Sending large parcels can seem a complex operation. Not only that, but the cost of shipping a parcel can also be expensive. In reality, it is possible to ship bulky parcels at affordable rates. To do so, just follow a few simple steps described in this article - read on!
In this article, we will help you understand what criteria express couriers use to determine the cost of shipping bulky parcels. We will then give you tips and suggestions for shipping bulky parcels with an express courier at the lowest price and with home collection. Finally, you will find some estimates on prices and delivery times.
Examples of shipping bulky parcels
Companies and private individuals may equally need to ship a bulky parcel. In fact, shipping heavy parcels or bulky packages is often encountered not only in companies, but also at home. Let's look at some examples:
- companies and e-commerce sites: Anyone running a business may have to send and receive bulky parcels. These can be an integral part of a company's supply chain and therefore managing the cost of shipping these parcels becomes crucial;
- private individuals: the shipping for removals of bulky parcels between private individuals are more frequent than one might imagine. These occur mainly when moving house. Some of the most common items that fall into this category are:
- large furniture;
- refrigerators and other household appliances;
- oil and wine;
- bicycles;
- motorbike;
- beds and mattresses.
What is the shipping cost of a bulky parcel?
As with all shipments, the cost of shipping via an express courier depends on a few key factors:
- distance to travel: The further away the destination is from the place of origin, the higher the cost of shipping a parcel. There are also surcharges for parcel shipments to remote or hard-to-reach areas. In Italy, two of the areas that fall into this category are the two large islands;
- speed of dispatch: In general, express shipments have a higher cost. This also depends on the means of transport the express courier uses for the shipment. An air shipment is usually more expensive than a road shipment.
Volumetric weight and real weight: what are the differences?
A final key factor in determining the shipping cost of a bulky parcel is the comparison of size with, indeed, volume. To understand how size influences the cost of shipping, one must first understand why this is so important for each express courier.
Thus, the more space your parcel takes up on the means of transport, the higher the shipping cost will be. For this reason, weight is only one of the elements the courier uses to determine the price of your shipment. In most cases, it is not even the main one.
Thus, to determine the cost of shipping a parcel, express couriers most frequently use volumetric weight.
How is volumetric weight calculated?
This volumetric weight is calculated using the following formula, which is based on the size of the parcel and a standard coefficient assigned by the courier:
Volumetric weight for shipping bulky parcels
Volumetric weight becomes even more important if you have to ship large parcels. Let's assume, for example, that you have to ship large but at the same time lightweight parcels. For example, let us consider a parcel that has a side length of two metres. A parcel that has a dimension of two metres is considered a bulky parcel.
For bulky parcels, the price will not depend on the modest weight of the item. The price for shipping a large, bulky parcel is determined using the formula for determining volumetric weight. Each courier calculates the shipping weight based on the size of the parcel.
Sometimes, the courier may decide to use the actual weight of the parcel to determine the shipping costs. This is the case if the actual weight of the parcel is greater than the volumetric weight.
Courier or Poste Italiane? Who to trust to send large parcels?
If you have to send a large and heavy parcel, the Italian Post Office and its affiliated couriers are not the best solution. In fact, to send a bulky parcel, a courier is definitely the best choice. The reason? Unfortunately, Poste Italiane are not able to offer the same quality of service that an express courier offers.
Moreover, the Italian postal service has logistical limitations that do not allow the transport of large parcels. On the contrary, the express couriers we work with allow you to ship large parcels of virtually any size. In fact, with convenient shipping you can ship pallets and pallets anywhere in the world weighing up to three tonnes.
The table below summarises the difference between the logistical capacity of the best couriers and that of Poste Italiane.
If your parcel has a side length of more than one and a half metres, you cannot rely on Poste Italiane. Therefore, how to send a parcel large parcels weighing more than 30 kilos, you must ship by express courier. Therefore, large parcels weighing more than thirty kilos cannot be shipped with Poste Italiane.
More reasons to send large parcels by express courier
Weight and size limits are not the only reason to prefer an express courier to the postal service. The service of the express courier is also superior for other reasons:
- speed of shipment: If you need to send a large or bulky parcel urgently, the timing of express couriers is decisive. In fact, the Italian Post Office cannot guarantee fast delivery.
