becoming a self employed courer

[Duckins]

Im a postman looking into becoming a self employed same day courer, I have looked into city sprint and it looks quite apealing does anyone know what its like...ie is there enough work.?

[trevjim]

I looked into it myself although in not great depth, from what I read about other peoples experiences, it seems you don't make alot of money, and the grass isnt greener.

All the best if you do decide to though

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.codforum.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6822" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NWpostie]

The market is quite competitive these days with cost being cut to the bone, you need permission if you are still currently employed by RM to work for another courier company, due to conflict of interest. I would stick with Royal Mail as you are getting guaranteed wages and hours,

[chooch]

Several years ago I 'needed a change' and took the self-employed route, hiring a van, and then collecting from a central depot to deliver to an allocated area.
I stuck it for 14 weeks, over the Christmas period, 7 days a week.. ..and it was an education(!)..
You know when people say 'If I'd known then what I know now!'
We literally used to bully our vans back to the loading pallets ''Get outta the F*ckin' Way then..!''
How the pallets of catalogues didn't fall and crush someone
There were days I'd put in nearly 100 miles and be stuck out with the traffic in the dark like late late getting back to the depot as they were offloading the next days packets
I didn't look at my Bank balance once 'cos I knew it could only be in Credit - after costs it'd worked out at about min. hourly rate.. ..An experience but just not for me!?!
I posted the van keys through the Hire co.s letterbox and went back to my old RM round the next day..

[Dalelad]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Trust me, don't do it. After being made redundent by Yodel 18 months ago, I then carried on working for them on a self employed basis, through a service partner that had a contract with them. I only got paid just over a pound a drop(unpaid if I couldnt find a neighbour to leave the parcels with!). Had to do well over 100 drops a day just to make ends meet. Think about it, you gotta pay for your van, fuel, public liability and goods in transit insurance(over £2000). Then add in the fact that you don't get holiday pay, sick pay or pension. Its pretty much slave labour. Luckily I landed a job with the RM last year and i've never looked back. Stick with what you know.

[Duckins]

Cheers sounds like good advice there, the only thing that I hate about this job now is the park and loop system...its ruined the job for me

[Dalelad]

I only joined the RM just over 6 months ago so its all I know. I've listened to alot of the long term employees moaning about how bob the job has become over the years. I'd probably be the same in your/their boots. Things at Yodel used to change for the worse on a regular basis, ie rounds getting bigger, time sensitive deliveries being introduced etc. Suppose you just gotta role with the punches and thank your lucky stars you gotta job. Mines only 24 hours a week but luckily theres plenty of O/T to make my hours upto 40-50 hours a week. Where else can you get paid getting on for £10 ph for an unskilled job that doesn't involve working unsociable hours? Hope this makes you feel better about the job we doing. It ain't all bad