Cheap Alternative to Disreputed Courier Service www.e-Go.com.au

peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 13:14
Last edited 29/12/2016 - 00:56

My friend's cousin stupidly went for e-go when shipping an expensive bulky item. I'll try to limit my vocabulary for e-go so they don't pull a weallsave.com.au (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/152466) :)

Apparently they made the usual mistake of jumping on a great price rather than checking the reviews first (i.e. for e-go or its parent? company Hunter Express).

For an idea, check these:
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/e-go.html
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1357877
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/hunter-express.html
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/DONT-…

Now e-go claims a big-ass expensive package was dropped off without bothering for a signature, which of course just conveniently happens to be lost now. They even charge for a phone call ahead of delivery which apparently just doesn't happen (of course the last review by Jimmyhay on http://www.productreview.com.au/p/e-go.html concurs this…).

Now they'll probably have to get the payment processor involved (Paypal). How would that even work with regards to producing evidence? A police report? Should they report the alleged scam to Fair trading? Apparently e-go/Hunter Express were acting suspiciously on the phone so maybe something was up all along.

Can anyone recommend a reliable, non-evil courier company for bulky items that's also good value? Preferably with reviews on http://www.productreview.com.au/c/couriers.html so I can pass it on with good faith.

Update:

Forgetting E-go or Hunter Express, what IS the worst courier company in Australia?
Has any courier/freight/shipping company ever been convicted of fraud or a scam?

General Discussion

Comments

  • shinichiduy on 28/12/2016 - 13:42
    +1

    How bulky will your items be?

  • shapers on 28/12/2016 - 13:42
    +1

    How bulky are we talking? Sendle are quite cheap and I haven't had any significant problems with them yet

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 13:59

      Around 50 kg and say 1 cubic metre. Thanks I'll pass it on.

  • zfind on 28/12/2016 - 13:46
    +1

    You did pay for insurance through e-Go right? They have a pretty good rep in the car scene where large, expensive parts are sent around the country often. I've had to make a claim on their insurance and it bought me a new item to replace a broken second-hand one.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 14:02

      Yeah they did. I wonder how it works for lost parts? And how does it work if you pay for insurance and the pre-delivery phone-call but not that "redelivery fee" (I don't know if they did), which apparently means nothing anyway (http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1470705).

      • zfind on 28/12/2016 - 16:40

        For completely missing consignments I can't say, but a normal person would assume if they lose it while responsible for it you get the full payout amount minus any excess. I don't see it being any other way. If they say they dropped it off but you never received it, it gets murky. I had no trouble, but the part was only damaged, not missing. Provided proof and a quote for a new price and got paid out.

  • Empharand on 28/12/2016 - 13:49
    +1

    I personally use Smartsend and Interparcel
    I find Interparcel to be the better of the two as you can check prices, and see which courier you will get (ie. Startrack, Couriers Please, TNT etc) as opposed to Smartsend where you don't find out which courier it is until after you have made payment. You also have the choice of ATL and signature on delivery as well as insurance coverage.

    Not sure how bulky your item is, however Smartsend and Interparcel will support maximum of 50kg, otherwise they have to do a custom quote based on your weight and size.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 14:03

      Thanks I'll pass it on.

    • mini2 on 05/10/2017 - 08:02

      +1 to interparcel, they're just an aggregator ad uses the other couriers.

      Have used it multiple times over the years and the experience have been consistent.

  • holdenmg on 28/12/2016 - 13:52
    +1

    I just use
    https://www.parcel2courier.com/

    You can get a quote from a number of Couriers
    Try the code DOCKET5 for 5% discount

    I have used Fastway and CouriersPlease.

    Fastway always seem to stuff-up the Collection Date/Time a lot, so you need your Parcel ready t go.

    I found CouriersPlease OK.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 14:03

      Thanks I'll check them out.

      From a quick check TNT express seems decently priced with regards to the time estimate through https://www.parcel2courier.com/, but I wonder how much a crane would cost?

      • holdenmg on 28/12/2016 - 14:33

        Why would you want to send a crane…

        No, seriously, what dimensions and weight are we talking?

        • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 14:46

          I was wondering the same thing…

          I think they're referring to a tail-lift.

          It was probably only around 60 kg or so at most (say 1 cubic metre) but I think there was no one available to assist with loading/off-loading and most companies charge extra for 30-35kg+.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/12/2016 - 15:23

    gah Hunter Express, Ecosa used them to deliver a mattress to me, it came a week late with a damaged box that looked resealed and damaged mattress. Ecosa were super helpful and sent a new mattress via Australia Post. They were getting them to pick up faulty mattresses to donate to charity as well as deliver new ones, I think Ecosa and I both jumped to the same conclusion that some "recycling" was going on.

  • whooah1979 on 28/12/2016 - 15:27
    +1

    Around 50 kg and say 1 cubic metre.

    this isn't bulky. this is pallet sized. no carrier with a proper oh&s policy will manually load this.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/12/2016 - 16:12

      Sorry, I don't know the accepted nomenclature for the courier industry. In my experience, palletised freight has also been referred to as bulky. David Jones also referred to a boxed big-ass refrigerator and furniture as bulky deliveries but I agree that the word bulky doesn't sound so intimidating.

      • whooah1979 on 28/12/2016 - 16:49
        +1

        David Jones also referred to a boxed big-ass refrigerator and furniture as bulky

        white goods, furniture and tv are one of those consumer items that fall outside of pallet shipping. they're loaded on trucks using pallets or clamps and delivered to the retailer, but then they leave the store in trolleys or handtrolley.

  • tunzafun001 on 28/12/2016 - 15:50
    +1

    I've personally had a better experience with E-go than Aussie Post. I always select the least expensive insurance add on even if it isn't needed. i also always collect from the Depot. Less middle men. Definitely takes longer, but always arrives.

    • Baysew on 28/12/2016 - 17:02

      Ego Is Not A Dirty Word.

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 29/12/2016 - 00:08

      Yeah it would be hard to get much worse than Australia Post :) I'm a depot guy myself.

      E-go looks like the type of company that gets a disproportionate frequency of complaints over several years but will probably just pop up under a different name should the government take them down.

      While e-go is rated lower than Australia Post they're surprisingly not the lowest rated on Product Review.

  • auayau on 04/10/2017 - 23:55
    +1

    Do not use e-go - I have been its customer for around 10 years and it was ok in the first few years but it has become a money grabber in the last 2 years but issuing adjustment notes of under-estimated parcels and re-delivery cost and these costs inflates rapidly over time.

    1. they have a system to scan every parcel and any under-estimated parcel they will take money from your account directly. The real problem is, I always over-state the dimensions by about 1cm at least and about 1-2 kg extra on the weight and there is no way they can tell me my dimensions and weight were incorrect. The extra amount charged to my account were not usually big so I didn't waste time arguing with them

    2. re-delivery attempt: when the driver can't deliver the parcel and re-delivery is required (because the driver claim there is no safe place to leave to parcel or the recipient was not home etc), even it's a street or business address, they will take re-delivery money from your account as they cannot charge the recipient . It used to be $5 for re-delivery and now it is $8.80 I was just been hit again tonight. The solution, is pre-pay a re-delivery fee which is not refundable. it used to be $1.10 and now $2.20 and if you don't pay this extra amount during booking you could easily be $8.80 out of pocket later. These extra options easily makes their cost higher than auspost and other courier companies.

    3. Insurance: a complete joke! if you as a seller need to make a claim you need to have a proof of your original receipt and this is the most the insurance would cover. E.g. if buyer paid you $100 for the goods and it's damaged or lost, you need to provide a receipt of what you paid for it originally, so if the cost of goods is $50 this is the max you might get from insurance. And if you don't have the purchase receipt (e.g. you bought the item from a garage sale or it is an antique): bad luck then - you are busted - they will ignore your claim.

    all these are my personal experience and if you need a courier company that has better moral standard and business ethic then stay away from e-go or Hunter as you will be hit in the least expected times. I must say I hate it now and I will not recommend it to anyone.

    Don't be fooled by it's seeming low price and stay away!

    • whooah1979 on 04/10/2017 - 23:58

      thanks for sharing.

      btw which carrier do you use now?

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