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#16 Black.Ghost

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Posted 09 July 2014 - 11:07 PM

Some good points here. A trailer license and trailer were definitely being considered. The idea for caravans and local recovery service is a good idea.

I'm looking at going to the auctions myself and seeing what can be picked up etc. it all adds variety and it gets me away from an office. I can live with an average income from it if I'm not bored silly. As time goes on, I might look to offer some other services such as gardening and the like in summer months. Anything really. Plus I have the education allowance I mentioned from the army which I can use as well to get some more random quals.

There is a lot of competition and getting yourself out there and known is going to be hard but the motivation to succeed will be huge as well.

I might get a part time job first, and do this on the other days rather than doing it in the evenings. I don't mind working long hours at all, but limiting myself to evening work may put off a lot of people early on, and when trying to build up a customer base that's the last thing you need.

Thanks for all the tips and advice so far.

Edited by Black.Ghost, 09 July 2014 - 11:07 PM.


#17 JacckKirk

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Posted 09 July 2014 - 11:22 PM

If you do go for it register yourself on "anyvan" that way jobs are posted for companies to bid on with lowest quote normally getting the job (up to poster) and they offer literally everything
I paid a guy £45 to pick up a mini & take it 1.5 miles down the road
Just a thought
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P.s make sure the outside of the van looks the business not just another man with a van

#18 Shep76S

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 05:22 AM

I think offering an evening service might appeal to some customers, especially if they are out at work all day and can't be at home or a garage etc to let me gain access and the like. 
 
What are people's thoughts? What kind of prices would you expect to pay for transporting an engine 50 miles for example? Would it be unreasonable to charge a small fee, such as £5 or something, for the use of an engine hoist? I'd also look to get some ratchet straps, ramps and a trailer so I could offer a range of services really.

 
If you could provide this I would definitely be in touch about shipping a few things.
 
My problem with couriers is that they do not give you a window of time for when they will turn up, just a day so you have to take a whole day off to send something and then every so often they don't turn up/ cancel and rearrange which means you have to take another day off. After the last couple of times I have been messed around by couriers I now refuse to use them.
 
Also most of the time when I get something delivered by a courier I am not in so end up having to collect it from a depot.
 
If you worked on Saturdays and Sundays I imagine you would be able to get a lot of business because this is when people are free.
 
I work standard 9-5, 5 days a week so evening and weekend collections/drop off would be ideal for me and I can't be the only one.
 
I don't use the royal mail anymore to send items. Not only have them become really expensive but myhermes who I now use have drop off points at one stop shops. One stop are open 7-11 7 days a week which means I can drop items off when it suits me.
 
£5 to send something 50 miles does not sound bad. It depends on what size it is and the weight though.

It would cost more in fuel than the shipping charge?

#19 Summerill2

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 10:05 AM

I think offering an evening service might appeal to some customers, especially if they are out at work all day and can't be at home or a garage etc to let me gain access and the like. 
 
What are people's thoughts? What kind of prices would you expect to pay for transporting an engine 50 miles for example? Would it be unreasonable to charge a small fee, such as £5 or something, for the use of an engine hoist? I'd also look to get some ratchet straps, ramps and a trailer so I could offer a range of services really.

 
If you could provide this I would definitely be in touch about shipping a few things.
 
My problem with couriers is that they do not give you a window of time for when they will turn up, just a day so you have to take a whole day off to send something and then every so often they don't turn up/ cancel and rearrange which means you have to take another day off. After the last couple of times I have been messed around by couriers I now refuse to use them.
 
Also most of the time when I get something delivered by a courier I am not in so end up having to collect it from a depot.
 
If you worked on Saturdays and Sundays I imagine you would be able to get a lot of business because this is when people are free.
 
I work standard 9-5, 5 days a week so evening and weekend collections/drop off would be ideal for me and I can't be the only one.
 
I don't use the royal mail anymore to send items. Not only have them become really expensive but myhermes who I now use have drop off points at one stop shops. One stop are open 7-11 7 days a week which means I can drop items off when it suits me.
 
