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How to Get More From Your Courier

August 22, 2015

courier service In any business, the most important thing is to keep your customers happy. No matter who you are or what you’re selling, if you have unhappy customers, it will impact on your business One of the most important and easiest ways to keep your customers happy is to offer a strong courier service. Regardless of the quality of your product, if a delivery arrives late or damaged, your customer won’t be happy and may take their business elsewhere. If you choose to work with a sub-standard courier, you have no one to blame but yourself, so you need to be careful about who you choose to carry your products. A wise choice can propel your business to new levels while poor services may just work the opposite way. So, it’s crucial to take time and choose wisely. Always Consider:

Cost

Whatever your business, you will be looking to keep costs down, so you may not be able to afford an expensive courier service company. It’s a common adage that “you get what you pay for,” but it is fully possible to enjoy first class service at a fair price, if you shop around and are willing to negotiate. You can contract a fairly priced courier provider but still enjoy the top-notch services you are after.

Reach

It’s important that whatever company you choose can actually take all of your deliveries. No matter what size your company is, you need to be able to reach your customers, and you’ll need a provider who can deliver to everywhere your customers are. This especially applies if your business has an international customer base.

Customer Service

By using a company that offers an up-to-date tracking system, you and your customer can keep tabs on the shipment, from when it leaves the courier’s office to your buyers front door and everywhere in between. This will spare you the stress of guessing whether your customers order reached its destination. Theft, loss or damages are things that can crop up during shipping and delivery, no matter how careful you and your courier are, so be sure you are sufficiently covered against these, especially when you are sending costly products. Not all courier companies offer the same terms, and some also have a maximum amount for liability, so check all this before choosing your courier. The courier should also be able to present delivery confirmations each time, which comes with the recipient’s signature.

Customer Reviews

A company can tell you whatever it likes when you approach them with business but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, in this case, customer reviews. Take some time to research and see what has been said about the company by their customers. Good places to look are on business forums, or “you can do a quick check on sites like Trust Pilot which let you search for a company then provide the reviews.”

Ready to Try a Different Type of Courier?

Since 1998, loyal customers have shipped their packages with confidence with Power Link. As a leading provider of same-day courier and expedited freight services, Power Link combines state-of-the-art technology with old-fashioned values for a service you can depend on.

For more information about how we can help you, visit our website to learn more about our services, or fill out the form on the right to request a quote.

Finding the Best Courier for Your Small Business

August 12, 2015

courier for small business In business, nothing is more important than keeping your customers happy. Regardless of the size of your company, if your consumers are unhappy, it will have a negative effect on your business, but small businesses are more vulnerable than most. To keep your customers happy, you need to offer the best possible courier service. If a delivery arrives late or damaged, it’s unlikely that the customer will return. If the courier is sub-par, it will reflect poorly on you, so you need to be very careful about who you choose.

Safety

A fast and safe delivery system is crucial to running your business. You (and the customer) will also want to be able to track the package from the time of the order to the point of delivery. You may also need to research insurance issues; it’s very unreasonable to ask the customer to cover any damages that may occur over the course of transport due to mishandling.

Cost

As a business, you will be looking to keep costs down, so you may not be able to afford an expensive courier service company. It’s a common adage that “you get what you pay for,” but it is fully possible to enjoy first class service at a fair price, if you shop around and are willing to negotiate.

Reach

Small businesses are more likely to have customers in surrounding areas than further afield. If your small business wants to use couriers for deliveries, you need a provider who can deliver to everywhere your customers are. The same applies if your business has an international customer base. In these instances, worldwide deliveries will be a necessity. It’s important that whatever company you choose can take all of your deliveries.

Customer Service

Deliveries can be stressful. When you’re dealing with a courier, you want someone whose customer service will ensure you are not stressing every time you give them a package. You should also deal with a company that will allow you access to your account 24/7, so you can monitor pickups and deliveries whenever you want to check in. The courier provider should also be able to present you with delivery confirmations each time, with the recipient’s signature.

Customer Reviews

Although a courier company may say whatever it takes to secure your business with them, reviews can offer an alternate view on their services. Set aside some time and go through the complaints, comments and reviews of them by other businesses and customers. This could make or break your decision to do business with them.

