Delivery services around the world handle billions of packages every year, shifting goods via transport networks to every corner of the globe. Most of the consignments are manufactured goods, paperwork or household items, but every now and then something catches the eye of the delivery drivers.

We asked a selection of delivery service drivers what strange packages they had come across and here’s some of the weirdest and most wonderful responses we got:

1.    A brown bear’s head – a routine x-ray scan at a delivery company sorting office revealed the contents of an inconspicuous looking carton to be the stuffed head of a brown bear. Apparently, a gentleman in New Jersey wanted to send the item to his Grandad in Sydney.

2.    An elephant’s foot – the strange-shaped package caught the eye of one of the drivers from a large multinational delivery company who had gone to collect the parcel from an antique shop. Turns out the foot had been made into a rather untasteful umbrella stand.

3.    A house brick – as a cash on delivery item, the recipient was asked to pay the not insignificant cost of a same day delivery. After paying up, the man unwrapped the delivery only to find it was a house brick sent by his ex he’d split up acrimoniously with a couple of weeks ago.

4.    A not so fresh salmon – delivery services have strict lists of goods they can’t carry, but this didn’t stop one proud amateur fisherman who’d caught a salmon popping it into a freezer bag and trying to send it to his friend. Needless to say he was himself caught out when the smell alerted workers to the scaly consignment.

5.    A prosthetic leg – medical items are often transported by delivery services, but this leg was still attached to its owner when the driver turned up to collect it. The patient who was wearing it had a technical problem and couldn’t lean down far enough to take it off. In the end the delivery driver managed to detach the leg and parcel it up.

When asked what items they feared handling most during their working day, the answer was unanimous – live consignments. It seems this a very popular niche market for the delivery services companies is the speedy delivery of live animals, in particular insects and reptiles. These can be packed into insulated hot or cold packs and sent around the world. Fine, as long they are well-packaged. No-one wants a lizard running around their delivery van!

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For more information contact press@deliveryquotecompare.com

Notes for editors:
This survey was carried by online transport marketplace website Delivery Quote Compare, contacting delivery services firms registered on their website for anecdotes concerning the strangest items they’ve ever carried or heard about being transported.

This and other PR can be viewed here: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/news/deliveryquotecompare-com-news/delivery-services/2011/05/287.html

About www.deliveryquotecompare.com:

Deliveryquotecompare.com was set up to provide transport companies with an opening to make quotes and win delivery work from customers who need any type of goods delivering to national, European and international destinations.

All types of delivery service companies are registered with the site, from home removals companies to international sea freight services. All types of goods are quoted for and handled, from eBay seller deliveries to boat deliveries and furniture shipments throughout the UK, in Europe and beyond.

Customers with goods that need to be delivered simply register and post the job details on the Delivery Quote Compare website and the details are then sent on to relevant transport companies who can provide the service required. The companies then look at the details and work out a bespoke price for that delivery job.

The customer then receives email alerts to let them know quotes are coming in. If the ‘auction format’ is chosen, the transport companies can see all quotes being posted and how competitive they need to be to win the job.

For customers using Delivery Quote Compare, the service is completely free.

Following trials at two of its supermarkets, the retail giant certainly believes they can succeed. Andrew Carpenter, Tesco’s beauty category manager explained : “We know beauty treatments are very popular with many people these days and we feel the convenience of great value and quality services from manicures to full waxing and styling could be a success with customers”.

Fine, but can you really see yourself having a bikini wax in aisle 19 just behind the bakery counter? Maybe not, but what will set the big name retailer apart from smaller, independent beauticians is price. Massages are set to be half the price and a full leg wax has been set at £15.

However, many experts believe that although the supermarket can successfully sell us everything from loo rolls and bread, to car insurance and mobile phones, this is a step too far. Retail expert Neil Saunders of Verdict retail research is not convinced: “People want to feel relaxed and pampered when having a beauty treatment. This isn’t the case when you’re rushing around grocery shopping. A value manicure or haircut might be appealing to some, but most people want to feel special. They don’t want to tell people they got their nails done at Tesco.”