£5 to send something 50 miles does not sound bad. It depends on what size it is and the weight though.
It would cost more in fuel than the shipping charge?

I think he means £5 to use the engine hoist?

#20 Black.Ghost

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:16 PM

I did yeah, no one is going to survive shopping engines at a fiver a go!

It was an idea soon crushed.

But I have decided to go for this. I'm going to sell my mini at some point in the next week for funding, and once it has sold I will hand my notice in at work. This should give 5-6 weeks from now to be up and running. Looking forward to a challenge now.

#21 JacckKirk

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:27 PM

Well ill keep you in mind if i need anything moved or couriered
Rather someone like you do it

#22 Moggyton

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:30 PM

Best of luck, let us know how you get on! :P



#23 Carlos W

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:38 PM

Good luck mate, if you don't try you'll never know!



#24 Black.Ghost

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Posted 06 July 2017 - 11:57 AM

Well as it turns out, I couldn't face selling the mini to pay for this back then. Time has gone on, and I find myself in another office, equally as bored and wanting to leave. I want out of Security (not a guard, but office based stuff) but no idea what I want to go into. This van idea has come back into my head, but I believe there are even more courier services and the like in use now. There is a big difference now though. I'm married and have a kid. However, we now get by on a lot less money than we used to for various reasons and there is the possibility of the. Issues going back to work as well.

Any other thoughts on this kind of work? Any areas of specialisation that I haven't thought about? The big problem now is the start up costs!

#25 r3k1355

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Posted 06 July 2017 - 04:16 PM

I've heard alot of the guys who sub-contract to the big delivery firms get a proper rotten deal, bad pay, long hours and bosses who are total trumpets.

Fair play if you can work as an independent but like you said the market seems quite crowded.

 

However I think some online services are popping up to support independent couriers.

anyvan.com and shiply.com spring to mind so they might be worth a look???

 

Also if you're getting a van it might be worth adding a car trailer, that would increase your customer base pretty well and it's something alot of people would go to an independent guy for.


Edited by r3k1355, 06 July 2017 - 04:18 PM.


#26 Big Sam

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Posted 07 July 2017 - 07:26 PM

The world of courier has moved on a hell of a lot in 3 years. Paid per parcel, and then only a good rate if you actually deliver the parcels. 

 

There are also an absolute shed load of companies doing it now, what could you offer that others dont in order to garner business? Most customers will want live tracking and instant ePOD (electronic proof of delivery).

 

If you really want to drive about and want some sort of freedom. Go get a HGV licence, sign up to someone like Manpower and probably get sent to work for the Royal Mail group. Point to point, everything in a trolley and simple.



#27 Black.Ghost

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Posted 09 July 2017 - 11:08 AM

Thanks all. I'm not planning / wasn't planning on just doing normal courier work. I realised a long time ago it wasn't a viable option. I'd look to specialise more and do the stuff that normal couriers are not interested in, and maybe house clearances etc. I quite like doing boot fairs so can move stuff on like that as well. Still thinking about it. Even now it would probably be as an aside to a main job rather than just doing it straight off.

#28 xrocketengineer

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Posted 09 July 2017 - 01:37 PM

I don't know it this is an option in the UK but it is something to think about. I was reading in a car magazine about a guy that had put something like over 700,000 miles on a Fiesta and is still using it. He has a courier business carrying specialised medical equipment from state to state. He had removed the seats of the car and he would stuff the car to the point where he could barely see the passenger side mirror. He  performed all the maintenance himself.

It is an interesting read anyway.

 

http://blog.caranddr...miles-per-year/


Edited by xrocketengineer, 09 July 2017 - 05:34 PM.


#29 Black.Ghost

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Posted 09 July 2017 - 06:43 PM

Jesus, just read that through. Not a bad little effort! Can you imagine how many times around the UK you would have to travel for 700K?

 

Theoretically, yes it would be possible. We already have a lot of car based vans though, including the Fiesta. While I like the idea, the capacity is pretty small, and I couldn't use it for towing anything more than a MTB!






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