A Parcelforce self-serve kiosk trial is taking place in London Central, Newcastle and Milton Keynes depots. Throughout the trial, customers at these depots can pay for a parcel shipment at the self-serve kiosk, or pay for a parcel shipment on the Parcelforce website and use a mobile QR code to print labels on-site at the depot, before handing the parcel to counter staff.
Under the trial customers will be able to choose their own delivery service based on their needs. This will enable customers to have more choice on how to access Parcelforce Worldwide services either via a self-serve kiosk or a depot counter. The Parcelforce self-serve kiosk aims to give customers a speedier experience when sending items from depots.
The Parcelforce self-serve kiosk trial will run until Friday 14th September 2018 and customer user experience feedback is being gathered during this period. Customers are able to access the kiosks Monday – Friday 8.00am – 7pm and Saturday 8.00am – 12.30pm.
”We understand that customers want more flexibility when sending parcels, they would like more control over when and where they send, and be able to do it quickly and easily. With these self-serve kiosks, it means that our customers don’t need to have a printer at home and can utilise our self-serve kiosks in order to quickly and easily send and print labels in our depots. We have 54 depots in our network with convenient opening times and free parking, so provides another option for their parcel sending needs. We are very interested in the outcome of the trial to understand whether customers find it a positive experience.”
– A spokesperson from Parcelforce Worldwide
This follows a trial by Royal Mail who are are running a trial of drop off parcel postboxes for online merchants. Royal Mail have also added the acceptance scans for parcels dropped at Delivery Office customer service points. Carriers are realising that just as consumers are demanding convenient deliveries, there’s also a need for convenient despatch options for merchants and for casual online sellers. For the casual seller in particular, the Parcelforce solution is attractive for those operating in a mobile world who may not have access to a printer to produce shipping labels at home.
2 Responses
Moved to Parcelforce two months ago, worst decision ever. Damaged parcel rate increased by 40%, then it turned out none of our products are covered under their claims…….worst delivery company I have ever encountered.
I have had a different experience with Parcelforce, I ship both on my behalf (internet sales) as well as packing and shipping for a “traditional” Auction House.
ParcelForce have got a lot lot better, and whilst not quite up there with UPS and FedEx, they are head and shoulders above Yodel / Collect, Landmark Global etc.
(Hermes are okay, but if it gets lost, its gone for good…….never had a lost parcel make it back……so they do loose it the best of them all.)
Though if I have fragile items (which no one now insures against damage) I choose a 24 hour option…..less time to get damaged! But that is the same with all companies unless you use a self-insuring courier / shipper like Part n Parcel etc.
The Parcelforce prices, especially when booked via a broker like Interparcel, are good too and far cheaper than you can get online or at the post office.
I would interested to know what rates are being charged at these trial sites, if its PF website prices, I will stick to going via Interparcel to access their negotiated rates.
Also, via this broker you can still access PF Euro Priority services which have been removed from post offices for some strange reason.