Looking for a Reliable Courier Service for Your Business?

At Power Link Expedite, we assist countless businesses achieve their needs through our state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service.  For over 15 years, we have shipped items large and small across the GTA, Canada and to the US. For more information about how we can help you, contact us to request a quote, and step up your game to offer quality courier services like the biggest players.

How to Ship Your Business’ Sign?

August 11, 2015

shipping service If you’re trying to open a new branch in your corporation in a new area, branding is everything. Without appropriate signage, it’s much harder than it could be to make an impact in a new area. Unfortunately, shipping signs or other awkwardly shaped items can be a nightmare, with improper packing leading to damage to, or the loss of, your sign. Some people would opt to simply buy two planes tickets, one for the courier and one for the sign itself, and let it travel that way, but this is not feasible for many.

Protect Your Investment

So, rather than spend more money on deliveries that doesn’t need to be spent, it’s better for many to ship their signs on the own terms, by packing and shipping the sign themselves. The first step is to find a box of the right size. For some items, such as wheels or anything circular, there are boxes that are specifically designed for such an item. Saving time and being able to pack multiple items may be worth the added expense of finding the perfect-sized shipping box for your sign. Using a tape measure, you can determine the sign's general length, width, and height. Then, find a location that sells shipping boxes and find a box that matches the signs size with about 2 inches of spare room on each side.

Prepare for Shipping

Once you have your box, you’ll need packing material to protect the sign from jostling during transit. Packing materials include plastic bubble wrap, newspaper, packing peanuts or other "loose fill" supplies, and stiff cardboard. The right choice depends on the item being shipped, your own budget, and the size of the box. As you’re packing, you may need to get creative, especially if the box isn't perfectly designed for the item. Crumpled newspaper and packaging peanuts are good for keeping an item sturdy inside the box. Plastic bubble wrap is good for the interior to prevent damage. Surround the item with packing material on all sides so it can absorb impacts from multiple angles. Finally, seal the box with packing tape wherever there is an open seam and along all sides. The best way to figure out the proper postage for shipping your sign or other awkwardly shaped items is to take it to be weighed and measured at the post office. Once you’ve got all that sorted out, send your sign and wait for confirmation of delivery.

Ready to Ship Your Business Sign?

Once your sign is wrapped up and ready to go, you need to trust that it’s going to be handled with care and delivered accurately and promptly.  At Power Link Expedite, we know that the items we deliver hold great importance and/or value, and we strive to reach our customers’ expectations.  Whether you’re shipping within the Greater Toronto Area, or to elsewhere in Canada or the US, Power Link Expedite will get the job done through state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service. Contact us today to learn more about our courier services, or to request a quote, and deliver your package right the first time!

4 Reasons Every Law Firm Should Use Courier Services

August 10, 2015

In the legal profession, every minute counts. Deadlines can mean the difference between a case going to court or being dismissed. So, why would you trust your important paperwork to anyone other than a legal document courier? We've come up with a list of four reasons why every law firm should use courier services. The next time you've got important legal documents to send, think about this list before you entrust them to just anyone.

Couriers Keep Records

If you want to know for certain whether a document arrived at its destination, you need a record that the recipient indeed received it. Couriers keep track of every single delivery. They have a record of the person who ordered the delivery, and when they arrive at the recipient's address, they require that he or she sign for the package. There can be no doubt that a document arrived when you've got the person's signature to prove that he or she received it.

Couriers Take the Quickest Route

This probably sounds like a familiar situation: you have a document that needs to be signed by a certain time by a third party, and if he or she doesn't sign it, it could cost your firm big. A courier knows the quickest way to get from your office (point A) to the third party's address (point B). You won't have to worry about him or her getting lost, because couriers know which routes have the most traffic, and which streets to take to get to the destination speedily.

Couriers Offer Rush or Express Service

Many courier firms will provide rush or express services to their clients. That means that you no longer have to worry that the vital paperwork won't be submitted in a timely fashion. Rush or express service is guaranteed, so the courier will do everything possible to make sure that it arrives at the recipient's address by the deadline.

