Courier unreasonable behaviour

codetown

No, the system we discussed is a simple combined GPS receiver+ GSM transmitter. It is just a small box which is mounted on each van of the company and after finding with the GPS receiver it tells you in real time where the van is via particular messages sent over the GSM network.
At base the courier control center sees in real time on a map where each van is. It is the same thing used also in some antitheft autoalarm systems which can track where a car is via the GPS tracking and then sends the message over the GSM network. The GPS+GSM device is low-cost. I worked on some of them and it is becoming trivial stuff for the simplicity.

Knowing in which van each parcel is loaded the courier company knows in real time where each parcel is on a map. Then if they have a basic knowledge of typical ruote timings (or data from the day before as suggested by bertie) they can easily predict when the parcel will be in your area. This system is really basic and simple to implement and bertie said that some delivery companies already use it today to give more accurate estimates of delivery times.

Searcher

codetown wrote:

No, the system we discussed is a simple combined GPS receiver+ GSM transmitter. It is just a small box which is mounted on each van of the company and after finding with the GPS receiver it tells you in real time where the van is via particular messages sent over the GSM network.
At base the courier control center sees in real time on a map where each van is. It is the same thing used also in some antitheft autoalarm systems which can track where a car is via the GPS tracking and then sends the message over the GSM network. The GPS+GSM device is low-cost. I worked on some of them and it is becoming trivial stuff for the simplicity.

Knowing in which van each parcel is loaded the courier company knows in real time where each parcel is on a map. Then if they have a basic knowledge of typical ruote timings (or data from the day before as suggested by bertie) they can easily predict when the parcel will be in your area. This system is really basic and simple to implement and bertie said that some delivery companies already use it today to give more accurate estimates of delivery times.

I'm afraid even that doesn't guarantee you a delivery time.
I used to work for Parcel Farce and you'll notice I said used to. It's a thankless Godawful job and I admire anyone who can stick out multidrop driving.
The parcels are delivered in order of priority ie before 9am, before 10am, before noon, 24 hour and then the 48 hour parcels that weren't delivered yesterday.
If your package is sent standard delivery then I'm afraid if the driver runs out of time then it stays on the van until tomorrow. So even though he may only be a couple of streets away from you, the priority services have to be delivered first.

borgs

Most of these delivery issues could be resolved if it was easier to get your parcel delivered to your work address. On the two occasions that I have tried this I have come to regret it. On one occasion it literally took me two weeks to get my parcel... don't ask, it was very stressful and tedious.

When you get a credit card you should be able to register both your home address and your work address against it. That way there is no additional verification time involved and no risk to the seller.

It would also be nice if you had more choice over which courier the seller would use and to also be able to say "Don't attempt delivery, just leave it at the depot, I'll pick it up myself"

chalky_bertie

The tracking system we have is fairly basic (ie no gps or anything like that) but it shows what time and date it left the relevant warehouse, what time it was recieved into the depot and by whom, what time it was loaded to the van and by whom and once downloaded the time and date the parcel was delivered or attempted to be delivered and if non-delivery the reason why. Therefore if someone phones the 2nd day regarding their delivery the clerical staff can look on the system and find out what time it was attempted the day before and then give a fairly accurate time (give or take an hour or 2!)

When I was a driver I used to get to the same streets virtually the same time everyday UNLESS I had very few parcels due to intake volumes or there was another problem out of my control.

About GPS, semms to be OK but don't know about cost which as allways a factor, we have upwards of 40 vans of ours + 20 owner driver vans just in our depot and there are about 60 depots in the network so we would have to fit nearly 2500 vans with the system which may not be viable as we change the vans every 3 years or as and when required due to the nature of the business.

OK I had a bad day at work yesterday so was really mad when I saw the post so hope I didn't offend anyone but there is a glimmer of hope for people - as a manager at our depot I have a deal with a customer where I will pick out her parcels for her and text her to say they are at the depot and then she comes and picks them up. We didn't get on well the first time we spoke so it was the best I could offer her, and she is fairly happy.

We are not all bad!!!

codetown

borgs wrote:

Most of these delivery issues could be resolved if it was easier to get your parcel delivered to your work address. On the two occasions that I have tried this I have come to regret it. On one occasion it literally took me two weeks to get my parcel... don't ask, it was very stressful and tedious.

When you get a credit card you should be able to register both your home address and your work address against it. That way there is no additional verification time involved and no risk to the seller.

It would also be nice if you had more choice over which courier the seller would use and to also be able to say "Don't attempt delivery, just leave it at the depot, I'll pick it up myself"

On the work delivery, we had many parcels 'lost'. No, better don't try that when the internal mail system is complex. And this even if you are allowed to do so (many payment processors will simply block your order with suspicion of fraude if they check the address!).

On the choice from shops: yes absolutely. I agree it should. My impression is that they do not want the hassle to have to manage so many choices (even if their couriers in theory would allow them!).

wolvesinwales

I have suffered with Citylink Cardiff in the past they have the most ignorant staff i have ever come across.
Last weekend i had to collect a parcel from TNT in Cardiff and the staff were very friendly and helpful but their warehouse is a shambles i had to go and help search for my parcel in a warehouse full of parcels in no obvious order, after 15 minutes the chap i was helping said the next step would be start searching on the back of lorries ! Luckily i found my parcels before we started on them !

gibby

all of these delivery firms are bad

I use amtrack daily with my business and thankfully we have a great driver and his service is brill - as we gave him a big tip at xmas
but I cant rely on the firm as stuff seems to get stuck at the local depot and the manager is hopeless - especailly at xmas

make it part of the sale - if you can to have it delivered between x times
it works for me most of the time - or I go elsewhere

really they should deliver to the post office that is open until 8 and we can pick it up

you can do that with the depot of most of these firms if its local

G