How to post stuff in the evening

Linkex

Linkex

Linkex

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I'm playing with the idea of starting a small home business, as a hobby and possibly a bit of additional income, working in the evenings after work. Having planned out most of the details, I suddenly realised that posting by royal mail means getting to the post office between 9.00am and 5.30pm, which isn't possible because I get to work before that, and get home after.

I will be sending out a combination of large letters and packets. The large letters aren't so bad because they can go in a pillar box if needs be, but parcels have to be taken to the post office and I would rather not use pillar boxes for the large letters if I'm honest.

The only option I can see at the moment is to work from home once a week and then send out the parcels 1 day midweek and Saturday mornings - which means poor service to my customers, not to mention having to get up early on a Saturday. Plus its actually harder to do my job from home than in the office.

I can't be the only person in this position, what other options are there?

tl;dr - I want to send packages to people, but I can't get to the post office before 6pm, what do?
 
OldCoals said:
Terrible idea, I'm ooooot.
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Can you imagine these 'spec me my own company' thread posters on something like Dragons Den? It would be hilarious.

'So, have you negotiated a deal with your supplier?'
'I've not worked out how to do that yet, I've put a thread on a computer hardware forum though so I'll get back to you'
'I'm Oooooooooooot'

'Whats your average turnaround time for despatch?'
'Well I cant work out how to visit a post office so I cant answer that yet'
'I'm Oooooooooooot'

Succeeding in business isn't easy especially not when its a satured market like almost every internet idea is. It takes nouse, it takes drive, it takes determination and takes ability. These threads always set alarm bells ringing..
 
[TW]Fox;20014035 said:
Just go during the day? Surely the office door isnt locked? You get a lunch break right?
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I ride a motorbike to work, I don't have parking for a car, so it would be:
Work->Home->Post Office->Home->work

This would take more than an hour

@checjb - Thats a good idea, might see if any of the neighbours fancy making some spare cash.

Anyone got any other options? I'd like to save the cash and move the stuff myself if I can.
 
Linkex said:
I ride a motorbike to work, I don't have parking for a car, so it would be:
Work->Home->Post Office->Home->work

This would take more than an hour

@checjb - Thats a good idea, might see if any of the neighbours fancy making some spare cash.

Anyone got any other options? I'd like to save the cash and move the stuff myself if I can.
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What happens when you neighbour forgets to post something?
 
drop your parcels off labled up in the morning, (get neccessary labels in bulk from post office aka recorded slips), leave them with cash, pic up receipts/change whenever you can. no waiting in line, can drop of as early as 7am.
 
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i always do it like that when im busy or havent got time. you have to write the weight down on the top right hand corner along with service used aka 1st or 2nd class. They will know if its recorded or special etc as you will have stuck the label on (left corner). also you need to make sure you leave them with a bit extra cash as they wont send if your short.
 
Linkex said:
I ride a motorbike to work, I don't have parking for a car, so it would be:
Work->Home->Post Office->Home->work

This would take more than an hour

@checjb - Thats a good idea, might see if any of the neighbours fancy making some spare cash.

Anyone got any other options? I'd like to save the cash and move the stuff myself if I can.
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If the business is going to work, you will need to commit a lot of time to it. don’t underestimate how much time it takes to process orders, pack and ship stuff. If this means your current lifestyle or circumstances don’t allow this you either need to change your lifestyle / work patterns or adapt the business.

This may mean shipping on Sat morning only + 1 day and as long as your customers know this and agree then that would be fine.

You could look at the additional costs of using a courier (could even be cheaper than RM) who will pick up at a time convenient to you.

Have you considered how you will be posting stuff? I hope (as a small business) it will all be fully tracked and insured otherwise you need to build the costs or failed deliveries or lost items into your business model and these alone could write off your profits. If the products are good, customers will pay for delivery unless there are more established retailers at more competitive pricing and offering free delivery.

Your key priority in all of this is going to be 100% ensuring the safe and fast transit of the products to your customers and that delivery/transit times, ETAs, tracking numbers are communicated to your customers. This above all else will establish your reputation and earn repeat business. Get this wrong or try to skimp on this and you stand no chance.

