Carrier Rant

Wossi · 28-05-2008, 13:46

My dad ordered a new Dell laptop for work the other week. When it was finally shipped from Dell we looked at when it was due to be delivered to us and noticed that it was being delivered by Walsh Western. Great, we thought, they are literally a couple of miles down the road from work. Got in touch with them and the laptop has now been shipped off to Birmingham to be delivered back to Nuneaton

So it's come from Dell, to Hinckley, then Birmingham only to be delivered to Nuneaton (Hinckley and Nuneaton are next to each other).

I can't be the only one who thinks this makes zero sense and in a time when companies are supposed to be "Carbon friendly" and when fuel prices are high they would ship it an hour or so away to be brought back again a few miles up the road? *smacks forehead*

Flibster · 28-05-2008, 14:38

I had mine courriered by Walsh Western to the UK and then delivered by TNT I think.
It went all over the place.

Glad I didn't have to pick it up from WW though. Couple of hours drive away.

Desmo · 28-05-2008, 15:17

Different hubs and depots will have set areas they cover. When we used Business Post when we were based in Braintree, our nearest depot was Chelsmford (which was actually in Braintree). Now we moved 15 minutes out of Braintree our depot is now classed as Ipswich which is hours away. Sounds daft, is daft but it's just the way areas have become over time.

Goose · 28-05-2008, 15:53

Some local companies tend to be pretty good about this sort of thing. I bought a case for all my 360 games from a shop in Newbury. One of the store guys called at my house on his way home, which was nice of them.

Daz · 28-05-2008, 16:21

When I'm working in Hinckley, I can literally see the Walsh Western (now Syncreon) hub from where I work. It'd be nice if they'd let me walk in and pick up Dell kit, or pop it round in a transit, but that's not what they're there for. And to be fair, cases like these are in the minority, and for big companies to sort their logistics to cater for us is a big effort.

Bit daft but kinda understandable.

Wossi · 28-05-2008, 16:53

I understand that the place down the road is basically just distribution, but seems daft that it has to go round in circles to come a couple of miels.

Nutcase · 28-05-2008, 20:34

Business Post "Chelmsford" winds me up cos it's in Braintree

And to the best of my knowledge there's 3 DHL depots in Chelmsford, yet I had to go to Basildon to collect my parcel. When I asked why, they said it was an international parcel so went through a different hub.

Since when was Bristol international?!

Walsh Western have been Dell's distributor for a long time. Only time I've ever heard of them too!

Lopez · 30-05-2008, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wossi

My dad ordered a new Dell laptop for work the other week. When it was finally shipped from Dell we looked at when it was due to be delivered to us and noticed that it was being delivered by Walsh Western. Great, we thought, they are literally a couple of miles down the road from work. Got in touch with them and the laptop has now been shipped off to Birmingham to be delivered back to Nuneaton

So it's come from Dell, to Hinckley, then Birmingham only to be delivered to Nuneaton (Hinckley and Nuneaton are next to each other).

I can't be the only one who thinks this makes zero sense and in a time when companies are supposed to be "Carbon friendly" and when fuel prices are high they would ship it an hour or so away to be brought back again a few miles up the road? *smacks forehead*

Because couriers use a hub and spoke system to maximise linehaul efficiency. Sending one van up the road to you carrying just your parcel would be inefficient and a waste of a driver for that time.

With hub and spoke the freight is grouped together and moved in batches to central sortation points, then shipped back out of the hub with all other freight for the relevant destination depot.

To do it the way you mentioned for every parcel would mean having a fleet of about eleventymillion vans and drivers.

Lopez · 30-05-2008, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutcase

And to the best of my knowledge there's 3 DHL depots in Chelmsford, yet I had to go to Basildon to collect my parcel. When I asked why, they said it was an international parcel so went through a different hub.

Since when was Bristol international?!

DHL are still going through integration in the UK (as are many other couriers)
In other words, the International and Domestic sides of the business are totally seperate.

We still have a couple of non-integrated depots. One example is Thetford and Stansted. Both cover the same area - Thetford do domestic only and Stansted do international only. So if you live in Ipswich Thetford might be closer than Stansted but you can't pick up an international parcel from Thetford because no international freight ever goes there.

iCraig · 30-05-2008, 22:26

It seems daft to the minority of cases, but that van leaving from Bham with the laptop won't be just one package up, it'll be full. To get a van to come over to you to deliver one thing ultimately wastes the drivers time, the van could be put to much better use during that time. Seems bizarre from our POV but on the bigger logistical scale it actually makes sense.

28-05-2008, 13:46	#1
Wossi Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the middle Posts: 1,385	Carrier Rant My dad ordered a new Dell laptop for work the other week. When it was finally shipped from Dell we looked at when it was due to be delivered to us and noticed that it was being delivered by Walsh Western. Great, we thought, they are literally a couple of miles down the road from work. Got in touch with them and the laptop has now been shipped off to Birmingham to be delivered back to Nuneaton So it's come from Dell, to Hinckley, then Birmingham only to be delivered to Nuneaton (Hinckley and Nuneaton are next to each other). I can't be the only one who thinks this makes zero sense and in a time when companies are supposed to be "Carbon friendly" and when fuel prices are high they would ship it an hour or so away to be brought back again a few miles up the road? smacks forehead

28-05-2008, 14:38	#2
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	I had mine courriered by Walsh Western to the UK and then delivered by TNT I think. It went all over the place. Glad I didn't have to pick it up from WW though. Couple of hours drive away. __________________

28-05-2008, 15:17	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Different hubs and depots will have set areas they cover. When we used Business Post when we were based in Braintree, our nearest depot was Chelsmford (which was actually in Braintree). Now we moved 15 minutes out of Braintree our depot is now classed as Ipswich which is hours away. Sounds daft, is daft but it's just the way areas have become over time. __________________

28-05-2008, 15:53	#4
Goose The list is long, but distinguished Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Århus, Denmark Posts: 1,643	Some local companies tend to be pretty good about this sort of thing. I bought a case for all my 360 games from a shop in Newbury. One of the store guys called at my house on his way home, which was nice of them. __________________

28-05-2008, 16:21	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	When I'm working in Hinckley, I can literally see the Walsh Western (now Syncreon) hub from where I work. It'd be nice if they'd let me walk in and pick up Dell kit, or pop it round in a transit, but that's not what they're there for. And to be fair, cases like these are in the minority, and for big companies to sort their logistics to cater for us is a big effort. Bit daft but kinda understandable. __________________ apt-get moo

28-05-2008, 16:53	#6
Wossi Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the middle Posts: 1,385	I understand that the place down the road is basically just distribution, but seems daft that it has to go round in circles to come a couple of miels.

28-05-2008, 20:34	#7
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Business Post "Chelmsford" winds me up cos it's in Braintree And to the best of my knowledge there's 3 DHL depots in Chelmsford, yet I had to go to Basildon to collect my parcel. When I asked why, they said it was an international parcel so went through a different hub. Since when was Bristol international?! Walsh Western have been Dell's distributor for a long time. Only time I've ever heard of them too!

30-05-2008, 22:26	#10
iCraig iCustom User Title Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,250	It seems daft to the minority of cases, but that van leaving from Bham with the laptop won't be just one package up, it'll be full. To get a van to come over to you to deliver one thing ultimately wastes the drivers time, the van could be put to much better use during that time. Seems bizarre from our POV but on the bigger logistical scale it actually makes sense. __________________