. We use DHL for deliveries and collections when needed. It costs us £5 for a delivery or collection but as we send a lot through them we get a good rate. Im not really sure how much it would cost you but i would hazard a guess at nearly double that, to begin with at least.

Word of warning, even the most rugged instruments get damaged, regulary... We have a saxophones that have arrived in pieces to customers, electric guitars with holes in them etc. Everything gets pack in 2+ boxes with padding in each one. We had one incident (with a different courier) were a tenor saxophone was thrown over a 8 foot high wall into the customers back garden because they werent in....
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Eek! :eek:

[edit] so a decent insurance package would be needed then?

Great info there pal. Thanks!
 
I'm afraid i don't know whether all of this is fesible (student here that didn't take business studies).

But ...

Depending on volume this might be a little over the top but you might want to check out a company called Relay. - would suggest Target but i believe they were bought out by either DHL or City Link.
They are a firm my dad used when he was working for a large global organisation and he's been in the logistics and supply chain for over 24 yrs so should know a thing or two :)
 
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Tweek_1984 said:
Eek! :eek:

[edit] so a decent insurance package would be needed then?

Great info there pal. Thanks!
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We just claim back from the courier but it can take a long time for the claim to come through. We are able just to send out another instrument usually. As you wont be in the positon to do that im not to sure the best way to go about it.

When i say regulary we do send out a lot, i would say 1 in 500 arrived damaged as i described, unless it is christmas were everything goes wrong at the last minute lol. The rest make there fine on the most part. Its just something to be aware of. Not trying to put you off.
 
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