{"id":9013,"date":"2023-08-02T06:51:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T06:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=9013"},"modified":"2024-03-07T19:15:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T19:15:01","slug":"royal-mail-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-toc single-toc\" data-controller=\"blog-toc-controller\" data-action=\"scroll@window-&gt;blog-toc-controller#scrollChanged:passive\" id=\"toc-component\"><div class=\"single-toc-overview\"><p>Table of Contents<\/p><div class=\"single-toc-read-time\"><p>** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"#h-understanding-the-couriers-landscape-in-the-uk\">Understanding the couriers landscape in the UK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-comparing-10-alternatives-to-royal-mail\">Comparing 10 alternatives to Royal Mail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-what-to-look-for-in-an-alternative\">What to look for in an alternative<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-niche-use-cases-finding-the-best-fit-for-your-needs\">Niche use cases: finding the best fit for your needs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-shipbob-s-winning-carrier-network-in-the-uk\">ShipBob\u2019s winning carrier network in the UK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"#h-royal-mail-alternatives-faqs\">Royal Mail alternatives FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Being the UK\u2019s most used postage and courier service provider, Royal Mail is usually the first service that comes to mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But with supply chains becoming more complex and more pressure to meet customer expectations, partnering with just one courier provider is a risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to Royal mail for shipping throughout the UK. Many of these services offer unique services at different cost tiers to meet the needs of difference businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we explore and compare alternatives to Royal Mail that offer services for ecommerce businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-the-couriers-landscape-in-the-uk\">Understanding the couriers landscape in the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Selecting the right shipping alternative to Royal Mail for ecommerce can enhance operations and customer satisfaction. It&#8217;s crucial to consider factors such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delivery options<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pricing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reliability <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ecommerce integration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And other special services your business requires<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Different situations require different courier options. For instance, if you are shipping <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/how-to-ship-fragile-items\/\">fragile items <\/a>or liquids, you might want to choose APC overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whistl works well for finance and healthcare businesses, as it offers bespoke fulfilment services for these industries. And UPS MyChoice is preferred by retailers that seek up-to-date delivery alerts and the ability to track multiple deliveries at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want reliable shipping but to save on some costs with free shipping supplies? FedEx offers just that when you have an account with the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having different couriers to choose from also allows you to partner with several of them, so you can diversify your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/shipping-strategy-can-improve-customer-loyalty\/\">shipping strategy<\/a> and meet the needs of your customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-comparing-10-alternatives-to-royal-mail\">Comparing 10 alternatives to Royal Mail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is an overview of the alternative service options to Royal Mail. Each courier has a set of pros and cons. By comparing these services, you&#8217;ll be able to make a better decision for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MyHermes (now known as Evri)<\/td><td>\u2014 Affordable delivery<br>\u2014 Trusted for delivery within the UK<br>\u2014 7,000+ local businesses across the UK and 3,000 lockers<br>\u2014 Print parcel labels in the shop<br>\u2014 Courier tracking&nbsp;<br>\u2014 Signature on delivery<br>\u2014 Access to an account manager<br>\u2014 Next-day delivery<br>\u2014 Two-hour delivery window and up to three delivery attempts<\/td><td>Low degree of trust in the services by customers&nbsp;<br>\u2014 Not as reliable for international deliveries<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>DPD<\/td><td>6,000 DPD pick-up points across the UK<br>\u2014 Best suited for deliveries within Europe<br>\u2014 Ideal for delivery of higher-value or physically heavier\/larger orders<br>\u2014 Delivery on Saturday and Sunday<br>\u2014 Includes parcel tracking (from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/ship-date\/\">ship date<\/a> to delivery) and proof of delivery within the shipping costs<br>\u2014 Very trusted service<br>\u2014 One-hour delivery window for customers<\/td><td>\u2014 Services are not cheap<br>\u2014 Not as well-resourced to manage international deliveries<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Collect+<\/td><td>\u2014 Access to a network of&nbsp; local shops for delivery or pick-up, so that you can avoid crowded post offices<br>\u2014 Online tracking