Delivering Packages on Time is Their Job

Courier firms specialize in completing deliveries by a certain time. They're not doing you a favour. It's their job. So, they've got a vested interest in making customers happy. If they don't deliver packages in a timely fashion or if they don't uphold their guarantee for a rush delivery, they'll lose customers and might eventually go out of business. Choosing a legal document courier is the only way you should transmit your files, because you know the company wants to keep your business.

Looking for a Reliable Courier Service for Your Business?

At Power Link Expedite, we assist countless businesses achieve their needs through our state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service.  For over 15 years, we have shipped items large and small across the GTA, Canada and to the US. For more information about how we can help you, visit our website to learn more about our services, or contact us to request a quote, and step up your game to offer quality courier services like the biggest players.  

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Need a Legal Document to be Filed A.S.A.P.?

August 7, 2015

Most residential real estate transactions in Ontario close within 30-90 days, which may not seem like a long time to the eager buyers – but legally speaking, is really a very short time span in which dozens of details need to be processed behind the scenes. While the move is toward electronic filing of important documents, many others – such as the Agreement of Purchase and Sale itself and the Status Certificate in the case of condominiums – are typically still paper-based, and need to be reviewed by a number of professionals to ensure the deal closes as stipulated.

Commercial Real Estate Documents

For commercial real estate deals, the document burden is only intensified, according to The Law Society of Upper Canada. Though commercial deals do usually take longer to close, there are a tremendous amount of forms to be prepared and delivered ‘in a timely manner’ as per a complex closing agenda. Equally as important as speed is document integrity: an original property survey, for example, may be a delicate sketch nearly a century old, while other documents like amendments and schedules may quickly lose legibility if they are repeatedly scanned and emailed back and forth between parties for signatures and changes. In both cases, documents need to move quickly and safely to preserve their integrity.

Choose the Right Courier

What is the solution? For legal documents, when every moment counts, Power Link Expedite is there to make sure your records are delivered on time, and in their original state. We offer a variety of service levels to meet your needs, so you can choose which service is most economical depending on your requirements. From Super Direct courier services in Toronto that delivers your documents anywhere within Canada or the United States as quickly as humanly possible, to same-day delivery which ensures your papers arrive by end of business, we have a service that fits. And for your convenience when filing paperwork with government agencies, whose front desks often close before 5, we offer several rush services with guaranteed delivery within 1-4 hours. Simply have your parcels ready by the ample cut-off times and one of our professional couriers will deliver your shipment right away. Real estate closings aren’t the only legal matters where time is of the essence. Law firms that don’t respect the needs of their demanding clients risk losing those clients – so whether it’s serving a party with divorce papers or responding to legal action within a specified time frame, it makes sense to entrust your essential legal documents to a reliable courier services in Toronto you can trust to keep them safe, confidential, and delivered within strict timelines.

We Can Deliver Legal Documents Fast

Power Link Expedite understands the urgency of the documents you’re sending, because our client roster includes many law firms who have registered accounts and use our speedy, reliable courier services in Toronto on a daily basis. When Canada Post simply isn’t enough, you can trust Power Link Expedite for all your urgent document delivery needs.

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Important Documents You Can’t Forget While Getting Your Products Shipped to US

August 6, 2015

You’re in the big leagues now – shipping your finished products to the US in something bigger than an envelope. While an eager market ten times the size of this one can seem heaven-sent, remember that there are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and paperwork. You will certainly need plenty of the latter when using courier services in Toronto to ship to the US. So, should you leave all the documentation to your freight forwarder? Even if you do turn this task over, it’s still good to know what important documents will be required to get your products across the border successfully.

