Courier companies go extra mile to deliver Diwali goodies

PUNE: The courier companies in the city are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Puneites do not face any hassle while sending Diwali gifts and snacks to their loved ones abroad. One of the companies has even hired a wedding hall in view of the huge inflow of customers wishing to send their kin festive goodies in large quantity.
A city-based courier service provider, Unique Air Express, has even rented a marriage hall to ensure that customers don't face any inconvenience while sending gifts and snacks in large quantities to their loved ones abroad.
The scene that greets the eye on entering this marriage hall is not what one would expect normally. Large stacks of packing material line the walls, and numerous sealed cartons cover the floor - destinations marked over each. At the far end of the huge hall are rows of computers manned by 50-odd people. In the adjoining room, people stand patiently at each table or makeshift counter with large bags of farsan, chakli, karanji, bhakarwadi, anarsa in hand.
The marriage hall been rented by an international courier service provider in Shanivarpeth to carry out his operations during diwali. Come Diwali, add the festive enthusiasm and this hall becomes witness to a steady bevy of customers starting from morning 9.30 to 8.30 in the night.
Nilesh Deshmukh, managing director of Unique Air Express, says: "On regular days, there are 25-30 international courier requests per day, however during Diwali we get around 500 orders daily."
Deshmukh, who comes from an import-export business background, started the service as
realized the need of a service which would let people send home-made sweets, namkeen and other Diwali greetings to their loved ones abroad.
"I have only one son, and it pains to think that while I savour the taste of Diwali sweets here, my son may miss out on it," says Sunita Ulagadde, whose son works for a software firm in Atlanta, US. Therefore, Sunita turned to the courier service to send farsan, decoration and gift items to Atlanta.
Vandana Pethkar, whose son and daughter-in-law stay in New Jersey, also took help of the courier firm to send laddoos, shakkarpare, chivda and shev to her son as Diwali goodies. "My son and daughter-in-law are working professionals and do not get time to make all these items. Now, they can enjoy all these snacks even if they can't come home for Diwali," she says, while handing over bags of laddoos, shakkarpare and shev to the company staff.
"The customer base in the city wishing to send Diwali items across geographies is pretty large. Most of these customers comprise people whose children are studying in the US and cannot come home for Diwali," says Nilesh Deshmukh, managing director of Unique Air Express. Our courier service helps these people send Diwali packages to countries like UK, US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Germany and France, he adds. His company handles around 500 international orders daily during Diwali against 25-30 parcels on regular days.
is busy counting and getting her bags of laddoos, shankarpale, chivda and shev weighed, after which they will be packed and sealed. "Both my son and daughter-in-law are working and I understand that they don't get time to make so much, even if they would like to," she says.
Once a customer enters the premises, they are given a detailed know-your-customer (KYC) form which requires them to fill in details like name, address and phone number. The customers have been provided with all the services, like instant photo booth, here itself, he says, adding that we have even made provisions for a tea and snack stall here for their convenience. The company staff check each parcel carefully before it is packed. "The items are delivered within four days," Deshmukh says.
Unique has 170 branches in the city and sends almost six tonne diwali shipments in trucks to Mumbai airport, from where packages are sent to New York and unloaded by their ground staff stationed there.
Vandana Pethkar is busy counting and getting her bags of laddoos, shankarpale, chivda and shev weighed, after which they will be packed and sealed. "Both my son and daughter-in-law are working and I understand that they don't get time to make so much, even if they would like to," she says.
And when it comes to sharing the festive spirit, money doesn't count, says Deshmukh, adding that on an average, a parcel costs from Rs 4,000-5,000.
"I don't mind spending 1-2 hours at the courier company and the money means nothing if I get good service and assured delivery," says Suneta Wagh, who came to Unique to send Diwali goodies to the US.
Prashant Kumar, owner of Multinational Courier Service of Koregaon Park, says Diwali rush starts almost ten days before the festival. "The rates depend upon the size of the parcel and its destination. We inform people about the rules of the country where they wish to send the parcel," says Kumar. There is an increase of around 20% in daily orders during this season. Some people also send items like crockery, he adds.
Reiterating Kumar's views, Natha Shinde from United Freight Express, says that festivals do bring in big business, but one needs to be careful while handling the parcels. He also says that his company only accepts parcels that weigh minimum of 6kg.
Owner of another courier service provider says families wish to send lot of items to their loved ones in other countries. But, they also have the fear of missing the delivery time or the worst could be that their item is not handled properly and it breaks, especially in case of glass items. "Therefore, we always make sure that each and every parcel is handled with utmost care and reaches the destination on time," he adds.
Though Deshmukh of Unique couriers says that they haven't kept a minimum or a maximum limit to the quantity that can be shipped, most courier service providers keep a minimum floor of 6 kgs for diwali items. "We are able to assure delivery within four days as we have our own trucks transporting material to the Mumbai international airport and
Cost: 365 to 455 per kg
Things to keep in mind when sending packages abroad -
Do not put items like medicines and cosmetics with food items
Prefer sending only branded items which are clearly marked for weight and contents
Avoid sending oily items like pickles or ghee
Avoid sending expensive electronic items
If you wish to send a glass item or crockery and the courier does not claim responsibility for breakages
Avoid sending items in bulk
Many couriers do not entertain liquid or semi-liquid items