of the parcel or letter<br>\u2014 Affordable shipping<\/td><td>\u2014 No delivery to or pick up from the doorstep<br>\u2014 Slow delivery time of 3-5 working days<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>ParcelForce<\/td><td>Trusted as it is owned by Royal Mail<br>\u2014 Allows customers to pick-up parcels from 11,000 Post Office branches or 54 depots<br>\u2014&nbsp;With a ParcelForce account, gain access to an account manager and tracking and payment dashboard<br>\u2014 Saturday delivery<\/td><td>\u2014 Extra cost for Saturday delivery<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>UK Mail<\/td><td>\u2014 Built to meet business\u2019 unique needs<br>\u2014 Sustainable services<br>\u2014 Next-day collection<br>\u2014 Contract-free pay as you go service<br>\u2014 Ties up with iPostParcels for its reliable and cost-effective parcel posting services&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u2014 Does not support parcel and letter delivery for individuals<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>YodelDirect<\/td><td>\u2014 Free printing of labels in-store<br>\u2014 Avail of customer rewards scheme<br>\u2014 Two-hour delivery window<br>\u2014 Access to thousands of drop off centres across the UK<br>\u2014 Standard \u00a350 cover<br>\u2014&nbsp;Integrate with top ecommerce platforms <\/td><td>\u2014 More affordable than Royal Mail<br>\u2014 Not very trusted by customers, leading to bad reviews<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>FedEx&nbsp;<\/td><td>\u2014 Access to 240,000 worldwide drop off locations<br>\u2014 Sustainable packaging<br>\u2014 Free FedEx shipping supplies with account<br>\u2014 Integrates with BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce<\/td><td>\u2014 Less coverage in the UK as compared to Royal Mail<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>UPS<\/td><td>\u2014 Offers step-by-step tracking<br>\u2014 Up-to-date delivery alerts<br>\u2014 Track multiple deliveries at the same time<br>\u2014 Ideal for international and local deliveries<\/td><td>\u2014 Less coverage in the UK as compared to Royal Mail<br>\u2014 Does not link to ecommerce accounts<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>InPost<\/td><td>\u2014 Lockers are used to send and receive packages, 24 hours a day<br>\u2014 Ideal for within-UK shipping<br>\u2014 Affordable shipping options<\/td><td>\u2014 Less reliable as compared to Royal Mail<br>\u2014 No doorstep pick up or delivery service<br>\u2014 Not suited for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/international-shipping\/\">international shipping<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>DX<\/td><td>\u2014 Best services in the UK and the Republic of Ireland<br>\u2014 Fast and secure next day delivery service for items under 24kg<br>\u2014 Specialized shipping of legal and commercial documents and medical specimens<\/td><td>\u2014&nbsp;Not as effective for international shipping<br>\u2014 Not as well-known or trusted as Royal Mail<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-dpd\">1. DPD<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\n<figure class=\"is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/QCObutCU_i6Py_rn2AmiXqTXRjzha94joJuu5OklGPPavN6-PaS1-CE5cwpCt8Try8Jzu7mke1jHkr8zXGo6uOwd1WwjkFzUoKVGV5hPbwPLC_r43t5ytFK6IHnDepVYiXaVW8WIZ6LF9xK_1IyQiH4\" alt=\"\" width=\"601\" height=\"305\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dynamic Parcel Distribution (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpd.com\/en\/\">DPD<\/a>) is considered Europe\u2019s largest parcel delivery network and the best parcel delivery in the UK. Of all the royal mail competitors, DPD is one of the providers better suited for the delivery of expensive, international, or physically heavier\/larger orders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perfect for urgent orders, it offers delivery on the weekend. It&#8217;s also very trusted by customers and partners alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/dpd-vs-royal-mail\/\">DPD vs Royal Mail<\/a>, know that DPD might be a good fit for your business if you extensively ship internationally and don\u2019t mind paying extra for a premium shipping experience. Whereas, Royal Mail may be better for shipping small packages, within the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, its shipping costs include parcel tracking and proof of delivery for tension-free shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-collect\">2. Collect +<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\n<figure class=\"size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=1280px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9018\" width=\"608\" height=\"344\" data-responsive-img srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=700px 650w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=860px 768w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=1180px 1080w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=1400px 1280w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/07\/08bafe3f54bed70e8b4e2d98cc691ac6-700x396.png?w=1600px 1440w\" fetchpriority=\"low\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Operated by PayPoint, <a href=\"https:\/\/retailer.paypoint.com\/solutions\/parcels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Collect+<\/a> doesn\u2019t deliver to or pick up from the doorstep, but allows for it to happen at a designated point (which is usually a local shop).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also track the movements of the parcel or letter online. Its delivery time is not the fastest at 3-5 working days. But its offerings are quite affordable at&nbsp; \u00a33.99 for a&nbsp; &#8216;Light Parcel&#8217; of up to 2 kg.