The fact this seems to be a weak point of your business sets alarm bells ringing. I doubt you will have the turnover and capital to swallow postal losses, damage in transit etc.

Linkex said:
tl;dr - I want to send packages to people, but I can't get to the post office before 6pm, what do?
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Your best option is to find someone who can post for you unless you can negotiate a contract with a courier company who will pick up from you at approx 6pm?

[TW]Fox;20014065 said:
Can you imagine these 'spec me my own company' thread posters on something like Dragons Den? It would be hilarious.

'So, have you negotiated a deal with your supplier?'
'I've not worked out how to do that yet, I've put a thread on a computer hardware forum though so I'll get back to you'
'I'm Oooooooooooot'

'Whats your average turnaround time for despatch?'
'Well I cant work out how to visit a post office so I cant answer that yet'
'I'm Oooooooooooot'

Succeeding in business isn't easy especially not when its a satured market like almost every internet idea is. It takes nouse, it takes drive, it takes determination and takes ability. These threads always set alarm bells ringing..
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You are so cynical..................:p:D
 
HumanShield said:
Collect+? Dont know if they will meet your needs in terms of speed etc, but you can drop them off after 6pm
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Perfect, thank you, that is exactly what I need.

imb4tman said:
Have you thought about drop shipping instead?
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I'll be producing custom items on demand, so I can't drop ship, thanks for the suggestion though.

Everyone else, thanks to those who tried to be helpful. As to the rest...I don't know what to say. I had a genuine need for some assistance and you deliberately attempted to derail the thread with your trolling (I can only assume that was your intent) I hope your proud of yourselves.
 
Linkex said:
Perfect, thank you, that is exactly what I need.


I'll be producing custom items on demand, so I can't drop ship, thanks for the suggestion though.

Everyone else, thanks to those who tried to be helpful. As to the rest...I don't know what to say. I had a genuine need for some assistance and you deliberately attempted to derail the thread with your trolling (I can only assume that was your intent) I hope your proud of yourselves.
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all things considered, I would say you have got pretty decent advice in this thread and that includes the more abrupt responses and I don’t think anyone has derailed this thread.

you do realise people get very cynical about this because of the number of threads we have had on here asking for business advice over the years and, which is for some of the most basic or straightforward of tasks. besides this is GD!!! if you get uppity when a few forum posters challenge you or don’t post what you want to hear, wait till you enjoy the challenges of having customers or have to deal with HMRC.

Fox is also quite accurate in his assertions

what you could /should have done is had a google of things like ‘evening courier collections’, ‘posting parcels after 5pm’ etc, gathered a few thoughts then asked for a more informed opinion where you could have demonstrated you have done a bit more research into your potential business, which in turn shows those of us on here who know something that you are serious.

it would also have helped if you had said more about what you are doing, since unless you are going to be doing something totally new, no one on here is going to steal your ideas or run with it, as it has probably been mirrored many times before. For example the fact you go to work on a motorbike and can't do postage runs in the day is pretty critical detail and would have been useful to know in the first post.

i assume you will be providing something like printed art work, graphics, vinyls if you are producing at home or fabricating something on a lathe?

the more you tell us the more people will be inclined to help,
 
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I ran a business when I was at uni. Pretty much paid for my final year and paid of most of my student loan but I got bored of it. I used to send 2 or 3 20kg packs a week via parcel force 48hr. They came and collected :)
 
  • Go to the Post Office in your lunch hour?
  • Ask wife to take them to Post Office during the day?
  • Sweet talk the receptionist at work into giving them to the Royal Mail man or the UPS man in the afternoon when they come for work's daily collection?
 
^^
Can't do it during lunch
Wife works for same business (So has the same issues as me - can't get home and back in time)
Work for a big multinational, there is no chance to use their resources like that - post room is not even located on same campus as me.
 
Surely theres someone who would do your posting for you if you couldn't do early drop offs at the psot office. My mum does all mine cos im at work from 8am till 4:30pm and can't make drop off either

Find someone who would do it for you even if it cost a small fee lol
 
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