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Fragile Goods Couriers - How To Prepare

If you’re buying breakables or selling a sculpture online, then chances are you might require a fragile goods transport company to provide safe passage for your purchase.

Many items that you might need to transport could be classified as “fragile” and will require special care during delivery, moving musical instruments or artwork for example takes a lot more care than shipping a breeze block. For this reason, it is worth looking into a speciality fragile goods courier to move your items.

Fragile goods couriers

Fragile items are usually valuable, be it sentimentally or financially, which is why it pays to look for specialist couriers that are well versed in transporting delicate goods; specialists should have a wealth of experience in your item’s category and should have comprehensive insurance cover.

Whether you choose a specialist transport expert or not, you need to make some preparations before you get delicate items delivered:

Research: If you’re distance buying/selling antiques then make sure you know their worth; this will help you choose the right level of service when it comes to picking a delivery company. What’s more, it might prompt you to up the level of insurance beyond the standard cover of the courier.

Inspection: Make sure you give your item a thorough check over. If you’re getting an item off eBay listed for collection then ask the seller for an accurate description, this way you’ll be able to see if it suffers any nicks or scrapes during transit.

Get Wrapping: Your glassware isn’t going anywhere without a generous helping of bubble wrap or polystyrene. Make sure that your items are secure in a box where they can’t move about, and if moving stacked items ensure you provide padding between each layer.

Fragile goods come in all shapes and sizes and require different specialised handling, if you need piano removals you’re looking at a completely different job to delivering china plates and different specific preparations as well.

Finding The Best Fragile Goods Courier

Whatever breakables you’re moving it pays to research available couriers to find the best value and most qualified courier.

Delicate goods couriers can come in as many shapes and sizes as the items you’re moving, and each will have their own history and experience. So finding one that’s best suited to your item is going to give you peace of mind.

Whenever you’re moving items with a courier, especially delicate articles, you’ll want to consider a number of things:

Cost: This mainly depends on what you’re moving and where. Most couriers charge a flat rate of £1.20 per mile, but you may pay more if transporting valuables or large items. Conversely, you can save money by finding couriers that have spare capacity.

Experience: Finding out how long the driver has been in the job and whether they’ve moved similar items before can be a good idea. This isn’t to say that a new courier is no good, but sometimes an old hand can be your best bet.

Insurance: All couriers should have some sort of goods in transport insurance, this covers them to deliver and pick up items, and should pay for anything that breaks in the unlikely event that anything should go wrong. You can usually acquire extra cover, for a premium, if you need to move something particularly valuable.

Association: This isn’t required of couriers but it can help give you an idea of the quality of service you can expect. Specialists might be members of organisations dedicated to certain categories, or your driver might be a member of a general delivery body, such as the National Courier Association.

Proximity: When you need to move goods over a large distance it’s helpful to find a courier that’s going there anyway, if you can employ a driver that is making a return journey or already making a delivery to your item’s destination you can save a lot on delivery costs.

Deliver Fragile Goods With Shiply

Finding out the credentials, experience and prices of a number of couriers can take a lot of time and effort. Checking the yellow pages or phoning around couriers can only glean you a certain amount of information.

The web can help you get a better idea of the delivery services on offer, but not every independent transporter is going to have a website and you still end up trawling through lots of pages.

If you want to bypass all that and have couriers come to you with quotes then Shiply can help.

By listing your delivery requirements on Shiply you’ll be able to receive quotes from couriers who are able to make the trip. Transporters will quote competitively to try and win your delivery, meaning that the cost goes down.

You can then check out the quotes you receive and compare the couriers based on their feedback and reviews from other Shiply users.

Once you’ve got a quote that suits you all you have to do is accept it and then you can get your fragile items moving.

Completing the delivery

Once your delivery has been completed by your preferred transporter you’ll want to make a few checks to ensure that your items are ok.

Make sure that your items are undamaged; you should bring up any issues with the transporter immediately. In the unlikely event of breakages you should be covered by the transporter’s insurance.

When your items are safe and sound we’d appreciate your feedback on Shiply. Rating your driver and providing a review will help future Shiply users who are looking for cheap fragile item delivery.

Millions of people use Shiply

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As Shiply's delivery companies are already making similar trips, quotes are up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shiply Cover My Area?

Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.

Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?

There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.

Can I Call Shiply?

Shiply Support is available from 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday on 020 3137 2454. You can also send an email to .

Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?

Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.

When Will I Receive A Quote?

You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.

How Many Quotes Will I Receive?

Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.

Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?

If your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.

Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?

Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.

Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?

Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.

Can I Travel With My Goods?

The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.

What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?

If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.

Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?

If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .

Can Specialist Packing Equipment Be Provided?

Yes, transport providers will be able to provide specialist packing equipment, however, you will need to ensure that you have asked for this in your listing, and we recommend confirming this with transport providers before accepting a quote.

Are There Specialists On Shiply?

Yes, there are many specialists on Shiply. If you are looking for a specialised service for fragile goods, make sure you emphasise this in your listing and ask any transport providers about their experience with similar fragile items.

How Shiply works

How Shiply Works

How Shiply Works

  • 1

    Request quotes from our 422,731 rated transport providers.

  • 2

    Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right delivery quote for you.

  • 3

    Sit back and relax while your item is safely delivered by your chosen transport provider.

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