Your International Shipping Documents

  • Commercial invoice: This is the primary document used for reporting because it outlines how much your buyer is expected to pay for your goods, so it’s a true representation of value and therefore useful for calculating any customs duties.
  • NAFTA Certificate of Origin: Whether you’re old enough to remember Meech Lake or not, the historic accord between Canada, Mexico and the United States means that if your shipments qualify, your products will enter the country duty-free! This certificate provides proof.
  • Bill of Lading: This document lists exactly what you are shipping to the US and specifies the transport terms. It also acts as a receipt for the goods and a title document proving that its owner has title to the goods. For shipping on the high seas, there are actually two different types of Bills: a straight bill of lading and a negotiable one. As the name implies, a negotiable bill of lading can be bought, sold or traded while the goods are still on the ship; customers looking to purchase such a bill should ensure they receive an original copy to avoid problems at port later.
  • Air Waybill: This will come into play when shipping your freight by air.
  • Certificate of origin: This form may be required over and above the commercial invoice, to prove the origin of your export item
  • Inspection certificate: Depending on what and where you are shipping, a third party inspection may be required from an independent testing organization to verify the specs of the shipment
  • Dock/warehouse receipt: When shipping by liner, this is your receipt when the courier services in Toronto domestic carrier moves your goods to the port of embarkation, all ready for its ocean voyage.
  • Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) must be prepared for shipments through USPS if the value of the contents is over $500, or over $2500 if not using the postal service.
  • Export packing list: Itemizes what is in each individual package, along with its dimensions, weight and measurements…extra proof for picky US Customs agents that you are shipping what you claim to be.
Remember, if you are shipping specialty items like dangerous goods, perishables, or certain types of equipment, additional Customs forms may be needed.

Looking for a Reliable Courier Service for Your Business?

At Power Link Expedite, we assist countless businesses achieve their needs through our state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service.  For over 15 years, we have shipped items large and small across the GTA, Canada and to the US. For more information about how we can help you, visit our website to learn more about our services, or contact us to request a quote, and step up your game to offer quality courier services like the biggest players.

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5 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Delicate Shipments Like a Pro

August 4, 2015

Tips to Prepare Your Delicate Shipments You’ve got the goods. Now you want them shipped. If you have ever stood in line at the post office during the holiday season and seen someone thrust what looks like a football wrapped in twine at the postal worker, you already know how not to pack your goods for shipment. Yet, if what you are sending is fragile or delicate in any way?  What is the best way to have it arrive in one piece? Your first step is to use a courier service as opposed to regular mail. That way, instead of being handled by multiple workers and tossed around different warehouses, your parcel will be carefully taken care of by just one professional in direct transport. But you still have to package it correctly. Follow these simple steps below, and your package will be properly prepared and delivered.

Tip #1:  Use a corrugated cardboard box.

Your box should be:
  • New, or in excellent condition
  • Unmarked. Remove any old shipping labels and strike out other markings
  • Strong enough to hold what you are shipping

Tip #2:  Protect the contents.

It is important to cushion the contents of your package properly.
  • Wrap each item within the box separately
  • Pad the corners, sides, top and bottom of the box with at least 5 cm of cushioning to prevent shock and vibration
  • Use enough cushioning to trap the items so they don’t move around when the box is shaken
  • Use the right protective materials.

Packing Materials

Now is not the time or the place to recycle newspaper or old clothes; protect your delicate shipment by using:
  • Layers of bubble wrap
  • Inflatable air bag packaging (as long as the contents have no sharp edges)
  • Polystyrene peanuts layered at least 5 cm deep on the bottom of the box, separated from your items with a layer of corrugated cardboard, then fill the remainder of the box with peanuts. Not for use with electronic items due to the static electricity they can generate.
  • Foam enclosures that are pre-engineered to conform to the shape of the goods being shipped
  • Spray foam in the appropriate density, which will harden to form a protective mould
  • Tightly crumpled Kraft paper
  • Double box (good for extra fragile items such as glass, ceramics, and electronics)

Step 3. Secure your container properly.

Don’t reach for the duct tape.
  • Use proper packing tape, 2”-3” in width
  • Secure the box flaps with a minimum of three strips of tape

Step 4. Label your package correctly.

After all the care put into packing, don’t wreck things with improper labelling!
  • Include the postal code
  • When shipping internationally or to a PO Box, include a contact phone number
  • Don’t forget the suite number
  • Put the packing slip on the top of the box. Avoid placing it over seams and tape
  • Include your full return address and phone number
  • Place a duplicate shipping label inside the box

Ready to Ship Your Package?

