Shopping Safely Online: Day 1

Posted on January 27, 2014 by admin

This week we will be looking at the safety measures that go hand-in-hand with online shopping. It’s extremely important to make sure that you are dealing with a safe and secure website when purchasing items online, whilst you also need to become aware of suspicious behaviour during online sales if you want to avoid a bad online experience. Today we are focusing on how to identify a secure site to shop online with.

Many websites from fast food restaurants to major electrical outlets make use of the efficiency and practicality of online credit. However, it’s vital that you know how to identify a secure website before providing your credit card details. A site is secure if they possess a small padlock in the address bar, whilst the ‘s’ at the end of ‘https’ stands for the word ‘secure’.

Never jump at offers that seem unrealistic. Most sites that let you trade over the internet with other people struggle to identify scammers, so think twice before purchasing what looks like a 50 inch plasma TV for £50. You can back up your knowledge of the site you’ve encountered by using Google or asking friends and family about it but if you’ve got your suspicions, don’t take the risk.

Need to send a parcel internationally? RAND can provide you with a safe and secure service that gets your parcel from A to B in good time. Contact us today for more information about the services we offer.

Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 4

Posted on January 9, 2014 by admin

There are over 7500 different courier companies listed in the yellow pages for the UK alone. The US Postal service is thought to be the largest in the world, and every day it sorts through and attempts to deliver over 700 million packages of varying size and shape. In comparison to that, the Australian postal service delivers up to 94 million items a week, which is an intense difference. However it comes as no surprise as the entire population of Australia could fit within the densely populated city of Tokyo.

When sending parcels to America, although the direct delivery of mail to people’s homes was present from 1863, the actual mailbox or mail slot was not used until 1923 when it became commonplace. Plus, although the red pillar post box has become an iconic representation of Britain, it was not the first country to store letters in pillar boxes. In the early 50’s of the 19^th century, Anthony Trollope saw such pillar boxes in France and Belgium and proposed them to the UK Postal Service in 1852.

Make sure your package gets to where it needs to go by using RAND Logistics. Our rates are second to none for international shipping.

Did You Know? Postal Facts Day 2

Posted on January 7, 2014 by admin

On the 10^th September 2003, 25 year old Charles McKinley managed to ship himself from New York to his parents’ home in Texas as air cargo. He was trying to save on plane fares by both mailing himself and by sending the shipping fees to his employer, as he was previously a Shipping Clerk. He’d gotten the idea from a friend, who suggested that simply mailing himself as a parcel to Texas,would be cheaper than purchasing train tickets.

As there was no history of it happening previously, the Transportation Security Administration interviewed McKinley to better understand how he had bypassed security, in order to ensure it never happened again. Considering these events happened only a few years after the disastrous 9/11, it was surprising that a man managed to post himself by air mail at all. It turned out to be more expensive in the end regardless, as he could have flown first class for the price he paid to post himself.

We at RAND Logistics would not recommend that you post yourself, and instead send your friend abroad or relative a thoughtful present, at extremely competitive rates. Use our quick quote service to find out how much you can save with RAND Logistics.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 10

Posted on December 20, 2013 by admin

It’s the final day of Christmas gift ideas before the big day and what better way to top it all off than give you the top 5 gifts for all this December 25^th. We’ve covered all sorts of different gift addressees in the last month so it’s time to wrap everything up with a top 5 of Christmas panic-buys and homemade items. Here’s what to do if you’re still stuck for ideas with just a few days remaining!

Chocolates

This shouldn’t just be an ordinary chocolate bar. Search around for some truly special chocolate treats, whether it’s to do with a theme your loved one might like or just something a bit more expensive than usual.

Scented Candles

They offer a great service over Christmas time so a pretty-looking candle with a pleasant aroma could be the road to go down.

Custom Cushions

If you’ve got sewing skills at hand, why not try and make something comfortable from a spare scarf or hat you don’t need? It would be decent to wash the scarf beforehand of course…

Hat & Scarf

If you’ve got time, why not try and make your own gift in the shape of a warm hat or scarf? Otherwise, hats and scarves are great gifts that are more than necessary for the upcoming winter.

Gift Box

It’s a kind of treasure trove where you collect a selection of treats and store them in a nicely wrapped present box. It’s a gift that might seem small but portrays a huge amount of kindness and effort.

