Last Mile is industry jargon for the final steps of the delivery process. I.E., the shipping company has received the goods via the chosen transportation method, and will proceed to deliver them to their final destination. What surprises many, is that this step can sometimes be the most expensive part of the job.
But what affects Last Mile?
Failure to give proper advice when the delivery location is:
Other factors
- An Alley
- Rural areas or farms
- Inaccessible by normal delivery van
- Urban factors like traffic and road closures
- Incorrect delivery location provided
- Failed deliveries due to miscommunicated availabilities
Traffic and road closures are sometimes out of our hands, but there are things that we can do to mitigate the chance of other things cropping up.
Sometimes, when it comes to shipping goods that are a little out of the ordinary because they are bulky or highly fragile – people often think that giving more information can mean more costs, but that is not always the case. While it might seem obvious(and silly), many are often surprised by the number of incorrect delivery locations we get – which sometimes means we are delayed because your item is just one of the things we are delivering on that day.
Similarly, we reach out to ask if you are available to receive delivery on a particular day – and many people say yes out of fear that we might not be available until a much later date than they’d like. The reality is that it is far simpler to say which day works for you because then we can find a compromise.
At Mail Boxes Etc, we understand that we often get extraordinary jobs as well as courier or supply chain jobs, and we cannot stress enough how much it helps both us and you our clients when you give us the full details – Why? Because we can then be prepared for it.
If we get an address for delivery to, say, Rabat, it makes a massive difference to know if it is a delivery to a modern house on the outskirts vs an old house of character tucked away into an alley inside a walled town –
Can you imagine arriving at one of Mdina’s Gates with an iron horse and trailer?
We have a problem-solving attitude as part of our company culture – so it’s not surprising that our people, often in odd situations, attempt to complete the delivery anyway, with just people having to physically carry and manoeuvre odd or large objects – but this is stressful for us, and also for you.
Really take a moment to think about this:
What would you prefer if you were receiving delivery of a very large painting or object- watching one person try to carry a painting (which for you is a priceless treasure due to some nostalgic or familial value) all by themselves – or –
Would you prefer it safely secured onto a lifter, effortlessly put in its place with the right tools and the right number of people on hand to do the job?
Additionally, having the full picture means your delivery avoids unnecessary. If more than one delivery attempt is made, you will often face extra delivery costs as the goods have to be returned back to the warehouse and stored at the end of the day, then reloaded the following day to attempt delivery again.
We would rather arrive, deliver your goods smoothly, and then unceremoniously leave like nothing ever happened. Simple, Clean, Efficient – but we need your help to do it that way.
Here are a few solutions to some frequent issues:
YOU: I’m not sure when I will be home to receive my goods
Ok, if your goods aren’t bulky and your day involves you driving around a lot, did you know you can pick it up at our office?
You can come anytime it is convenient for you during our business hours.
If it is bulky, let’s try to find a time when your schedule has not yet been booked.
YOU: My delivery location has a lengthy gap from the nearest road access and it’s a bulky shipment.
No problem; we have tools that we can use to deliver large or bulky items. Can you give us more information on the delivery location? Pictures? A Google Maps pin? Details we might need to know about such as rough terrain/ not a road surface, or steps or if delivery needs to happen to a place without an elevator.
Also consider that when setting a time for delivery, we will consider if the delivery time is during peak traffic hours and if this will affect your delivery i.e. blocking a road. Attempting to do this during peak traffic could make it problematic to receive a permit. However, if flexibility is possible, then we could find off-peak hours that won’t be so disruptive and make it much safer to get the job done in a timely manner.
If you are thinking of shipping something to Malta and you need a more personalized approach, reach out to us and let’s discuss how to safely bring home your next treasure.
Leave a Reply