How you could be Postman Pat for a day and earn extra cash

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41580382" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A growing number of start-ups are trying to help retailers deliver goods to customers more quickly and at lower cost. But can they really compete with the big courier and postal firms?

It was a road accident in the Norwegian mountains that inspired the idea for start-up delivery company Nimber.

One of the founders was on his way to a ski-jumping competition near Lillehammer when he saw a postal truck had overturned on the road.

"No one was hurt, but all these cars were just passing by," says Nimber chief executive Ari Kestin, whose partner Knut Bjerke made the trip.

"He thought, why don't they stop and carry some of the parcels to their destinations? A light-bulb came on."

Nimber was launched soon after, joining a wave of new apps aimed at shaking up the delivery market.

The website connects people who want to send large, awkward-to-carry goods, with members of the public travelling in the same direction.

These "crowdsourced couriers" name their own price, Mr Kestin says, but are usually cheaper than using a traditional courier service or postal firm, such as FedEx or Royal Mail.

Nimber's crowd-sourced couriers often transport large goods

"If you're driving from London to Manchester anyway, you will probably accept a lower price to deliver a package than a big delivery firm would," he says.

"We are making use of spare capacity and allowing people to monetise their movements."

The site, whose main markets are Norway and the UK, has more than 40,000 registered "bringers" and 80,000 senders. It handles hundreds of deliveries a day of things like bikes, car parts and furniture.

So far it has focused on serving people selling second-hand goods on sites like e-Bay and Norway's finn.no, but it has just started working with several big retailers, including Norway's largest meat and eggs producer, Nortura.

"Nimber is a great choice because it is environmentally friendly and doesn't create more traffic or pollution," a Nortura spokeswoman tells the BBC.

But using members of the public to deliver goods does have its drawbacks.

Mr Kestin admits that his service may not be as economical as a traditional delivery service for smaller items.

[Celtic Postman]

Yep great idea and then .........
The recipient isn't in to collect so do you bring it back or try to redeliver it the next day when you're supposed to be on your way home.

[dodgydave]

and of course they all have goods in transit insurance

[yellowbelly]

and of course they all have goods in transit insurance

Think they (try to) get around this by saying it's not a commercial service, just a service to earn enough money to go toward part or all of the
travel costs. There is a T&C that says:

If Bringer’s activity is commercial then it must adhere to all laws governing transport of goods, including and not limited to having the required insurance, licenses and/or permits.

[scoobymunster]

What happens if your goods get damaged in transit? screams to me it'll be the new deliveroo/uber, FT staff on 0 hr contracts.