Cheap Parcel Delivery Thread MK3

ArmitageShanks

Still there pepsicals;), under the World section.

I will do a banner for them when I get a chance. But I think we could do with one more company up there. I did notice transglobal have some good rates £12.50+vat DHL to France.

chaotic_j

I had a parcel booked in for collection today, delivery to Ireland (south), with Freightsearch. I would have booked in with Direct Parcel Distribution, but obviously that is no longer possible.

I've waited in all day for DHL to collect and it's a no-show.. emailed Freightsearch and no reply.

Is this a legitimate company?

ArmitageShanks

chaotic_j wrote: »

I had a parcel booked in for collection today, delivery to Ireland (south), with Freightsearch. I would have booked in with Direct Parcel Distribution, but obviously that is no longer possible.

I've waited in all day for DHL to collect and it's a no-show.. emailed Freightsearch and no reply.

Is this a legitimate company?

Yes, freightsearch are fine. I'm sure it will be rebooked.

From what I've read here and on the ebay forums communication has been a problem with all re-sellers this week. Both p2go and interparcel close at 4, but you can't report a failed collection till 5.30pm. I wouldn't like to see their inbox's the morning after.

Edit: just thought that some (p2go) are not taking bookings till friday, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

chaotic_j

@Armitage

What am I supposed to do then..? Wait in all day tomorrow as well on the off-chance that they are rebooking without telling me.. you'd think that these resellers had never waited in for a delivery or collection and don't know what it is like not knowing!

I just realised that they take payments with ProtX and not PayPal - any coincidence?

One of these days I'll start up my own courier reseller.. one that does everything right mind you, rather than wrong.

ArmitageShanks

You have my sympathies, failed collections are as frustrating as it gets, especially if you have to make special arrangements. We have daily collection account so it's no longer an issue for us, but the days of home-textiles etc. is was an almighty pain.

Where to allocate blame; once it's booked it's totally our of a courier agents hands, it's all up to DHL or whoever the carrier is. Our driver didn't get to us till nearly 6 and said there was still collections to do but they'd have to done tomorrow, I don't no if the was a one off but perhaps today has caught DHL out on the amount of bookings? If booking agents are automated with agents that is big factor in minimising fails, I know freightsearch are with U.K, but I don't know on Europe.

What to do; I'd work on the basis they may come. But if you do have to go out leave a note on the door saying parcel is XXXX (porch or neighbour etc.) and that should work. (if that is possible)

Protx or PayPal. Protx becasue the fees are much lower so in industry where margins are small it makes sense. However on the protection there is common missconception that with PayPal you are covered, unfortunately you aint as you're paying for a service, PayPal only cover tangible items.

Edit: The slight good news is they all read this thread, everyday. So posting on here does make it more likely they will spring into action sooner rather than later.

VVI

I have been waiting in vain for Direct Parcel too.
I booked early morning 23Dec for collection to Greece. I should have noticed something odd then. I paid through Paypal and received a confirmation, the end of which said 'Your reference number is' and then it was blank.
Later, I did get an email from Direct Parcel saying that DHL were unable to collect on 23rd or 24th Dec and I was to send a failed collection note to them, with another date! Strangely DHL had just collected all my other items at 4pm on 23Dec. No problem. A further two working days have now passed without the pick-up taking place., Direct Parcel quoted £32.95inc for a 16kg parcel. The next best was Interparcel at £46inc. Says it all, doesn't it!

Anyone know a better rate to Greece than Interparcel?

ArmitageShanks

Try transglobal.

Hmmm.... I really do hope DPD settle up.

VVI

I wont hold my breath.
Afer all they have let every one down this week. Their site asks customers to try their freind Shipping Manager. So if they were unable to continue, yet still accept payments and send confirmations, why didn't they pass this last weeks business on to Shippimng Manager too?

On a different note, I notice that MANY carrier sites have 'conveniently' forgotten to update their advertised UK domestic rates. Do a search and you find £5.49, £5.99 for a 48 hour DHL parcel. But try to book it! Suddenly it changes to £7.99 plus VAT. Surely these UK based companies come under the trade descriptions act?

alcanlove

ArmitageShanks wrote: »

Direct Parcel Distribution will be closing on the 1st of January as there will be a change of ownership. The understanding is that will continue to operate (????). I have been assured any outstanding credits owed will be settled.

Hi where did you get this information?
if this was all true then why was everyone left in doggy doo doo's? over christmas, why not let us know what was happening & not take our money & leave us all sitting in waiting for couriers that were never going to turn up! very unfair!
i am very unhappy with the way they have just disapeared knowing this was goin to happen.
i paid them before christmas for a large parcel to be sent to Japan, i waited in 23rd & 24th no one came. i was most annoyed as i had christmas shopping to do. i ended up doing my shopping late at night (thank god for 24 hour supermarkets)
i emailed them & got a reply saying it was rebooked for 29/12/08 but yet again no one turned up!!!
but i also have another huge problem, Direct Parcel Distribution arranged for a parcel to be collected from the USA & sent to me here in the UK. the parcel was collected as promised but it has been sitting in a Fedex office in San Antonio for 2 weeks, Unable to be sent to me because Direct Parcel Distribution's account number has been deleted/cancelled with Fedex. i have been very upset & stressed over this & at christmas time you just dont need the upset. i have sent Direct Parcel Distribution numerouse emails with no replys. the last email i did get from them was 24th wishing me a merry christmas & that my collection would be dealt with!!!
i am very apalled by the way they have done this, leaving everyone in the lurch over christmas especially!!! & knowing full well they were not going to fulfill their promises!!!
if you look at their website now its gone completely no more!

v0n

I think given circumstances and the fact this forums are syndicated by just about any search engine I think all of us should refrain from referring to Direct Parcel Distribution as DPD, since DPD - the proper courier company of that name (as in DPD - Dynamic Parcel Distribution - the arm of GeoPost/La Poste Group formerly known as Deutscher Paket Dienst GmbH & Co. KG) - has nothing to do with the fall of Direct Parcel Distribution and all this bad press around different company while using their name as convenient abbreviation is not going to go unnoticed.