Parcel2Go

Parcel2Go: parcel comparison service based in Bolton

Parcel2Go is a British parcel delivery price comparison platform based in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The company presents itself as the UK's largest and most trusted parcel comparison service and has been operating since 2001, with more than twenty years of activity. Its audience includes both individual senders and businesses and online sellers that need to arrange courier services.

It works through a quote tool in which the user enters the destination and the parcel's measurements. Based on that information, the platform displays the available shipping options and their prices, and allows the service to be booked online. The company says it has helped find prices for more than 83 million parcels since 2001.

Domestic and international shipping services

The platform covers shipments within the UK and international shipments, including destinations such as Australia, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the United States. According to the company's information, it ships to more than 180 countries. For international shipments, the platform provides the documentation required for customs clearance and maintains an information hub on shipping to the EU with details on EU VAT and shipping restrictions.

Available options include express delivery, with same-day delivery through CitySprint, next-day delivery with several British carriers and delivery options before 9:00, 10:00 or noon with Parcelforce. Economy or standard services with delivery times of three days or more are also offered. The company states that next-day delivery service prices start from £1.99 excluding VAT.

Carriers and comparison coverage

Parcel2Go works with British and international carriers such as Royal Mail, InPost, Evri, UPS, DPD, DHL and Parcelforce. The platform states it has more than 180 delivery services and offers free price comparison. The company claims that, for parcels up to 20 kg, it has the lowest domestic and international prices for delivery-only services within the UK, and backs this up with a price match guarantee if the user finds a comparable service cheaper elsewhere.

Shipping for businesses and online sellers

For the business segment, the company offers discounted rates with Evri, DPD and Parcelforce through a Parcel2Go business account. It also makes the Smart Send shipping management platform available to sellers, allowing them to manage orders from different marketplaces and e-commerce sites from a single place. The company also offers PrePay, a prepaid balance system to speed up booking shipments; according to published information, adding £100 to the balance gives an extra 2% free.

Tracking, protection and customer service

All parcel services include free tracking, both for domestic and international shipments and for both collection and drop-off services. The company also offers optional parcel protection worth up to £10,000. For issues, it has a customer service team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Drop-off points and label management

The network of drop-off points associated with the platform amounts to 250,000 points, according to the company's data. Many courier services allow label-free drop-off by scanning a QR code; as alternatives, the user can download and print the shipping label at home or choose a collection service where the courier brings the label at the time of collection. The platform also includes tools such as a postcode finder and a volume calculator to determine the parcel's weight from its dimensions.