Home delivery network - I just want my parcel!

Kavanne

The call centre say my parcel is out for delivery :-o

hollydays

keep chasing them every hour or so for progress.

rach

As with anything, I think it depends on your local driver.

I had a real problem recently with Royal Mail when the post man put a recorded delivery item (tore the label off) into our wheelie bin and shoved a scrawled card through. As we live on a main road some disgusting person had recently vomited in the bin after a skinful. You can imagine my husband's anger when he had to get the thing out! To add insult to injury there were clear instructions on the parcel that if no one was in it was to be left with the shop downstairs.

We complained and got a standard cut and paste response.

spillay

I ordered a Nintendo Wii Black from Tesco direct on 12/11/2009. I was informed that this would be delivered between 7am-7pm on 13/11/2009. I took the day off and remained in my flat for the day in order to wait for this delivery. I was sent a text message at midday to say that it will be delivered between 14.30 and 17.30 on the day. At 17.35 I called tesco to check on my delivery and was told that the delivery is on the van and that they deliver up until 7pm and that I should wait until then. I called the tesco team again at 7.05 pm to check on the delivery and was again told that there was no further news on the delivery and that it was still on the van and that since there was no message from the delivery team I should wait until 8.30pm as the drivers sometimes used their discretion in extending the delivery hours. Tesco was quick to point out that it was not their fault but the fault of Home Delivery Network.

I was unhappy with this and voiced my irritation and asked to speak to a manager. The manager agreed that this was not acceptable and that she would refund me the £5 delivery charge and send me an update on the delivery status. I received an e-mail confirming the refund later that evening but no update on the delivery.
By 10am the next morning I had heard nothing of the delivery. I then called in and cancelled the order which Tesco seemed more than happy to do with no apologies for their shocking service! Seemed to me they were more efficient at cancelling orders than supplying them!!! Thereafter later in the day I received another text message indicating that the delivery would occur between 12.00 and 15.00 that day. Needless to say nothing turned up.

cajef

Just had a package from Amazon delivered today by HDN, checked the tracking order given by Amazon first thing this morning which stated package loaded on van at local depot at 8am for delivery today.

Made sure someone was in and delivered just after midday by friendly well manner driver, never had any problems with HDN in the past or today, so suspect the standard of service may depend on the local depot and the staff they employ.

brila

I generally use Royal Mail/DHL when sending stuff, but tried HDN a month or so ago as they were a bit cheaper than DHL and I wanted alternatives to RM during the strikes. I booked three collections - the first two couriers turned up a day late and the third collection guy refused to take more than one package (despite 16 having been booked). Have not bothered with them since and if recipients' feedback above is anything to go by, I am glad I did not persevere with them.

I should also note that I always remove "dodgy" instructions from customers' addresses before sending (e.g. leave behind side gate, in wheely bin, on doorstep etc.) since these always seem to be the people who complain about not receiving stuff. I leave sensible instructions such as "leave with a specified neighbour/shop next door" in the address fields. I think if you want a package left with a neighbour you need to make it clear in the delivery instructions/address.

Penny_Watcher

I've just had HDN try to deliver a package to me. It was only when I noticed that the name on the signing machine wasn't mine that I checked the address on the label. Not only was it not for me, it wasn't for my address either!

Maybe I should have signed "Micky Mouse" and had my first Christmas present (only joking, but some people might not have been so honest).

deanos

I will stick up for HDN our driver is great, and really helpful, dont have any problems whatsoever, if we are out on the school run he calls back later in the day.

Mrs_Ryan

I order so much stuff that HDN all know now to chuck the stuff over the back gate :rotfl: except last time they randomly left it next door. No problem with that - our neighbour is lovely and I would rather they left it with her than our other neighbour!
However, now waiting for a DAB radio for OH's Xmas pressie... be interesting to see where they leave that....

liftmyspirits

When I hear that something's been sent to me by HDN or similar I just groan. Let's hear it for the Royal Mail and Parcel Force. If they can't deliver because a householder isn't at home, they'll redeliver, or leave an item at a local Post Office or delivery office for the recipient or the recipient's representative to collect at their convenience. Having a large local network is one of the big advantages of maintaining a fantastic service like Royal Mail/Parcel Force. Also, there are outrageous transport inefficiencies when you have multiple courier and delivery companies plying the same routes, particularly in low volume rural areas. I accept that Royal Mail needs to adapt and update, but I don't 'buy' this argument that deregulation of postal services is the answer.