Greyhound Courier Express

[amberwoodottawa]

I have received documents through Greyhound before however I had not considered using them until now.

Has anyone used them to ship parcels on a regular basis and what has been your experience with deliveries, breakage, costs and paying insurance claims.

Their rates will allow me to get back into selling guitars across Canada bigger than I am doing with CP as there is no cubing. They advertise next day delivery as they air freaight alot and the cost is not much more than by ground.

They also provide service right to the customer's door.
On the surface I think I have a partial solution to my Canadian cubic dilema.

What is really strange is CP cubes in Canada but USPS doesnt in the US.

Greyhound cubes in the US but doesnt in Canada.

Malcolm

[muminlaw]

That cubing thing is weird Malcolm!

I've not used Greyhound on a regular basis, my stuff mostly goes letter-mail, but I have used them for shipping Christmas gifts when it was too late to use Canada Post. Greyhound was comparable cost and faster, they didn't break anything so I have no idea about insurance claims but I would bet they're pretty careful. Sounds like a very viable alternative!

Glenda

[treasure-pot]

I've used them in Canada, Malcolm, and found the service to be excellent, fast and reasonably priced. They are a common method of shipping in rural SK and MB but are often overlooked in other parts of Canada.

I've never had to file a claim so I can't comment but, realistically, there should be far less handling (including mechanical which is often the culpret by CP, USPS, UPS and FedEx).

I've never used them to ship to the USA so I don't pretend to be aware of those logitics. They are not bonded so I would imagine that any freight would have to clear at the border crossings.

I can't see how they would be practical for most items that I ship (small packet to 2 kgs) but I can easily see how you might benefit with you larger cubed items.

Interestingly enough, I do have a current request from someone in NC for a shipping quote on approximately 100 lbs of product. I was going to check out UPS tomorrow (as much as I hate them) but I think, now, I'll make an extra phone call.

Cheers!

Bill

[your-chic-shopper]

Bill Do they charge to pick up ?? and to drop off . This might help for my shipping across Canada

[treasure-pot]

I can't answer your questions because I have no experience with either a pick-up or drop-off service.

On the only occasions that I have used them I delivered my packages to the terminal and the customer picked up at the terminal at the other end. A pick-up at the other end is not anymore uncommong than a pick-up at the local RPO although most towns will only have one bus depot and there may be a little more driving and inconvenience involved for buyers.

[treasure-pot]

should be "uncommon"

[amberwoodottawa]

I will find out more this afternoon, hopefully, as I will be calling the local sales rep for them. I did pick up their brochure yesterday afternoon with their posted Rates.

They pick up and deliver right to your customer for one rate or can accept your ackage at their station and deliver it to the station where your client lives for a slightly cheaper rate.

As an example, if I shipped a 10 pound parcel to Vancouver:
Door to Door rate: $27.79
Station to Station rate: $26.19
However there is a disclaimer that a Residential charge of $6 may apply so the Door to Door c/b $33.79.

A flat $10 extra for Next Day delivery which make quoting faster service really easy.

Proof of Delivert an extra $1

$100 insurance included then 3% of value after that up to $10,000. Their insurance is fairly expensive and that will drive my shipping costs up substantially.

With an average selling price of $250, I will be paying about $7.50 insurance with each shipment and that is way too much.

Malcolm

[amberwoodottawa]

On the insurance, I suppose the calculation on insurance could make it a bit less as the first $100 is free so I would only be paying @ 3% on the next $150 or $4.50.

The other thing to consider is that I am looking at the published rates which are not volume discounted so there may even be a further break on the insurance charged a corporate client.

SMALL PACAGES
By the way for those of you shipping envelopes and sending them insured with CP right now, with Greyhound, you can prepurchase 10 Doculetters (weight 0-1 lb) for $7.50 each or 10 Docupaks (0-5 lbs) for $9.50 each and both are for Door to Door service.

There is a $2 discount for Station to Station service meaning yu could ship items under 1 lb anywhere for $5.50 each but you would have to drop off and the client would have to pick up.

$100 insurance is included.

Malcolm