And there’s the crunch. Most of us having a beauty treatment want to lie back and relax for the whole day if possible.  Anyone paying for a beauty treatment wants to indulge in the whole experience of being pampered, which is why the spas don’t seem too overly worried by the idea we will all be able get a little extra waxing from these stores very soon.

Leading online gift voucher company Into the Blue similarly feels the beauty treatment market won’t be obliterated by this High Street attack. Activities manager Darren Dray commented: “Our clients buy beauty treatment vouchers as gifts for loved ones because it’s a special treat and gives them chance to experience something new such as a hot stone massage, an aromatherapy beauty facial or a rasul treatment. Spending the day enjoying your treatments in a lovely spa setting is all part of the experience and we’ve found people still think that’s worth paying for.”

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For more information contact Caroline Face at caroline@intotheblue.co.uk

Notes for editors:
Into the Blue offers a variety of beauty treatments, including manicures, pedicures, hot stone massages, result treatments, Indian head massages, cosmetics lessons and aromatherapy facials. www.intotheblue.co.uk

Verdict is a UK based retail and consumer research agency and consultancy. www.verdict.co.uk

About Into the Blue:
Into the Blue is a specialist experience activity gift voucher company that started life in 1996 as an off-shoot of Air Displays International Ltd (operator of the world-renowned Biggin Hill Air Fair), offering flying activities and lessons.

Since then, the company has added a whole range of different activities to the portfolio of activity gift voucher experiences, which now totals in excess of 600. All experiences are available to buy directly from intotheblue.co.uk or by calling 01959 578100.

The company continues to evolve the range and believes that there is a perfect experience suitable for every individual and for every occasion.

Any mention of the word flight simulator and you immediately think of a computer game however, these high tech machines have a very serious role to play in modern aviation, which is why a new flight centre with a simulator, cabin door trainers and 25 class rooms has just opened in the UK.

The brand new flight training facility costing over £12million has just opened at Exeter Airport and houses a state of the art flight simulator costing £6 million. Operating 20 hours a day, all 750 of FlyBe airline’s pilots will do sim checks here and the training facility will be opened up to other airlines too, with slots already getting heavily booked up.

All major airlines use flight simulator technology to ensure pilots are constantly being trained, with refresher courses each year. The idea of using a motion simulator is that pilots can practice simulated conditions and circumstances that they don’t face every day (thankfully) in complete safety.

At the push of a button, the plane can simulate rainstorms, wind shear, systems failures, a fire onboard and other potentially hairy in-flight situations. Even bird strikes can be simulated, which is what happened to the airliner that Captain Chesley Sullenberger managed to aquaplane in a safe emergency landing on the Hudson River. Since that incident, the same flight path is being used regularly on simulator training in the USA to emulate the real life situation.

However, these expensive flight sims are not just the domain of professional crews. Mere mortals can have a taste of what it’s like onboard the latest jet airliner, as many training facilities open up their doors to the public as well. Most of these centres have fixed flight simulators that trainee pilots use to practice procedures, so any budding pilot can get a real hands on insight to what it’s like to fly a jet or a commercial airliner.

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For more information contact Caroline Face at caroline@intotheblue.co.uk

Notes for editors:
Into the Blue offers a variety flight simulator experiences, from commercial airliner sims, to military jet fighter simulators. All this fun can be had without leaving the ground from £75 per person for a 20-minute session.

About Into the Blue:
Into the Blue is a specialist experience activity gift voucher company that started life in 1996 as an off-shoot of Air Displays International Ltd (operator of the world-renowned Biggin Hill Air Fair), offering flying activities and lessons.

Since then, the company has added a whole range of different activities to the portfolio of activity gift voucher experiences, which now totals in excess of 600. All experiences are available to buy directly from intotheblue.co.uk or by calling 01959 578100.

The company continues to evolve the range and believes that there is a perfect experience suitable for every individual and for every occasion.

The plight of the haulage companies continues with the news that the French motorway tolls have increased above the rate of inflation for 2011.

