Posting Large Parcel, recommendations?

AMDPower · 26 Sep 2016 at 16:49

Hi all

I need to post a large parcel to Germany from London Uk. The item an an electronic item that weights appx 6kg and is in a box 40 cm x 40cm x 40cm and needs to be insured for £1000 and require signed for service and tracking. I have looked at DHL, DPD, Royal Mail, ect and they are quoting me appx £95 - £120 which is ridiculous. I might as well buy a plane ticket and go to Germany myself.

Does anybody know of any companies that might be able to send this item for cheaper and preferably a reliable company.

would appreciate any advice.

Thanks

tom_e · 26 Sep 2016 at 16:52

Cheap or reliable.

Pick one, you won't get both.

Brizzles · 26 Sep 2016 at 17:05

Yodel

peterwalkley · 26 Sep 2016 at 17:14

Brizzles said:
Yodel

He said Germany, not the Swiss Alps

Feronix · 26 Sep 2016 at 17:24

peterwalkley said:
He said Germany, not the Swiss Alps

Doesn't matter, wouldn't make it out of the country.

@OP: The insurance is what makes it so expensive, otherwise it could be done for 2 or 3 tenners. Maybe have a look at local courriers in your area and see if they can strike you a deal? My next-door neighbour always lets me send stuff to the UK without a profit margin for himself.
One time I sent a 7KG box that was over a meter long and 80cm tall with a fully assembled guitar in it, insured... for a tenner

AMDPower · 27 Sep 2016 at 09:50

more than likely i will have to bite the bullet on this one. I honestly never knew its so expensive to send items abroad. It almost cheaper to buy a return flight to Germany than send a package. I need a company I can trust, lets say I have had my share of difficulty with Hermes and DPD.

thanks for the suggestions everyone.

benjii · 27 Sep 2016 at 10:06

Have you tried sites like parcel2go that compare different companies? They often get preferential rates too.

Glanza · 27 Sep 2016 at 10:12

DPD via parcel2go.

senorgrande · 27 Sep 2016 at 10:22

I used Pharos Parcel to send a package to Mexico and they were pretty good.

bimbleuk · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:05

The previous two mentions are who I use regularly and I've sent a Titanium exhaust system to Sweden before via Pharos - UPS domestic or DPD abroad.

bobbyspangles · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:10

DPD are the only people I trust with my parcels. Though I've never used their international service.

CaptainComedy · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:10

I used hermes - they collected, I could track, was good, not tried the rest though...

pepp77 · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:14

UPS looks to be about £80 including the £1000 insurance.

Akagi · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:16

Those prices don't seem that ridiculous for what you want.

You might be able to find someone who will do it for £75~

Captain · 27 Sep 2016 at 12:30

Royal mail special delivery cover up to £500 and extra if you need it, you may end up paying close to £50 for it though.

BDEE · 27 Sep 2016 at 19:54

interparcel.com

I often send large parcels via parcelforce for a fraction of the cost of sending them directly with parcelforce itself. Last one I sent was less than half the cost of booking with PF directly.

AMDPower · 8 Oct 2016 at 13:13

I totally forgot about this thread, i just wanted to say thank you all for the suggestions.
In the end I decided to just bit the bullet on this and pay the cost( reluctantly) and never to buy expensive and heavy items from abroad. I did not want to risk sending it with a shoddy service as the company I was posting it to for repairs was a huge headache to deal with.

Some great suggestions I was not aware of here,

thanks everyone much appreciated