Delivery services are getting worse.

[Dangermouse]

I recently sold some wheels on here and sent them with Hermes tracked and insured service, which they stated was a 48hr service, I measured the box as it was quite big but was a lot smaller than the maximum size that Hermes would accept and well under the weight limit, so off we went to deliver.
As soon as we walked into the collection point and I really do mean the very second I walked through the door, the guy behind the counter stood up and said "can't take that mate, far too big" so I said to him that its below the maximum size and weight, it has been measured and weighed and the details put into the website for the price, and paid for so yes its large but within the limits, but hewasnt having it and asked his boss who just aske if it was heavy, I said about the weight of 2 bags of sugar, so she let me leave it.

We then tracked it all the way to the town it was being delivered to and .....arghh, the tracking said not delivered ilarge item..................so I gave Hermes a phone call and the lady said its probably down to the courier having a small car, but dont worry we will put it in one of the couriers vans......................why dont they just do this all the time, would save a lot of extra waiting as the 48hr service turned into a 72hr service.

BUT.................if you think thats bad service, I ordered a new tent last week and unfortunately it is being brought from Nottingham to Scunthorpe by YODEL
I tracked it from Nottingham to Sheffield and wow it only took 4 days, then it went to Rotherham, but now it is in Oldham..............yes thats right OLDHAM, it seems that my new tent is doing a ToB by the ToB sponsor and according to the tracking I will recieve it on 7th July.................I wonder where its going next.

 

[sittingbull]

I've had parcels dropped from a height over the back gate onto concrete, once it was shifters, another time folded tyres, fortunately no damage done but it wasn't obvious to them what they were dropping. The Garmin was fortunately left with a neighbour, just as well as I doubt it would have survived the drop.

Another policy seems to be to make a delivery at all costs, no way should the parcel be retained for a further delivery attempt or collection. I've had several items left in the blue recycling bin, regardless of whether they've required a signature or not. They put a card through the door but had I been away for a few days the bin would have been emptied.

 

[screenman]

I ordered 10 inner tubes from Probike on Saturday at 5pm, they were delivered here in Lincolnshire at 11am on Monday by Yodel, that is quality service.

 

[biggs682]

i had same problem a while back with wheels and Hermes as the local collector only used a small hatchback car and a boxed set of wheels were to big ended up having to take it myself to local collection point for its onward journey

 

[vernon]

Wouldn't the thread title be more accurate if it said: 'Some delivery services are getting worse' ?

I have had faultless service from:
Royal Mail
Parcel Force
Yell
City Link
UPS
DHL
DPS

All of them have collected or delivered large packages from me and to me respectively.

 

[User33236]

My biggest problems at present are with a Royal Mail misdelivering items, leaving items in a bin at the front of the house that's been put out for collection and leaving items outside in random places.

Two that spring to mind was a £1,500 camera lens left on the back doorstep in the p'ing rain and a bike GPS unit that was left under the front wheel of my car. In the latter there was no note through the door and, as I drive infrequently, wasnt't spotted for a considerable time.

 

[DRHysted]

Wouldn't the thread title be more accurate if it said: 'Some delivery services are getting worse' ?

I have had faultless service from:
Royal Mail
Parcel Force
Yell
City Link
UPS
DHL
DPS

All of them have collected or delivered large packages from me and to me respectively.

I have experienced excellent service, and absolutely disgraceful service from all those suppliers.

 

[Markymark]

It is utterly frustrating. I own a digital printing company and a small part of our business is online ordering. I receive an order and it is typically ready for dispatch within an hour. Then I have to wait (or rather the customer does) until the end of the next day for it to arrive and hope it wasn't damaged or delayed in the process. I can safely say that the only complaints I ever get (and they are few) are all the result of the couriers rather than my end.

Makes no odds to the end user where the problem lies as the couriers are my agents, but it is frustrating for me. I am on my 2nd courier company but because my online volumes are so low I have no leverage with any of them.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I recently sold some wheels on here and sent them with Hermes tracked and insured service, which they stated was a 48hr service, I measured the box as it was quite big but was a lot smaller than the maximum size that Hermes would accept and well under the weight limit, so off we went to deliver.
As soon as we walked into the collection point and I really do mean the very second I walked through the door, the guy behind the counter stood up and said "can't take that mate, far too big" so I said to him that its below the maximum size and weight, it has been measured and weighed and the details put into the website for the price, and paid for so yes its large but within the limits, but hewasnt having it and asked his boss who just aske if it was heavy, I said about the weight of 2 bags of sugar, so she let me leave it.

We then tracked it all the way to the town it was being delivered to and .....arghh, the tracking said not delivered ilarge item..................so I gave Hermes a phone call and the lady said its probably down to the courier having a small car, but dont worry we will put it in one of the couriers vans......................why dont they just do this all the time, would save a lot of extra waiting as the 48hr service turned into a 72hr service.

BUT.................if you think thats bad service, I ordered a new tent last week and unfortunately it is being brought from Nottingham to Scunthorpe by YODEL
I tracked it from Nottingham to Sheffield and wow it only took 4 days, then it went to Rotherham, but now it is in Oldham..............yes thats right OLDHAM, it seems that my new tent is doing a ToB by the ToB sponsor and according to the tracking I will recieve it on 7th July.................I wonder where its going next.

To be fair you have had the misfortune to use the 2 worst couriers in the country ( next 2 citystink of course ) I wouldnt use either of those 2 they are both utterly useless.

 

[accountantpete]

I think a lot of these companies use self-employed delivery guys for the final leg. The quality of service therefore depends on this very variable element.

I would use Royal Mail/UPS etc unless the size/cost rules it out

 

[numbnuts]

I bought some thongs from China and they came seven days later I thought that was very good

 

[Cycling Dan]

Ukmail..... Use them at work..... I don't think I need to go on.

 

[Chromatic]

I bought some thongs from China and they came seven days later I thought that was very good

Personal use or a gift for someone special?

 

[swee'pea99]

My first 'proper' job was working in a high end camera shop - Linhofs & Hassleblads rather than Halina sort of thing. It had quite a thriving mail order business in things like lenses for plate cameras - exquisitely engineered, and not cheap. The first day, I was sent to take them to the post office round the corner. Each box was liberally covered with big labels saying 'FRAGILE - WITH CARE' and the like. The bloke at the counter gave me a receipt for the lot, then tossed them, one by one, without even looking, over his shoulder into a bin 10 feet behind him.

 

[Cold]

I've had parcels dropped from a height over the back gate onto concrete, once it was shifters, another time folded tyres, fortunately no damage done but it wasn't obvious to them what they were dropping. The Garmin was fortunately left with a neighbour, just as well as I doubt it would have survived the drop.

Another policy seems to be to make a delivery at all costs, no way should the parcel be retained for a further delivery attempt or collection. I've had several items left in the blue recycling bin, regardless of whether they've required a signature or not. They put a card through the door but had I been away for a few days the bin would have been emptied.

With some couriers I believe they are self employed and don't get paid for non deliveries.
I deal with courier companies everyday and the worst by far are Yodel.