"UShip versus Shiply"
shipping from Hornchurch, United Kingdom Sidmouth, United Kingdom for $178.35
I have now used Shiply three times and UShip once. I have had varied experience with Shiply and the timeliness of couriers. I know it's difficult to compare with such few shipments and that couriers differ enormously but at least with the one shipment I made with UShip the courier was excellent and most importantly of all kept in very good communication.
I most appreciated not being landed with a massive fee to pay UShip upon accepting a courier's bid, unlike Shiply where the fees are pretty high and dished out in a seemingly arbitrary and frankly pretty sneaky manner. In my opinion, it should be the courier who pays the fees since they receive the payment for the deal - they can just simply factor this extra cost into their bid. It certainly feels a lot better to accept a bid knowing that the price you're quoted is the final price you pay...