Got last minute gifts to send to someone this year? RAND Logistics are prepared for you whether you need an international service or something a bit more local. Have a look at our services for more information.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 9

Posted on December 19, 2013 by admin

You may well be away from someone this Christmas and in the process of planning the gifts for that particular family or group of people. After covering their gifts, consider if they’ve got any pets as well! Sending gifts to the family dog or other family pet is sometimes essential, especially if you know the pet well. Whatever the situation may be, a gift for a pet can be a heart-warming gesture to the owners as well, so why not consider some of our pet gift ideas this Christmas?

One of the best possible gifts you can get for a pet this Christmas is food. Food for a dog or other household animal can be easily purchased at any general store. In addition, you might want to have a look at some of the luxury food brands for an improvement on your average pet food. Make sure you check countries list of prohibited and restricted items when shipping internationally as food is sometimes present on these lists.

Another gift idea for pets is a toy. Toys are great gifts that are almost certain to work with any animal that you’re specifying. From scratching posts and chew toys through to tennis balls and treats, toys are certain to keep any pet occupied when they are tempted to chew up their owner’s presents!

Are you preparing gifts this Christmas? Whether it’s a family friend or a pet, take a look at RAND’s services this Christmas and make the most of our international parcel delivery option.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 8

Posted on December 18, 2013 by admin

Our Christmas gift ideas continue and today we are focusing on the ideal present for women. It’s no surprise that so many men are panicking up until the last second because they don’t know what to get for their other half. In addition, you might be struggling for gift ideas intended for a female friend who is currently oversees. Whatever you situation may be, take note of our top 3 Christmas gift ideas for women here before you carry your anxieties all the way through to Christmas Eve.

1) Clothing

It’s not the easiest present to give another woman if you’re a man but in fact, women are very fond of the idea of receiving clothing as a Christmas gift. You might want to ship a gift to Russia such as a comfy scarf or hat that can provide them with warmth during the colder days or you might be able to get some personal advice beforehand regarding a preferred onesie. Ultimately, clothing can be a very safe and realistic option as a gift this Christmas.

2) DVD Box Sets

Everyone likes a DVD Box set and your wife or girlfriend might really appreciate a whole box set of their favourite show this Christmas. It’s an especially good present if you and a friend are both interested in the show as it highlights some of the significant elements of your friendship. An excellent option if you’ve done the background research.

3) Beauty Accessories

It’s the easy way out but always an appealing gift. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve known someone for decades or you’re getting your first Christmas present for them, beauty products are an ideal gift for women. They may be temporary gifts that don’t have personal representations but they are a popular gift that always seems to work. If your still stuck for ideas, this is the way to go.

Finding gifts for friends and loved ones can be tough but if you follow our top 3, you may well be sorted for the run in to Christmas Day. Don’t forget to make the most of RAND Logistics services this Christmas as you prepare to ship your gifts both across the country and internationally.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 7

Posted on December 17, 2013 by admin

Today we look at some of the ideas Christmas gifts that men will be after this Christmas. If your struggling to find the perfect gift for your husband or need to send something internationally to a male friend in time for Christmas, you might want to consider a few of the gift ideas we have to offer. There are all sorts of great gifts that would be perfect for men this Christmas, so here’s a top 3 of the some of the best Christmas gifts for men you can get this year.

1) BBQ

Barbecues are symbolic of the summer months and any guy is going to want to put his barbecuing skills to the test during the warmer seasons. It could inspire them to start cooking more often and it proves to be an excellent alternative to cooking in the kitchen. There are all sorts of affordable barbecues or barbecue products out there, but this is certainly the ideal gift.

2) Survival Kit

It might seem a bit cliche but pen knives or other outdoor tool kits can really encourage outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. A lot of men seem to have been inspired by famous adventurers such as Bear Grylls and Ray Mears in recent times, so this could be the perfect opportunity to inspire his dream of venturing through the local forests more often. If you are shipping items like this, you might want to consider our shipping restriction guides for each country beforehand.

3) Docking Stations/ Speakers

Finally, docking stations and speakers are actually a great gift for any man, whether it’s from wife to husband or one mate to another. The amount of speakers available nowadays means there are products that suit a variety of budgets and all sorts of different purposes. You can maybe get some speakers that accompany a cycling journey to work or a larger surround sound speaker for the TV. Either way, this is sure to be a big hit as a gift this Christmas.