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-parcelforce\">3. ParcelForce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/JUDVetdf00VLqRAIyu8AzF-fy0A6TzSuQjePkZ388dxN5qx3g-E3eoQCIWyPZsi8T1WLvKZNF0fWlATIqniWmATVFUOmBP2xvHU7oz9YhlKOKaGFUMF-8FgVdN9aSC4DqjmbqkNi3LCfgLifGwqCw4Q\" width=\"624\" height=\"491\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not a competitor of Royal Mail but an offshoot of it. It offers a few features that the parent company doesn&#8217;t. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parcelforce.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ParcelForce<\/a> is great for the delivery of high-value goods at discounted rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you ship goods frequently, avail of the ParcelForce account. This offers you access to an account manager and tracking and payment dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also enjoy Saturday delivery at an added cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ParcelForce integrates with ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/sell-on-etsy\/\">Etsy<\/a>, Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, PrestaShop, and CSV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-uk-mail-a-dhl-subsidiary-and-ipostparcels\">4. UK Mail: a DHL subsidiary (and iPostParcels)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/TJrZuuewBDpgetq2lwJRdkqcyftJaUPBBtP102aeDtIVgEaTW3vd-HuTLZis4v_InuQgrOf5tJtBSkifKe31iYG2j_RajvoRA7MaYDZmfeNz5FOuZInBtr1ukL0RfP-5bkgrXObC9dbUe4L-axf70uE\" width=\"624\" height=\"411\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously known as Business Post, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhl.com\/gb-en\/parcel\/business-users\/uk-mail.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UK Mail<\/a> is a DHL subsidiary that offers next-day collection, delivery parcels, and contract-free pay as you go service.&nbsp; They also support Royal Mail\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/how-last-mile-delivery-works\/\">last-mile delivery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It ties up with iPostParcels for its reliable and cost-effective parcel posting services offering labels, free office collection, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-vs-dhl\/\">Royal Mail vs DHL<\/a>, it&#8217;s worth noting that DHL\u2019s courier services are more expensive than Royal Mail overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-yodel-direct\">5. Yodel Direct<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/Lj4WGK_etHpmD5Uv0JOvXWx9knLu0hHOHyCHDaUCM8ol8hBo-RlQcHWf-1wVZ2Kpd_Mr-lkHI80wzGRIZab3K_GLxZzCCwclRKmUvU3HbXAX5SCRKVu8WFW_nh5r9QtuVcMcC3MytudEeLastAV7x5w\" width=\"624\" height=\"316\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can send couriers with doorstep pick and drop or use one of the thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yodeldirect.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yodel Direct <\/a>stores across the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Yodel, you can enjoy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/theres-no-thing-free-shipping-right-ecommerce-pricing-strategy\/\">free printing<\/a> of labels in-store, a customer rewards scheme, and a two-hour delivery window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Owing to its poor track record of delivery delays and misplaced parcels it has received a lot of negative reviews online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-fedex-express\">6. FedEx Express<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/v8jy2OUmDREzBeHLjT-kwxa9LS_gzz7AsDRp050c3rTLNlO5-qAP7pbq2Gv5lcyMivvw6uYn8OJAkGVFTZcMp8qKFzkiYuCWfltUdySLomBCfqo1EjIjJZspSeTo_erqSKiXQMw5aTo1FOxE0JylmE8\" width=\"624\" height=\"377\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being one of the global leaders in shipping, FedEx offers reliable and trusted services. It has 240,000 worldwide drop off locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you can avail sustainable packaging and free FedEx shipping supplies with a FedEx account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fedex.com\/en-gb\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FedEx Express <\/a>is a great option for both shipping within the UK and shipping internationally. Rates for domestic shipping start at \u00a36.95 and can reach customers as soon as same day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International shipping rates across Europe start at \u00a328.20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-ups\">7. UPS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/Y_HpvoAwcjQSNSFezsgnhLHXo-HwYeODehjCcz9xrmEsDDg8ZnhDR_3-3uUS_Ci4W-DKPpthfVhU8ycQggJED0LtPaOrBW5B0BflZnF3pYtAgAsCN5Axj9q3VkR2dnYGg7Hfz5AlvqpoUMQwO8bKzRI\" width=\"624\" height=\"291\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ups.com\/gb\/en\/Home.page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UPS<\/a> is one of the largest courier services in the world. It offers step-by-step tracking, up-to-date delivery alerts, and the ability to track multiple deliveries at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company promises standard delivery in 1-2 business days and a slightly cheaper option of morning delivery (before 10:30am the next business day or by 12pm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-evri\">8. Evri<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=1280px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9056\" width=\"700\" height=\"375\" data-responsive-img srcset=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=700px 650w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=860px 768w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=1180px 1080w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=1400px 1280w, https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/e37a49ab795601fd7f9e71b06892bbbd-700x375.png?w=1600px 1440w\" fetchpriority=\"low\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The biggest dedicated parcel delivery company in the UK, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.evri.