Poste Italiane's delivery times are up to four days for shipping bulky parcels within Italy. Still on the subject of shipping bulky parcels with Poste Italiane, delivery of bulky parcels takes at least two days for international shipments. In contrast, SpedizioneComoda.comoda.co.uk offers delivery times for fast shipments in Italy and abroad from 24 hours; - traceability of the shipment: Whether you are a private individual or a company, it is important to be able to track your shipment. However, the Post Office does not allow you to track your parcel. On the contrary, SpedizioneComoda.co.uk allows you to know the progress of your shipment at any time.
How to prepare the shipment of bulky parcels?
In many respects, shipping bulky parcels requires the same care as for any other shipment. There are, however, two crucial steps in preparing your parcel. In fact, for large parcel shipments, special attention must be paid to packing and measuring the parcel.
Packing a bulky parcel
Given its unusual size, which is typical of a bulky package, be sure to:
- use durable packaging and use the right technique. If you are in doubt about how to handle the shipping of a large parcel, visit this page and find out all the details for packing a parcel;
- avoid irregularities in packaging;
- packs the parcel on pallets if necessarycouriers require the use of pallets to ship heavy parcels. A parcel is defined as heavy when it weighs more than 70 kg. You can find more information on how to ship pallets and its use on the link page.
How to measure bulky packages?
As discussed, the quote you will receive from the express courier will be partly calculated from the size of the parcel. Some couriers impose higher prices if the parcel has special dimensions.
For this reason, it is essential to measure your parcel accurately. Only then can you request an estimate. The parcel must only be measured, in order to make the shipping quote, after it has been fully packed and packaged.
Use a tape measure to measure length, height and depth.
To get a fast shipping quote, you will also need to weigh the parcel ready to be handed over to the courier. As we have already seen, these two are the key components for calculating the parcel shipping cost. Furthermore, if the declared weight and dimensions do not correspond to the real ones, the courier company may charge you extra.
Shipping large or bulky parcels with SpedizioneComoda.co.uk
SpedizioneComoda.co.uk cooperates with the best express couriers available on the Italian market, such as TNT, DHL e UPS. For this reason, we are able to offer you extremely competitive costs for the shipment of parcels to both Italy and international shipments.
In the table below you will find our cost and delivery time estimates for shipping a large or bulky parcel. The estimates refer to a parcel weighing 30 kg and measuring 60 x 60 x 40 cm. Prices and delivery times are current as of 03 May 2021 and may change in the future.
Parcel shipping costs: the advantages of the SpedizioneComoda.co.uk service
Shipping large parcels with our couriers brings further advantages, in addition to benefiting from cheaper costs. Our prices are, in fact, inclusive of additional services for bulky parcel shipments, such as:
- home collection: If you ship with SpedizioneComoda.co.uk, your chosen courier will collect your parcel from your address. On the contrary, other couriers charge extra costs for this service. If you send with the Italian Post Office, however, you will have to go to the post office. In the case of bulky parcels, delivering the parcel to the post office or courier company is inconvenient, to say the least. In addition, these shipments may be fragile or difficult to handle;
- no subscription constraints: many couriers require a subscription in order to be able to ship. This solution is clearly unsuitable for private customers.
Our fast delivery service allows parcels to be shipped at affordable rates. How is this possible? Because of the volume of shipments we handle on a daily basis, we are able to offer you more favourable rates than individual couriers.
Favourable shipping costs for normal and bulky parcels
Large or bulky, you now know that shipping a parcel is no more complex than normal shipping. You also know that it is essential to prepare your parcel carefully, packing it and measuring it correctly.
Finally, you simply have to rely on the right service. Express courier is certainly the most suitable choice for this type of transport. In this article we have highlighted the difference between SpedizioneComoda.co.uk and Poste Italiane for shipping parcels. SpedizioneComoda.co.uk offers you the possibility to ship large, heavy or bulky parcels at the lowest cost, both in Italy and abroad.
