5 Traits That Make a New York Courier Service Great
If you know New York, you know that getting from A to B is never easy because you need to contend with traffic.
New York is one of the busiest cities in the world, which causes problems for everyone, especially a New York courier service that needs to quickly deliver goods to local customers.
If you’re a retailer or sell products online, providing a reliable delivery service in New York is essential to keep a competitive edge.
But what’s the solution? How can you ensure that your items arrive with your customers on time?
For many, a professional same-day delivery service in New York is the answer, and it is estimated that over 1 million delivery trucks are on the city’s roads daily.
But delivery services differ, so how can you tell which logistics company in the city is best?
To help you decide, here are five questions to consider when choosing the right New York delivery service for you.
1. Is the New York Courier Reliable?
Reliability is one of the most important characteristics of a good delivery service in New York, as your customers expect to receive their goods on time.
Many people reorganize their day or wait at home if they expect a package, so the item must arrive as planned to avoid disappointment and frustration.
Even when using a local courier service, most customers assume the person delivering their goods works directly for you. This is why, if their parcel is delayed or there is a problem with the delivery service, it will be you that they blame.
If an item is delayed without warning, the customer will see it as a reflection on your company, and no matter how good your product is, they may not order from you again.
A negative delivery experience, a delay, or an unfriendly courier can affect your sales and profit, so it’s vital that you research a delivery service before you agree to use them.
The best way to judge a company’s service values is to Google the business and read online reviews.
Read what customers say and note any red flags, such as lost and damaged items, repeated delivery delays, and unprofessional couriers.
Remember that you will always find one or two negative comments, but if most of the reviews are positive, chances are the delivery company offers a good level of service.
2. Is the Delivery Service Flexible?
All New York City couriers differ, and the services offered by one company may not be the same as another.
There are many types of delivery services in New York. Some specialize in small items and same-day deliveries, others larger items like furniture and white goods.
Before deciding on a courier service, assess your needs based on the products you supply and when they need to arrive with the customer. For example, if it’s baked goods, fresh produce, medicine, or flowers, you must ensure the courier delivers the items quickly to avoid them perishing or spoiling during transit.
Also, consider where your customers are based, as some courier services in New York are borough specific and only deliver in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx, or Brooklyn. If you need to deliver items further afield or even nationally, make sure the company is flexible and has enough staff and vehicles to do this.
3. Can the Delivery Service Deal With Your Demand?
Capacity is another factor you need to consider when outsourcing to a delivery service.
If you are a retailer, chances are some weeks or months are busier than others, say Black Friday or on the run-up to Thanksgiving.
Check that the courier service can deal with peaks and troughs in demand and ask how they manage busy times, for example, when they have a surge in deliveries for The Holidays. Do they have enough vehicles and take on extra couriers? Do they have enough operations personnel to keep track of items and accurately manage the workloads?
A good New York courier service should be able to demonstrate that they have these factors in place so you can rest assured that your package will arrive at its destination within the desired timeframe.
4. Is the Price of the Delivery Service Clear?
Cost matters, especially if you are a small business, so ensure that any New York courier service you consider offers a transparent pricing structure with no hidden extras.
Same-day delivery tends to cost more than standard delivery, but most customers expect this, so they are prepared to pay a little extra.
That said, it’s still important to negotiate with any potential delivery provider and agree on everything in writing before proceeding with a contract.
With couriers, the pricing should be clearly stated so you can accurately manage your accounts and price products accordingly.
5. Is the Courier Service Easy to Use?
Most businesses outsource to a delivery service in New York to save time.
Time is important, and the last thing you need is to spend time trying to log your delivery requirements on a poorly designed system or spend ages trying to phone or email a delivery provider.
A good New York delivery service should make your life easier and offer an easy way to arrange the pick-up and dispatch of your items.
For example, Metrobi offers a flexible subscription-based courier service and runs a large pool of professional drivers around the city who constantly pick up and deliver goods.
Our service is designed to be easy to use. Once you have subscribed to Metrobi, you are given access to our platform, where you can easily arrange for a local courier to fetch your goods.
Furthermore, from our platform, the GPS technology our drivers use lets you track your order and see where your delivery is in real-time, which is a great benefit should your customer ever ask.
The drivers all use sophisticated route optimization technology to help them navigate New York’s streets and combat traffic issues; plus, the couriers carry state-of-the-art tablets to capture your customer’s signature as proof of delivery as soon as the goods are delivered at the location.
This mix of knowledgeable local drivers, technology, and efficient customer service is what you need from a reliable New York courier service, as it saves time and minimizes the risk of late deliveries and customer complaints.
Please request a callback to learn more about how a courier service like Metrobi can benefit your business.