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Evri\u2019s<\/a> services are cheaper than Royal Mail. It offers great bulk shipping deals for international couriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its 7,000+ ParcelShops and 3,000 lockers, across the UK, make shipping so much more convenient. With Evri, enjoy courier tracking, signature on delivery, access to an account manager, and next day delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also increase flexibility for your customers by offering a two-hour delivery window and up to three delivery attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-inpost\">9. InPost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/XpmOTOfDqkEeRpEQohTlywAoXc_tiYq5X7enEqKhflsgm2E7TgX1Vs-zhepNoGAWBmbfm3zLtP2xBdCWH-zhORNBWOcjpL3euwaU7pz3X8YOuM46H4sWJ4--1fdlbEAl7xVzIVOOoU_PN1h25ooozTU\" width=\"624\" height=\"369\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/inpost.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">InPost<\/a>, you do not get door-to-door package delivery and pick up. Instead, you use lockers located across the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you pack and label the ordered goods, scan the label and deposit the package at your nearest locker. The order will then be sent to the locker closest to the recipient, and a message will be sent to them to pick it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not as convenient as doorstep delivery and pick up, but much more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-dx\">10. DX<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\">\n<figure class=\"is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/jC_nCF9AFM60UYFmq0sIZLc3vdIyBB7Yo1hg5OpdtUk0gUpMMGKRlsi1wCEjcvRQBF9kGeULe3q5bnhGdYLKc2NAfkgwlNN94W8Sde5HmsYt1VaNNyo1Oco3n3FzFCzuGcn8MP1vDwkITuozeBssziw\" alt=\"\" width=\"610\" height=\"370\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dxdelivery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Delivered Exactly (DX)<\/a>, primarily services the UK and the Republic of Ireland. However, DX allows businesses to send parcels to other corners of the world. It boasts fast and secure next day delivery service for items under 24 kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, DX is known for specialized shipping of legal and commercial documents and medical specimens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-look-for-in-an-alternative\">What to look for in an alternative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/shipping-from-uk\/\">shipping from UK<\/a>, here are some important aspects to look for in a shipping partner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-delivery-options-and-speed\">Delivery options and speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each carrier offers different speeds and delivery options. For instance, UPS delivers in 1 to 2 days (standard), while Collect+ takes 3 to 5 days. Many courier companies also offer same day, weekend, and next day delivery options.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is another example of varied delivery options: InPost doesn&#8217;t have doorstep pick-up and drop, while FedEx does.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, you need to choose what vendor and delivery option works best for your retail operations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pricing-and-cost-effectiveness\">Pricing and cost-effectiveness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a whole, brands like FedEx and DHL tend to have more expensive shipping options than Evri. But, the latter is considered less reliable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if you want packages to be handled in a particular manner (say fragile or perishable goods) you must weigh the costs against the value-addition to see if the price-tag is truly worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always make sure to compare similar services, such as FedEx\u2019s next day delivery to Evri\u2019s next day delivery to decide on the cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reliability-and-customer-satisfaction\">Reliability and customer satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>DHL, FedEx, and UPS are some of the world-renowned courier partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are known for their reliability and ability to deliver customer satisfaction. But newer or local players, such as Collect+ or InPost, do not have as much goodwill or encouraging track record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though cost is a big consideration, the most important factor to consider is reliability as it will keep customers happy, increasing profit in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ecommerce-platform-integration\">Ecommerce platform integration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>DPD, Whistl, and UPS do not offer ecommerce platform integration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, ParcelForce, FedEx, Yodel, and DHL do allow for seamless exchange of data (and avoid data redundancy) with your ecommerce portal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-customer-service\">Customer service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/11\/18\/worst-performing-parcel-firm-in-the-uk-revealed-17780280\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recent survey<\/a>, Evri and Yodel were ranked worst-performing parcel firms in the UK, in terms of customer service, parcel problems, and accessibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Royal Mail topped the performance leaderboard with the highest overall score.