Once your package is wrapped up and ready to go, you need to trust that it’s going to be handled with care and delivered accurately and promptly.  At Power Link Expedite, we know that the items we deliver hold great importance and/or value, and we strive to reach our customers’ expectations.  Whether you’re shipping within the Greater Toronto Area, or to elsewhere in Canada or the US, Power Link Expedite will get the job done through state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to request a quote, and deliver your package right the first time!

How to Choose a Medical Imaging Courier

July 20, 2015

medical courier serviceEvery night is a new emergency, usually with some romance thrown in to spice things up – but what they don’t show you on TV hospital dramas are the everyday, essential realities of the medical sector. Specifically, how important it is to get your supplies into the clinic, and your samples out, with the greatest possible speed and reliability. If you’re in medicine, you know how important logistics are; fast, reliable deliveries – though perhaps not as exciting as George Clooney’s hair - can literally save lives. Here’s how to choose the best possible medical courier service.

Review Your Shipping and Mailing Needs

While an e-commerce site can go bust if they don’t get the lowest possible shipping prices, the medical establishment has very different needs, and it’s important to keep this in mind when comparing couriers. After all, many courier companies offer low prices, but price typically isn’t the primary concern when it comes to delivering biological samples; speed and reliability are far more important. Review your hospital’s shipping patterns so you can compare apples with apples when looking at courier reviews. A great way to choose a courier, suggests a recent slideshare article, is to get recommendations from other medical clinics in your area and find out what (type of) shipping service they are using.

Investigate Local Couriers

When looking into courier services, there are several areas that must be studied. Ask these questions first to save time, money and hassle later.
  • Resources: does the courier company have adequate warehouse space if needed…a fleet of well-outfitted vehicles…experienced personnel who are trained in the proper biohazard handling procedures?
  • Tracking: does the courier company offer online tracking so you can always see the status of your outbound shipments?
  • Insurance: will your parcels be covered against theft, loss or damage? Is the maximum liability amount sufficient for your cargo? What about service guarantees?
  • References: this part of the selection process is often overlooked in this era of slick online marketing, but the best testimonials come from a delivery service’s satisfied customers, not from the company itself. Ask past and current clientele what the courier’s customer service is really like.

Enter into a Short Term Agreement

The last thing you want is to be locked down into a long term agreement – at least not until you’re sure you have retained the very best delivery service for your clinic. It’s okay to let your courier know that you’re going to give them business on a trial basis and then add more volume once you’ve experienced their services firsthand. One caveat: many courier companies offer discounts for frequency and volume, so if you choose to hold a portion of your business back, you risk higher prices initially. According to a UK infographic, the courier industry is growing all the time, so there is no shortage of choice of medical couriers out there. A little due diligence up front will pay huge dividends for your clinic.

Looking for a Reliable Medical Courier Service?

At Power Link Expedite, we assist countless businesses achieve their needs through our state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service.  For over 15 years, we have shipped items large and small across the GTA, Canada and to the US. Contact us today for more information about our medical courier services.

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Do Your Clients Want Same-day Shipping?

July 14, 2015

same-day shipping With the giant retailers like Amazon and eBay tripping over each other to offer same-day shipping options, it’s obvious that shoppers not only want one-click buying, they also want their products to arrive NOW. But if you’re a manufacturer or wholesaler shipping to business, do your business clients really want and expect their goods to ship by expedited courier the same day they make the purchase? The answer may lie in the type of industry or sector you ship to.

Business Clients and Same-Day Shipping

If you’re in the business of supplying raw materials for manufacture, such as chemicals or metals, agricultural inputs, or lumber, sheer logistics is on your side. Refining companies also tend to maintain large inventories, so same-day shipping is unlikely to matter as much as cost and reliability. When shipping to the technology, service and financial sectors – whether you’re sending office supplies, furniture or software – timely turnaround is expected, but again, companies in this sector tend not to require immediate delivery in order to facilitate sales. On the other hand, if you’re shipping food items to a restaurant or grocery store, drugs to a hospital, or toys to a retail store at Christmas, your clients absolutely will desire and appreciate same-day delivery.

Are you Ready for Same-Day Shipping?