Make sure you make the most of RAND Logistics this Christmas to ship your parcels internationally. Take a look at our list of services for more information.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 6

Posted on December 16, 2013 by admin

It’s a new week of Christmas gift ideas as we build up to the big day here on the RAND Logistics blog. Today we’ll be having a look at some of the worst and weirdest Christmas gifts to be sent across the globe and some of the reasons why they have become notoriously bad gift ideas. No one’s perfect and sometimes the Christmas presents we get may not be fully appreciated for all sorts of reasons. Here’s a list of some of the most bizarre festive delights to be shared across the world.

The Bling Mug

It’s something that would probably make Del boy jealous. This particular cup of tea has a certain shine to it as the handle is made out of dazzling sovereigns. It’s an excellent gift for the boss but an absolutely diabolical object to look at. This has to be in our list of worst Christmas gifts.

The Voodoo Kitchen Knife Holder

Imagine a knife holder shaped as a human being. I think you know what comes next. Sort your kitchen knives by placing them through various areas of the human body. Probably the perfect gift for someone you really hate, then again it could work wonders if you’re feeling pretty stressed after a hard day’s work.

Panic Button

Every keyboard needs one of these, especially if your work colleague is absolutely tied down with work on a regular basis. Give them an easy way out with this red panic button, which is shaped like a key on the average computer keyboard.

You might be tempted to invest in some of these whacky gift ideas this Christmas, so if you are make sure you make the most of RAND’s international parcel delivery service and get your brilliantly awful presents sent to someone you love.

Brazil World Cup 2014 – More than just a tournament?

Posted on December 13, 2013 by admin

The Football World Cup draw was held this time last week to decide who would be playing who in the group stages in Brazil next summer. The World Cup is a massive event that brings a vast amount of tourists together to celebrate football in the form of a tournament. Brazil is often seen as the home of attractive football and this is why next summer could be one of the greatest World Cups ever hosted. We take a look at how the country has developed and how football has played such a big role in inspiring the people of Brazil.

Brazil has always been a country full of culture and passion. The countries population generally consists of people with little wealth yet a truly incredible level of pride and inspiration. Football has played a big part in keeping young Brazilians inspired and passionate about their future, whilst it also brings the country together with famous Brazilian footballers regularly visiting their childhood favelas and districts to help motivate young children and poor families in the area.

With the World Cup being an international spectacle, the whole world will be watching Brazil next summer and this could work wonders in promoting awareness of the deprived areas in the country. If you are aware of a sporting organisation or individual in Brazil that may benefit from a gift being shipped internationally to the country, this is one of many ways that you can play a huge part in maintaining the footballing spirit that is present there.

With the World Cup edging closer, there is no doubt that the awareness of deprivation in Brazil will be noticed and we will hopefully see a wonderful World Cup hosted that promotes equality and inspiration for all.

If you want to send a parcel to Brazil for a family member or any other particular cause, why not have a look at some of the services that RAND Logistics have to offer? You can also contact us for further information regarding our services.

Christmas in Australia – How is it different?

Posted on December 12, 2013 by admin

Whilst we shiver in our front rooms and keep close to the comforting portable fires whilst covered in blankets and sipping hot drinks, those native to Australia are enjoying the warmth of the sun at this moment in time. Since it’s currently summer in Australia, Christmas seems to have quite a different style over there. Sending a parcel to Australia might be on your plans this Christmas but there’s absolutely no need to give someone over there a scarf or woolly hat this year. Here are a few things to consider when sending a Christmas gift to Australia.

Australia is located in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are opposite to that of the northern hemisphere. Australia experiences some of its hottest weather in December which makes Christmas Day an experience unlike that of most other countries. Many tourists head down under to experience Christmas in this particular climate instead of the colder temperatures back home.

The blazing heat in some parts of Australia at this time of year means one thing. They’ll be hitting the beach to celebrate Christmas Eve in a rather unique fashion compared to the vast majority of other European countries. If you’d rather not make them laugh with a huge woolly coat as gift, why not get them some typical summery items such as sportswear, sunglasses or maybe even a smoothie maker?

If you want to send a Christmas gift to Australia or anywhere else in the world, check out RAND Logistics services and discover how we can ship your parcel across the globe.

RANDlogistics

RANDlogistics and industry news

Category Archives: Cheap parcel delivery