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-special-features-and-services\">Special features and services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some courier companies offer industry-specific shipping services. For example, DX has a special service for businesses that wish to send legal and commercial documents and medical specimens.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most courier companies also offer mobile apps or AI integrations for digitally managing and tracking couriers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, be sure to pay attention to the insurance cover options for each shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-niche-use-cases-finding-the-best-fit-for-your-needs\">Niche use cases: finding the best fit for your needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your business might sell something that requires extra handling care or specific courier service to meet customer needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, here are some unique needs to consider and which courier service to choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reliable returns service: <\/strong>If your business needs multiple payment return options, multiple drop-off locations, and tracking, choose DPD<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pre-sort business letters: <\/strong>UK Mail\u2019s high-speed sortation machine can be relied on to sort and process your mail before final mile delivery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Label printing: <\/strong>With Yodel Direct\u2019s print in store service, you can get the labels printed for free, when dropping your parcels off at any Yodel Store.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Personalisation:<\/strong> With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.evri.com\/our-services\/evri-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Evri Video<\/a> makes it easy to send a personalise note along with a customer order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eco-friendly: <\/strong>FedEx and DHL both have sustainable fulfilment and packing options. These brands are also good if you want to transport high-value goods reliably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-shipbob-s-winning-carrier-network-in-the-uk\">ShipBob\u2019s winning carrier network in the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be a lot of effort for online retailers to identify the right courier company. Comparing shipping services and making the best decision for your business can be time-consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, ShipBob can help you save time and money on all your fulfilment and shipping needs. ShipBob offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/global-fulfillment\/\">global fulfilment<\/a> network and partners with leading shipping couriers across the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-blog is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cBefore ShipBob, we were fulfiling all of our UK orders out of our Oxford office, with one person in charge of picking and packing orders and taking them to Royal Mail daily. This solution was not scalable, especially if we wanted to continue expanding our business into new countries and demographics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We knew we needed a partner with a global presence, who could handle fulfilment for us wherever we go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, ShipBob has fulfilment centres in strategic locations not just across the US, but all over the world. We\u2019re able to store inventory on both coasts of the US and in the UK and Poland, which cuts our average shipping costs and shipping times considerably.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>Natalia Lara, CMO of <a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealthspan.com\/\">Oxford Healthspan<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>ShipBob&#8217;s advanced fulfilment platform also identifies the optimal route for your customers&#8217; orders, which helps your business optimise shipping to reduce shipping timelines and cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about ShipBob&#8217;s services, click below to receive more information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-centre is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/quote\/\">Request Fulfilment Pricing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-royal-mail-alternatives-faqs\">Royal Mail alternatives FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are answers to common questions about alternatives to Royal Mail.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">What are the key factors to consider when choosing a mail service for my business?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>Delivery options and speed, pricing and cost-effectiveness, customer care, special value-added services, ecommerce platform integration, and customer satisfaction are some of the key factors to assess when choosing a mail service.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">How can I determine the best mail service based on my shipping needs?