Which is worth choosing: a direct contract with a courier company or a broker?

Inexpensive and reliable logistics services are of paramount importance when running an online shop. The satisfaction of your customers, as well as the speed of development of the respective business, largely depends on them. Cooperation with a courier company should be based primarily on a properly prepared offer, i.e. one that is perfectly tailored to the needs of the entrepreneur. But is this the only solution? What about brokers, which we have been hearing more and more about recently?

Cooperation with the courier - quality of service

When you decide to work with a courier company, you need to be sure that it will not disappoint your expectations. Then you no longer have control over the delivery part of the order process, which makes your job a lot easier. It is up to the courier to ensure that your parcels are delivered on time and that they reach the recipient in perfect condition - without any damage occurring in transit.

If cooperation with a courier company does not work out well, customers will suffer and their satisfaction will drop sharply. The choice of logistics partners is one of the most important decisions, so before signing a contract, it is worth checking that you are dealing with a reliable and market-recognised carrier.

A partnership with InPost can be established by using the Subscriptions for Businesses, which are offered to smaller and larger businesses.

Contract with a subscription courier company - the InPost solution

Among the courier services for businesses at InPost is a subscription option. You choose the number of parcels you wish to send per month, and then sign a contract (all the formalities are quickly completed online). You will benefit from an attractive price for each shipment, and the more extensive the option you choose, the lower the price per parcel will be.

With a subscription courier contract, you will benefit from both courier and parcel machine deliveries. You will not pay extra even if the courier only takes one parcel from you. You will always be charged a fixed subscription price for the entire duration of the service.

Importantly, even if you initially choose an option that becomes insufficient as your business grows, you can always extend it. Each additional shipment will cost the same under the agreement.

It is worth using our services when you are running an e-commerce business, because it involves high satisfaction of your customers. Subscription courier shipments for businesses come out better value for money, while maintaining high quality. Parcels almost always reach their recipient the very next day. Be sure to take a look at the offer and take advantage of the packages you choose.

Offers to work with a courier company - price matters

Shoppers in your online shop do not want to incur high shipping costs for the products they order. A high delivery price often causes consumers not to complete the transaction and abandon the shopping cart. You certainly don't intend to let this happen, because it means that sales will drop significantly and business will not be able to grow.

Does working with a courier company count as expensive? This is difficult to determine unequivocally. Before choosing a logistics partner, check the price list carefully. Remember that every business is different, so the best option would be an individual quote - ideally tailored to your needs! This is exactly the kind of subscription agreement we offer at InPost.

Courier broker - what exactly is it?

Is working directly with a courier company the only option? It turns out that it is not. There are also so-called brokers on the market who sign contracts with various carriers. Because of this, they can offer competitive and often much lower prices. A courier broker acts as an intermediary for ordering parcels and has the ability to obtain a large number of customers from couriers. It negotiates optimum rates with them and customers save up to a few percent on each shipment. It is worth remembering that the services of a courier broker can be used by both businesses and private individuals.

Courier broker - advantages

Establishing an ongoing relationship with a courier company involves completing the necessary formalities, which can sometimes be problematic. The broker allows you to minimise the bureaucracy to the necessary minimum along with shortening all processes related to shipping. You can set up an account on the broker platform in just a few minutes, giving you instant access to all functions.

A courier broker also offers attractive prices, which will become even better with a larger number of parcels, as well as other conveniences such as parcel monitoring, automatic label generation or integration with popular e-commerce platforms. There are many different courier brokers on the market. Before you decide to use one of them, check carefully who you are dealing with. Not every company will guarantee you a range of the same benefits and low prices.

Working with a courier company or a broker - which to choose?

Before choosing a carrier, settle all the pros and cons. Brokerage companies have many advantages, which include minimal paperwork and a low price, but they also have disadvantages. A brokerage service is not recommended for people who often send parcels cash on delivery. With this form of payment for the parcel, you have to expect a long wait for the return of the collection.

When using a courier broker, you can also run into communication problems. If a package goes missing, the sender contacts the broker and the broker contacts the courier. Such a lengthy communication process often gives rise to misunderstandings and delays in receiving up-to-date information on the status of the order. Co-operation with a broker does not require a contract, but this causes problems in obtaining complaints.

It is difficult to say unequivocally which solution is better: working directly with a courier company or with a broker. It all depends on your personal preferences and the type of business you run. For our business customers, we have created a special offer that includes services that are perfectly tailored to the business in question. It also includes a personalised quote, as every business is different.

At InPost, you can benefit from the largest network of self-pick-up and drop-off facilities, perfectly designed courier packages and a range of other conveniences. If you have any questions, please use the contact form. We look forward to working with you!