Month: November 2010

Have ParcelPal Finally Solved the Nightmare of Missed Deliveries & Collections?

Posted on by Anthony Marriage

ParcelPal Ltd has recently launched a new innovative product for the home delivery and collections market. Could this solution be set to change the way we view the convenience of home deliveries and collections altogether?

The product consists of a secure delivery box, fitted to the exterior of a home or business address, together with an intercom unit, replacing the existing doorbell. When a courier arrives and presses the intercom button, the system makes a call to the pre-configured mobile phone number. On answering the call, a conversation can be held with the person at the intercom, from wherever the recipient happens to be. Once the need to deliver or collect a parcel has been verbally confirmed, the owner can unlock their secure container remotely, using the buttons on their mobile phone.

The product is primarily targeted at regular online shoppers and people operating businesses from their home. The lockers are generating a significant amount of interest and according to the MD, Steve Bungard “We’re finding that Amazon and eBay Power Sellers operating their business from home are showing the greatest interest, since the product uniquely copes with unattended collections, just as easily as deliveries”.

The container is available in black or grey and has internal dimensions of 40x50x60cm, which the company says will accept the majority of online purchases; however they also produce an industrial version with internal dimensions of 50x50x100cm for users requiring larger deliveries or multiple deliveries or collections in any one day.

Bungard went on to explain about the secure event logging built into the system, which records and uploads information relating to system operations. This information is available through secure login to their website.

With the increasing rate at which online shopping and home delivery is continuing to grow, a solution such as this, which can reduce missed deliveries and the irritation, cost and environmental impact of depot collections or redeliveries, could be set to change the way we view the convenience of home deliveries and collections altogether.

More information on the ParcelPal system can be found on the company website at http://www.parcelpal.com/.

Mama mia! Lamborghini delivery

Posted on by Anthony Marriage
During a time when many businesses are tightening the purse strings, restauranter
Alberto Valotta has decided to celebrate the family business in style. His restaurant, Alberto’s, will run a Lamborghini delivery service to mark their 12th anniversary. If you live in Hemel Hempstead, Herts and fancy an Italian takeaway this Friday you can enjoy the Lamborghini delivery experience.

“There are lots of Indian and Chinese restaurants who do take away services but not many Italians, so we thought it would be a good idea.” said Alberto.

“We wanted to do something special to mark the start and my son Orlando suggested we get hold of a Lamborghini Gallardo.”

Not known for its green credentials, the supercar only does 12 miles to the gallon. We don’t think any couriers will be using this in a hurry!

A Garlic bread delivery from a Bugatti Veyron? Fish and Chips from an Aston Martin? Bratwurst from a Porsche?

What supercar, if any, would you want delivering your takeaway?

ShipLYNK™ takes centre stage – install on eBay and get £1 today

Posted on by admin
Drumroll please…

Shiply is proud to announce our latest creation – ShipLYNK™! Easily installed (takes 30 seconds – we’ve timed it), it automatically inserts a simple integration between your eBay auction listings and Shiply.  What’s more, we’re paying £1 to everyone who installs it! (limited time only & terms apply).

ShipLYNK screenshot on example eBay listing page

People bidding on your item can then simply click on ShipLYNK™ to import the eBay item information into Shiply.com. It’s a great way of offering cheap delivery options available to your potential buyers – a great incentive for bidders who are put off by expensive delivery costs or the dreaded “local collect only”!

A large slice of our marketplace is made up of eBay items that Shiply members are trying to win or sell. We love that our members can make alternate delivery arrangements on an eBay item and save themselves a bundle in the process. ShipLYNK™ makes it even easier for eBayer’s to find a delivery option they are happy with.

To promote the launch of ShipLYNK™ we are giving £1 to everyone who installs it into their eBay listings  (limited time only & terms apply).

Better yet, eBay sellers will get 40% commission of Shiply revenue for new customers clicking  through ShipLYNK™. Perfect if you already have lots to sell in time for Christmas.

Tis’ the season to be jolly after all!  Enjoy.

