Helping others

Hi all 

it seems we have a bit of a chicken and egg syndrome goin on here.....i don't know how many up to date members mtvan has, but if jobs got bids then more jobs would be put on...."other" exchanges work because they have enuff members to ensure that 99% of any work put on there gets covered...sadly that can't be said of this site....yet.

Thanks that explains quiet a bit any other tips please pass on!

I put a job from Oxford to EC2 today. and although apparently 518 text alerts went out we got no bids wotsoeva, so clearly something is wrong here....

Where did you cover it?

Edit: Also that's 518 alerts, which includes emails. Still you'd hope for a few bids.

ah i see....still suprised no one bid

Speaking for myself, if i see a job near me where there's 500 alerts for one job i dont bother bidding now. What's the point? I've never had a single reply on any of my bids. Presumably with all these alerts going out for one job the job is going for next to nothing!!

Thanks for the reply RGM. That's an interesting way of looking at it.

Incidentally, does Courier Exchange not show the alerts sent?

Ill be honest I dont have any confidence in this site what so ever, and in 6 months ive only had one job off it, im on CX and if im looking for work I look there, decent feedback etc gives you more confidence on wanting to bid for jobs.. just my opinion.

So you're concerned about whether to trust the vendors? Great, thanks for the feedback.

Member feedback is in progress. How does the CX feedback work for you? Ideal or is there anything you'd change?

I can't see what possible connection there is between the number of alerts and the price of a job if i'm honest.

feedback doesn't work 

Are people scared about the comeback from leaving negative feedback?

on the "make an offer" page it should display the company phone number that is offering the work instead of what it show's now or as well of

Vendor Details

                         XXXXXXX<br>


                        Member Since 29/11/2008


                        Based Anywhere United Kingdom <img src="../system/mtvan-3.0//images/flags/gb.gif" style="margin:1px 5px -1px 0;">





                <h2 style="margin-top:15px;">Quote For This Job</h2>




                    <ul class="form"><li>Quote Amount (GBP)                     <div class="form-field-container xshort">                                                   <img src="../system/mtvan-3.0/images/cross.png" class="validation xshort"></div></li><li>Pickup Time                        <div class="form-field-container xshort">   <img src="../system/mtvan-3.0/images/tick.png" class="validation xshort"></div></li><li>Vehicle Type                        </li><li style="height: 85px;">Comments         <div class="form-field-container xshort"></div></li></ul><p>or possibly show both, then the quoter could phone and given an answer there and then, would know where they stand one way or the over&nbsp; <br></p>

I've bid on three and had two accepted. However, one was then lost as the vendor miscalculated the cu3s needed. For this reason I have bought a Transit Jumbo and am selling my (swb, low roof, fwd, 27k miles, two new tyres and second full service at 26k) 2010 Transit Limited.

When I saw the Crawley - Livingstone text yesterday I was actually approaching the the M25 turn-off for Crawley. However, I was on my way to look at a new van and it was Friday of course with not a great chance of getting a load back. Then again it was obviously meant for someone returning to Scotland and wouldn't have been worthwhile bidding anyway. A lot of people I've spoken to come upwith the same response to say, Oxford - London: 'They probably expect it to be covered for twenty quid!' So someone sitting at home in London isn't going to bother. As for those not getting an answer to a bid, it is obvious that your bid was undercut by someone else.

Far too many cynics here

Morning all!

Now im relativley new to this site, and have placed pleanty of bids, to no avail! I have a lwb van but it just seems all the jobs i have gone for are backload prices ;0(

I agree with the comments of someone earlier saying about how many alerts there are sent out, i kind of think well if that was sent out 20 mins ago its gone, if it was sent to that many people, i dont know if thats aimed at generic members or targeted to the area of where the collection is required from, I.E if its a collection from Bristol then the alerts should be sent soley to a catchment area of say 20miles to Bristol alone, and the job available for all to see on the site incase your heading to that area or near it??

Maybe somebody can confirm this?

I'm sure the texts are sent to everyone who ticked the box of the required vehicle regardless of where they're located. For instance I'm located in Kent but was in Liverpool when getting texts for swb and small van jobs from and to all over the UK 

Regarding that Oxford to London job, you're right - it was a cynic of the highest order who made the twenty quid comment!

There are some very good vendors on here, BSG and Pronto to name 2, the feedback system on cx has its flaws, however you can build up a decent feedback rating which might help you win jobs, I do look at feedback of vendors on cx before quoting, and yeah there are some I wouldn't work for, so for that purpose it works for me, im more interested in building my own rating up to become more successful, but then im new to this relatively after coming from many years of multi dropping. One thing I don't understand is the arguments on what a backload or hotshot is, surely if you job fits in with what you want to do then you should quote accordingly, I would never do a job for just the fuel money home and I think this is where the logistics world is let down, were all in it to make money and jobs are subbed accordingly, the vendor will always make their share, hence why they ask for quotes for the job to be done. 

Personally i think "backloads" are a piss take

I don't know about helping others but it would help me a lot if someone put some work on 'ere that either originated in my area or in the areas where I am clearing. I usually get the netbook out after I've dropped somewhere and find there's bugger all anywhere near me.

Here here Rob!! Couldnt of said it any better if i tried!

I feel at the end of the day a job to A) to B) is your rate, this backload thing is crap, its still your time, effort running cost regardless, by all means be it if its for the same customer something coming back do it cheaper, but so many i call to qoute are looking for 100 mile jobs for £30/£40. i value my work, and effort i put in to be a reliable courier, and feel my rate reflects the service you will recieve.

Still these things are sent to try us!

Thanks guys for the feedback it is very valid most of us are professional drivers not the minority who give us a bad name.

AND....I also think that some jobs put on here are already SOLD....i had a job i subbed out (not thru any exchange site i hasten to add) that appeared on here!!!!....so it was never open for bids...i also saw one put on at 1649 and by 1650 appeared as SOLD.