The injunction to under-promise and over-deliver is never truer than when it comes to shipping. If you promise same-day shipping and then can’t provide it, you’re setting yourself up for angry customers, a damaged reputation, and added expenses. So how can you tell if you’re ready to implement same-day shipping? Consider the following list of questions, courtesy of APS Fulfillment:
  • Do you have the space and tools? You need enough space for your stock, plus software to track inventory, and sufficient packing materials.
  • Do you have a network of reliable suppliers to help prevent stock shortages?
  • Do you have the (permanent, temporary and/or contract) staff in place to cover seasonal surges in business?
  • Do you have the time? The demands of same-day fulfillment and shipping may over-tax you and your staff.

Build Credibility with Same-Day Shipping

Offering same-day shipping to your business clients can be a great way to gain market share and out-perform the competition. But even if you don’t have the tools in place to do the job yourself, you can partner with a fulfillment and shipping company that can guarantee your orders will ship same-day. Just be sure to find out what exactly the cut-off time is for orders to be placed – in any time zone, says a recent post on fulfillmentcompanies.net. You also need to make sure they can handle heavy seasonal business and keep your clients informed about things like weekend deliveries, partial shipments, international shipping times, and the like. If you’re looking for a credible solution to your same-day shipping problem, Power Link Expedite has services to make your company more successful. When you need it there today, contact us toll-free at 1-888-847-5515.

Why Small Manufacturing Businesses Love A Courier Service

April 5, 2015

Small Manufacturing Businesses Couriers How can you maintain an edge that keeps your clients coming to you and not the firm down the street – or across the ocean? If you’re a small Canadian manufacturer making products or parts, you already have enough to worry about: the economy, ever-changing technology, shrinking margins, which SEO agency to hire… and of course, the other guys. Competition is fierce, and it comes from all sides. The answer, in a word, is service. If you can’t beat the giants on price, you’d better have something else up your sleeve. In fact, you already do: your clients can call you up and get you on the phone, for one thing. You are responsive to their changing needs, you accommodate special orders, and you offer flexible payment options. Now it’s time to add lightning-fast order fulfillment to your arsenal, with high quality courier services.

Courier Services Keep Your Promises

You make promises every day. Whether you have promised to ship finished units to a client, or parts to one of your own plants for assembly, a trusted daily delivery service can do more than help you keep your word: it can radically improve turnaround times and boost your customer satisfaction to new heights. But doesn’t a courier service cost a fortune? Not necessarily. When you choose courier services, you’re taking advantage of the same kind of impressive network that the big guys have, because good couriers have developed the sophisticated logistics capability needed to serve many small businesses. Using a courier service is often less expensive than taking care of your shipping in-house because you don’t have to dedicate the staff, time, and capital to establishing your own shipping network. And even if your business has the extra money kicking around to devote to a fleet of vehicles, drivers and experienced freight handlers…don’t you have better things to do?

What Small Manufacturers Should Look for in a Courier Service

Not all courier services are created equal. Some small companies are focused on document delivery, for example, as opposed to freight. As a manufacturer, you want a courier service to meet your own unique needs. Look for:
  • Lack of prohibitive size/weight restrictions
  • Vehicle sizes that match the goods you are shipping (cars, vans, trucks that can hold pallets)
  • Reliable, experienced professional couriers
  • Special handling (inside delivery, careful handling of fragile goods)
  • Weekend, holiday and after-hours delivery
  • Various price packages depending on delivery speed and shipping volume, to save you money
  • Online tracking system

Beat the Big Guys

There is a saying in the business world that your clients do business with you because of what you do, but they refer you to others because of who you are. If your clients wanted to deal with the big, impersonal giants, they would; obviously, they like who you are. Keep them happy with great products, great service, and promises you can keep with the help of professional courier services that can support your business.

Looking for a Reliable Courier Service for Your Business?

If you run a small manufacturing service, then you probably know the importance of having your goods delivered on time. At Power Link Expedite, we assist countless businesses achieve their needs through our state-of-the-art technology, experienced drivers, and high quality customer service.  For over 15 years, we have shipped items large and small across the GTA, Canada and to the US. For more information about how we can help you, visit our website to learn more about our services, or contact us to request a quote, and step up your game to offer quality courier services like the biggest players.