Over 1,200 ShipLYNK’s™ have already been installed, so grab your’s now at: http://shiplynk.shiply.com.

1,000 Facebook “likes”

Posted on by Anthony Marriage

Everyone seems to be on Facebook, whether it’s a quick glance on your lunch break or in the comfort of your own home. We created the Shiply page last January and we have already reached the milestone of 1,000 likes!

 
Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. We’re sure it won’t be too long before we’re announcing our 2,000th “liker!”


Not liked Shiply on facebook yet? get on over there – http://www.facebook.com/shiply/.

 

 

Pizza loving criminal gets his just desserts

Posted on by Anthony Marriage

A pizza delivery man working for Domino’s delivered swift justice when he managed to apprehend a robber minutes after the crime was committed.  How it happened is quite remarkable – read on:



Under police questioning, Charles McManus, 30, admitted to robbing Muhammad Zar who delivers pizzas around Springburn, Glasgow. McManus and another man approached Mr Zar whilst he was in his car and brandishing knives they stole his pizzas, wallet, mobile phone and tip money. The other man then proceeded to take Mr Zar’s car keys and car, leaving him stranded.


Mr Zar was then told to walk down the street and take a right by McManus. Fearing he was being led into a trap, Mr Zar turned left and ran to the nearest house with a lit window.


Unfortunately for the crook, the house Mr Zar entered was McManus’!  After his mother let Mr Zar in to use the house he contacted the police. McManus then unwittingly entered his home only to find his recent victim standing in the doorway. Although he fled immediately, police were contacted and McManus was successfully apprehended.


Sheriff Andrew Normand deferred sentence until next month for background reports and McManus has since be released on bail.

Cat-astrophe!

Posted on by Anthony Marriage

Most news about the Royal Mail recently has been grave and serious. However, one piece of news has not failed to grab the media’s attention. Yes, the story of how a postman has refused to deliver post through a home’s letterbox because of a cat has been making the headlines. Well maybe not the main headlines…



The postman, Andrew Goater, had his hand swiped by a mischievous cat as he put his hand through the letterbox. After being scratched, the wounded postman had to the local hospital in Portsmouth to get a TB jab. Mr Goater now knocks on the door when he gets to the home of Carl and Carol White, who own the cat, nicknamed “Lana Banana. The family have been told that they could even be blacklisted from receiving post if the problem repeats itself.

Mr White, a cleaner at Portsmouth Dockyard, said: ‘This was the first time she had done anything like that and she’s not done anything like it since. I think it’s a bit much to say they might take us off the mailing list if it happens again.’

Mr Goater said,”normally you hear about postmen being attacked by the dog but this cat just came out of nowhere,’ he said . ‘It was a really vicious scratch.”

The Royal Mail has stated that its employees have reported over 5,000 animal attacks in the last year and that it has a responsibility to its workers to treat every case seriously.

Mailers in the night

Posted on by Anthony Marriage

The Royal Mail has teamed up with several retailers to trial an evening delivery service. The trial will initially last for six months and will be provided for those living within the M25 area of London and the South East. Evening deliveries will operate between 6pm and 10pm, allowing customers to collect their packages after work. Currently, only House of Fraser and L’Occitane are participating, but the Royal Mail has stated that it is in talks with other potential retail partners.



The trial is a response to a recent eBay survey that revealed that over 84% of online companies that rely on the Royal Mail for their deliveries criticised the service. Online businesses commonly described how the Royal Mail failed to meet their demands and that of their customers. The five most repeated areas for improvement were: notifications for the time or day of delivery; evening deliveries; evening collection times at postal depots; weekend deliveries and evening opening times at post offices.

Royal Mail director Mike Brown said: “Consumers increasingly want more control over when and where they receive their orders, and Royal Mail is looking to fit the online delivery experience around the shopper, enabling them to select, rather than being told, when their goods will be delivered.”

The findings come at a time when the future of the Royal Mail is in question. Vince Cable has already stated his desire for modernisation, even if it means selling part of the public institution to a private company.