Posted by Stephen Stewart on 01/17/07 20:45

"kim" <ntscuser@aol.com> wrote in message
news:tNidnZ4i6Igw2jDYnZ2dneKdnZypnZ2d@giganews.com...

> I use APR Media all the time and have always had great service from them.
> Their 2nd Class deliveries are faster than most firms' 1st Class.

I've just checked that site again and despite what their delivery
information page says it appears that their 2nd class deliveries are
available to Northern Ireland too so I'm well chuffed! :-)

>
>> "If your order only contains products from our Memory or Printing
>> Supplies
>> sections. 1st Class Royal Mail shipping will be ONLY 99p (84p ex VAT.)
>> (Available to UK Mainland addresses only) "
>
>> Never mind the fact that Royal Mail don't charge extra for UK
>> non-mainland
>> addresses.
>
> It could be that delivery to mainland postcodes is abnormally slow so they
> prefer to use courier? APR also uses couriier post for it's larger
> shipments
> to mainland addresses.
>

I've always found Royal Mail's delivery service to Northern Ireland to be
surprisingly quick.

I think the real reason is probably because of the way suppliers negotiate
delivery contracts.

The courier's pricing structure is different to that of Royal Mail who
charge a uniform price across the entire UK.

The courier quotes a very low price for central mainland deliveries at less
than Royal Mail prices to get the contract and isn't interested in
deliveries to outlying areas.

They regard this as too much hassle so they quote excessive costs for
outlying areas in the knowledge that if they ever do have to fulfil this
they'll make a fortune on it.

The supplier takes the overall deal in order to get cheap prices for the
bulk of their deliveries and in some instances is bound under contract to
use the courier for all their deliveries.

Some enlightened companies do offer choice of delivery and it's these sorts
of companies I have to rely on for cheaper products (if you're buying
something more expensive then the postage cost quite often can be aborbed
into the savings).

Other companies may have the option to offer choice of delivery but either
haven't thought of it or regard Northern Ireland as if it's somewhere in
Outer Mongolia.

I once had one company that told me they didn't deliver to Northern Ireland
because they didn't want to get involved with using foreign currencies!

Another asked me what the exchange rate was over here compared to the UK
Pound!!!!

I was a bit taken aback and slightly sarcastically said "1 to 1" to which
she replied "Oh, that's an amazing coincidence".

When I explained that we use UK Pounds here she had to put me on hold while
she checked that!!!

It really makes you wonder at some of the staff these companies employ
nowadays although I have to say that that seems to be a UK wide problem in
general and not just on the mainland.


Stephen

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