Sending things, explained

What it takes to send a parcel across Kottayam today: what you need before you start, how the booking works, what it costs, and what happens at each end.

How a same-day courier fare in Kottayam is worked out — the base charge, the distance charge and GST — plus what does not affect it, and how to see the exact price before booking.

The difference between a hub-and-spoke courier and a same-day runner service, which jobs each one is actually good at, and how to tell which you need.

What can and cannot be sent when couriering medicine in Kerala, what to include with the parcel, and how to handle prescriptions, cold items and pharmacy deliveries.

How small shops, clinics and bakeries in Kottayam use an on-demand courier instead of employing delivery staff — what it costs, how it is paid for, and where it works badly.

Practical packing for a short courier trip — what to use for documents, food, electronics and glass, what fails on a two-wheeler, and what to write on the outside.