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>Every online retailer and customer has different shipping needs. You should compare services, costs, and reliability by reviewing customer reviews. However, this can be time-consuming, which is why many online businesses partner with a fulfilment provider like ShipBob to help make the best shipping decisions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-shipbob-blocks-single-faq single-faq direction-col\" data-controller=\"faq-controller\" data-faq-controller-open-value=\"true\"><div class=\"single-faq-title-contianer\"><h4 class=\"single-faq-title\">How does ShipBob enhance the shipping process for ecommerce businesses?<\/h4><div class=\"single-faq-expand\" data-faq-controller-target=\"expand\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/shipbob-2022\/resources\/svg\/plus-solid.svg\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"single-faq-childs\" data-faq-controller-target=\"answer\"><div>\n\n<p>ShipBob distributes your stock across its fulfilment centres so that you have inventory located closest to the end customer. This will help reduce transit time and costs. Our cutting-edge platform also collects and analyses inventory and shipping data to ensure improved fulfilment efficiencies.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for shipping alternatives to Royal Mail. Compare the costs, reliability, and services of 10 other couriers that ship across the UK.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":9066,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"blogcategories":[9,13,14],"class_list":["post-9013","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blogcategories-logistics","blogcategories-shipping","blogcategories-supply-chain"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail - ShipBob UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Looking for shipping alternatives to Royal Mail. Compare the costs, reliability, and services of 10 other couriers that ship across the UK.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ShipBob UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-07T19:15:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/\",\"name\":\"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail - ShipBob UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-02T06:51:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-07T19:15:01+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg\",\"width\":1400,\"height\":560,\"caption\":\"Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, United Kingdom - June 9th 2022: Red Royal Mail delivery van with prominent logo and crown branding parked in a suburban street\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"ShipBob UK\",\"description\":\"Just another ShipBob Network site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail - ShipBob UK","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail","og_description":"Looking for shipping alternatives to Royal Mail. Compare the costs, reliability, and services of 10 other couriers that ship across the UK.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","og_site_name":"ShipBob UK","article_modified_time":"2024-03-07T19:15:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":560,"url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","name":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail - ShipBob UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg","datePublished":"2023-08-02T06:51:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-07T19:15:01+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg","width":1400,"height":560,"caption":"Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, United Kingdom - June 9th 2022: Red Royal Mail delivery van with prominent logo and crown branding parked in a suburban street"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/","name":"ShipBob UK","description":"Just another ShipBob Network site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail","url":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/blog\/royal-mail-alternatives\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg?w=160","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/08\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg"},"articleSection":"Uncategorized","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kristina Lopienski"}],"creator":["Kristina Lopienski"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ShipBob UK","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-08-02T06:51:00Z","datePublished":"2023-08-02T06:51:00Z","dateModified":"2024-03-07T19:15:01Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"headline\":\"Shipping Smarter in the UK: Evaluating Alternatives to Royal Mail\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/blog\\\/royal-mail-alternatives\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg?w=160\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.shipbob.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/32\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/92ea36a1962dc0d7815500eda3167a18.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Uncategorized\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Kristina Lopienski\"}],\"creator\":[\"Kristina Lopienski\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"ShipBob UK\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2023-08-02T06:51:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-02T06:51:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-07T19:15:01Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/shipbob.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/9013\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blogcategories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blogcategories?post=9013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}