What is the difference betwen a "messenger" and a "courier"

Oh the ironing!

i thought overdrive was curryer

One major irony of the whole messenger/courier stuff is that in the olden days, when I was young, the POst Office had a monopoly on mail. Businesses had a choice - use the GPO mail or deliver it yourself. Third parties were not allowed to deliver for you for a fee. Most City businesses had messengers. Banks had chaps with tophats, law firms had members of the Corps of Commissionaires who delivered "by hands". Then came Margaret Thatcher who got rid of the monopoly and opened up delivery services. Couriers, first on motorbikes and then cycles, came in. The rest is history.

Couriers are the children of Thatcher.

Couriers are the children of Thatcher.

Ouch! :S

Couriers swallow

African or european swallow?

One major irony of the whole messenger/courier stuff is that in the olden days, when I was young, the POst Office had a monopoly on mail. Businesses had a choice - use the GPO mail or deliver it yourself. Third parties were not allowed to deliver for you for a fee. Most City businesses had messengers. Banks had chaps with tophats, law firms had members of the Corps of Commissionaires who delivered "by hands". Then came Margaret Thatcher who got rid of the monopoly and opened up delivery services. Couriers, first on motorbikes and then cycles, came in. The rest is history.

Couriers are the children of Thatcher.

I've heard the reason why cabbies are such wankers to couriers is that people often used to pay the fare up front and have them deliver 'important' packages and documents. then the couriers took all that work away.

Probably bollocks though. Wigan might know, since he's 72 years old.

i thought overdrive was curryer

True.Though I work for Metro Imaging as an in-house curryer.
So I dont come under the classification of one of the "children of Thatcher,"thank fuck.If I did I'd find that comment offensive and punchworthy.

hahaa!!!!

Many have tried to infiltrate the courier world by assuming disguise and on occasion even managing to set foot in their drinking dens, however one can only understand the rich and diverse culture by becoming one of them, this is nearly impossible and involves many initiation ceremonies and a dozen years on the road.

I tried to do this, but accidentally fell into a proper job.

I tried to do this, but accidentally fell into a proper job.

off the kerb?

African or european swallow?

I've heard the reason why cabbies are such wankers to couriers is that people often used to pay the fare up front and have them deliver 'important' packages and documents. then the couriers took all that work away.

Probably bollocks though. Wigan might know, since he's 72 years old.

There was a period, after account fares came in and before widespread courier companies, in which taxis were used. It was cheaper to give the package or letter to a cabbie rather than send a messenger there and back by cab. Couriers worked out much cheaper and so the use of cabs for deliveries disappeared.

Not sure, however, if that is what made cabbies wankers. That could be in the DNA.

I dont come under the classification of one of the "children of Thatcher,"thank fuck.If I did I'd find that comment offensive and punchworthy.

I was making a point of the irony, not seeking to insult our package carrying bretheren.

Another irony often commented upon is that couriers, who are a manifestation of counter culture, make their living carrying the deeds and documents of the archdeacons of capitalist culture; bankers and lawyers.

Dont shoot the messenger,
Courier on the other hand.

deserves a good smack on the tits or moobs

couriers, who are a manifestation of counter culture,

Whoever said that?

I was making a point of the irony, not seeking to insult our package carrying bretheren.

Another irony often commented upon is that couriers, who are a manifestation of counter culture, make their living carrying the deeds and documents of the archdeacons of capitalist culture; bankers and lawyers.

Then irony of ironies,said bankers and lawyers start to emulate cycle-couriers!

Then irony of ironies,said bankers and lawyers start to emulate cycle-couriers!

Not this one, however. Lycra ftw!

Whoever said that?

A good question. I've just bunged courier and counterculture into Google. Quite a few people seem to corelate the two.

Isn't the fakenger concept a reflection of the perceived counterculture of couriers?

A good question. I've just bunged courier and counterculture into Google. Quite a few people seem to corelate the two.

Isn't the fakenger concept a reflection of the perceived counterculture of couriers?

"perceived" being the operative word here......

Fair point.

I prefer the counterculture of bar top lamination.

I prefer the counterculture of bar top lamination.

Fair point http://www.highhopes.com/04G.JPG

Not this one, however. Lycra ftw!

+1

The backlash starts here.

Thatcher did a lot of things that were plain fucking wrong and I will have a street party when she dies, dribbling and pissing herself. However CliveO is wrong about the rise of couriers. Motorbike couriers were thriving in London in 1976 when I was one. The horrors of Thatcherism were a few years down the pipe.

+1

The backlash starts here.

.....and ends here!