This guide from Legion Express, a Nottingham-based courier and logistics company, covers the five most common parcel mistakes we see businesses make, from incorrect postcodes to poor packaging.
Here at Legion Express, our Nottingham-based team handles thousands of parcel collections and deliveries across the UK every week. Most arrive exactly where they should.
Some take … a more adventurous route.
Avoid these five common mistakes and your parcel stands a much better chance of arriving first time.
1. “That postcode should be fine… it’s close enough”
Postcodes can make or break a delivery.
You process the order perfectly, dispatch it on time, watch it get scanned onto the van… and then it gets flagged.
Incorrect postcode.
Back to the depot it goes.
We hear these a lot:
- “That’s the postcode I was given.”
- “That’s what it says on my customer’s website.”
- Our favourite: “It says it on Google so it must be correct.”
Even one wrong character can send a parcel to the wrong street, town, or sometimes the wrong county.
A quick check before sending can save a lot of time and frustration.
Check postcodes here:
https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode
Or give Legion Express a call on 0115 976 3646. We are always happy to help double check.
2. Unclear address format
Imagine the parcel is for Matt who works for Matt’s Scaffolding on an Amazon site.
If the parcel is addressed like this:
Matt’s Scaffolding
Easy Road
Nottingham
NG5 9RA
The driver arrives and starts looking for a building or sign that says Matt’s Scaffolding.
If they cannot see it, they cannot attempt delivery.
Meanwhile the driver is probably already standing on the Amazon site.
Instead, structure the address like this:
Amazon
FAO: Matt – Matt’s Scaffolding (Working on site)
Easy Road
Nottingham
NG5 9RA
Drivers deliver to what they can clearly see, not what they have to guess.
3. The contact number belongs to someone who is not there, or worse no contact number at all
Drivers deliver to what they can clearly see, not what they have to guess.
Driver arrives.
Gate locked.
Calls the contact number.
“Hi, I have a delivery.”
Response:
“I’m not there. I don’t know anything about that delivery. Give me ten minutes and I’ll get back to you.”
Ten minutes later the driver is miles away and the phone is not being answered.
For urgent deliveries, always make sure the contact number belongs to someone who is actually on site.
It makes a huge difference.
4. Not knowing what happens after a failed delivery
Not all carriers automatically attempt delivery again.
In many cases the parcel is held at the depot while the recipient is notified by SMS or email so they can reschedule.
If no contact details are provided, the only option left is leaving a delivery attempted card.
Providing contact details means recipients receive:
- Delivery alerts
- ETA windows
- Simple rebooking options
It also increases the chances of a successful first attempt
5. The “Spider-Man box”
We see this a lot.
One side of the parcel is taped perfectly.
The other side is held together with one small strip of tape, like the train scene in Spiderman 2.
Unfortunately, gravity always wins.
The bottom of the box takes the most stress during transit, so make sure it is properly secured with enough tape to support the contents.
Your parcel will arrive in much better shape.
Final Thought
You have spent a lot to build trust with your customer. Everything you have poured into your product counts for little until your customer receives the item.
Most delivery problems start with small details before the parcel even leaves your building.
Check the postcode, write a clear address, include a proper contact number, understand delivery attempts, and always tape the bottom of the box.
Do that and your parcel’s journey will be far less exciting.
If you ever need help, Legion Express is always happy to assist.