As of the 1st February 2011, all classes of vehicles are facing increased charges for using motorways in France. These rises, announced just weeks ago, take immediate affect and represent an augmentation above inflation. This means that European haulage is once again taking onboard further growths in costs when trucks drive through French territory.

Private companies called ‘concessionaires’ run nearly all of France’s motorways. The ALIS concession has posted the highest increase at 4,80%, closely followed by ESCOTA with a 4,33% price hike. Inflation in France was running at 1,52% in October 2010, yet the average toll hike for LGVs is 3,06%. Spokesperson for ASFA (Association Of French Motorways), Laurence Guillerm explained how these rates are imposed: “Each company makes proposals to the Government and the decision rests with the department of transportation.”

Even so, the rates add more pressure on European haulage companies who are already suffering rising fuel costs. The importance of revenue and logistics management for haulers running international routes is now paramount. A truck driving through Europe empty is losing money, so finding ways to fill excess capacity is key.

All European haulage companies no matter its size, can use online transportation quote and compare sites such as www.deliveryquotecompare.com to maximise truck capacity and therefore reduce the impact of increased toll and fuel charges. Such web-based companies offers European haulers a way of communicating directly with clients (both business to business and individuals) needing goods moved across Europe.

Delivery Quote Compare CEO Dan Parry commented: “The pressure on European haulage businesses in terms of costs is ever-increasing. By signing up to be a delivery provider on Delivery Quote Compare, transportation companies both large and small offering international haulage services can increase capacity on European routes by quoting for jobs posted by prospective customers on the website, creating a whole new stream of enquiries.”

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For more information contact press@deliveryquotecompare.com

Notes for editors:
Laurence Gillerm is the press and public relations spokesperson for the ASFA the association that brings together all the motorway operators in France www.autoroutes.fr. The association recently announced toll price increases in their latest press release (French only).

The ALIS motorway concession looks after the A28 French motorway between Rouen and Alencon.

The ESCOTA company operates several autoroutes in the south of France including the A8 in Aix en Provence, the A50, A51, A52 an d A57.

Dan Parry is CEO of online transportation website Delivery Quote Compare.

About www.deliveryquotecompare.com:

Deliveryquotecompare.com was set up to provide transport companies with an opening to make quotes and win delivery work from customers who need goods delivering to national, European and international destinations.

All types of delivery companies are registered with the site, from European haulage companies to specialist vehicle delivery services. All types of goods are quoted for and handled, from ebay seller deliveries and whole house removal jobs to boat deliveries and furniture shipments throughout the UK, in Europe and beyond.

Customers with goods that need to be delivered simply register and post the job details on the Delivery Quote Compare website and the details are then sent on to relevant transport companies who can provide the service required. The companies then look at the details and work out a bespoke price for that delivery job.

The customer then receives email alerts to let them know quotes are coming in. If the ‘auction format’ is chosen, the transport companies can see all quotes being posted and how competitive they need to be to win the job.

For customers using Delivery Quote Compare, the service is completely free.

It is a well known fact that Kate Middleton and Prince William have been courting for some years, apart from the occasional time apart, they have spent the best part of seven years together. They announced their engagement on 16 November 2010, and subsequently have announced that their wedding will take place on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

Prince Williams engagement to Kate Middleton was confirmed by Clarence House, who also confirmed that Prince William proposed whilst in Kenya in October and that the engagement ring given was his late mother,s engagement ring. Upon hearing the news, the Queen and Duke and the Princes father, the Prince of Wales were said to be thrilled and delighted.

It has also been announced that Prince Williams wedding will be financed by the Royal family and the Middleton’s themselves, which is seen as a way of appeasing the general public, taking into account the financial cost and implications of such an event, and the general state of the economy, although the policing bill involving security, will be paid for by the UK taxpayer.

As you would expect with an event such as a royal wedding, a national holiday has been proposed which would give many people a four day weekend, as many will look to celebrate the event in the capital, to experience the ambience as well as the pomp and ceremony that will be displayed. In addition there are already a range of souvenirs being made available, which will include the standard types of products such as mugs, coins and other forms of celebratory souvenirs.

With April 29, 2011 only a mere five months away, the planning is in full swing, with anticipated celebration parties throughout the land, Kate Middleton and Prince Williams wedding day is expected to be the party of the decade.

For further information visit http://www.princewilliamswedding.co.uk

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Specialist BRC inspectors undertook their annual audit of Burgess’ manufacturing facility in Yorkshire, including production packaging, storage, distribution and personnel. It found the standards and working practises to be in accordance with The Global Standard for Food Safety Version 5 certification.

The BRC is the lead trade association that represents and maintains standards across a wide range of retail sectors. Its BRC Standard accreditation is recognised by the human food and pet food manufacturing industries in both Europe and the UK.

Paul Sharp, Factory Manager, Burgess Pet Care, said: “We are delighted our factory has once again achieved an ‘A’ grade rating by the BRC; cementing Burgess’ reputation as an organisation that puts quality at the heart of all areas of its business.

“To be awarded this global standard, seven sections of our manufacturing process had to meet ten key requirements. These criteria relate to systems that are crucial to the establishment and effective running of quality, safe operations including HACCP, hygiene and traceability.

“The level of complexity involved demonstrates that the BRC Standard is not easy to achieve or maintain. Receiving an ‘A’ grade rating for the second consecutive year reinforces the commitment of Burgess Pet Care and its staff to an exceptionally high standard.

“As a consequence, we are able to produce for and supply to independent pet retailers and pet owners can be rest assured that they are feeding their pets healthy food made with quality ingredients to superior standards.”

For further information on the BRC accreditation, visit www.brc.org.uk

For details on Burgess Pet Care and its ranges, visit www.burgesspetcare.co.uk

In fact, there are around thirteen species of this cactus plant but there is only one specific variety that is being used as an appetite suppressant in weight loss products. It is called Hoodia Gordonii which can be found in South African deserts. In actual fact, this particular cactus plant is so effective in dropping the appetite of a person, which is considered to be the most effective appetite inhibitor on the planet, as attested by medical sciences. No wonder the whole world has clamored about Hoodia Gordonii and is now in great demand all over the world.

Prior to the launch of Hoodia Gordonii in public, this cactus plant was actually being studied and tested for quite a period of time by scientists across the globe.  There was even a particular test when the staff and crew of BBC Worldwide went on tour have each tried eating a leaf of Hoodia Gordonii.  Not a single individual from their group experienced thirst or hunger the whole day.  Moreover, not one of them felt ill when they tried taking the leaf.

Indeed, the most incredible thing about Hoodia’s line of weight loss supplements is the fact that users are not exposed to any danger or risks when they take these products.  They are not even susceptible to experience illnesses during the time they are taking the supplement which is the total opposite with almost all appetite suppressants available now in the market.  Furthermore, another beneficial effect in using Hoodia Gordonii products or any supplement that contains the extracts of this plant, is that it gives its users extra vitality and stamina.  Most takers of this supplement claim that they do not get tired even if they have not eaten at all.  Hoodia Gordonii basically provides the required level of energy to make you last the whole day.

However, this does not mean that you have to stop eating healthy foods and drink regularly when you are under the said supplement.  The individuals who have been taking Hoodia Gordonii weight loss pills regularly are expected not to experience the urge to eat as much.  Then again, just because individuals do not feel any urge to eat, they should still have to eat healthy foods regularly or else they will suffer with their health.  A lot of people now are switching to Hoodia Gordonii as their supplement to maintain their regular meals on a better track.

One should not forget that the Hoodia cactus plant can only be found in isolated and deserted areas which are considered to be rare.  Having this said, Hoodia Gordonii weight loss supplements or even products containing its extracts are expected to be a bit pricey.  Beware of the fake Hoodia Gordonii weight loss supplements which have been sold allegedly in some locations where the said product is expensive.  If you see these products being sold at very low prices, chances are it is not authentic.  Try checking out legal retailers who sell genuine Hoodia Gordonii weight loss products on the internet sold in interesting offers.  Visit http://www.hoodiagordoniireviewed.co.uk

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