Home delivery network - I just want my parcel!

ladyjanegrey

My order - via Amazon - should have been delivered to me on 11th November. As I had opted for Super Saver Delivery which can take 3-5 working days I waited a further 3 days (as suggested by Amazon) before emailing them for an update. Amazon advised that "3 attempts were made to deliver to your address but that access could not be gained". As I live in a detached house with clearly visible house name and number which was built almost 50 years ago, I was surprised, particularly as I order online regularly and have not previously had this sort of problem with other carriers. I phoned HDN - three times over two days - and each time they assured me a search was being undertaken at the depot to locate my order, and that somebody would call me back. When this didn't happen I finally called Amazon to cancel my order only to be told that the address label on my order had been entered incorrectly - even though my emailed invoice showed the correct address - which was why they could not find my house in order to leave a card to contact them. Amazon also advised that I will have to wait a further 10 working days before they will "consider" sending a refund as they have to wait for the order to be returned to them...

Blondetotty

I recently had a reply to a complaint I made to Amazon about the service of HDN - I had a missed delivery and refused to phone the 0871 number (the time before I had yet another missed delivery and was on hold for over 15 minutes) and then make a 60 mile round trip to collect the parcel. Amazon agreed to refund immediately and ask HDN to cancel the delivery. The (edited) response from amazon was as follows

"We do understand your concerns regarding the services that are offered by HDNL. We realise this incident reflects negatively upon amazon.co.uk and the feedback that you have provided will be used in reviewing the service provided by HDNL. We have received many complaints regarding this service and we have already logged complaints with the carriers and an investigation is in progress. Your loyalty to our company for the last 10 years is greatly appreciated, and this loyalty is one of the reasons I am attempting to correct an honest misunderstanding. We will continue working with all of our carriers to drive improvements for our customers"

Today, I've just seen that my next amazon delivery has been dispatched by, yes, HDN two days ago. :wall:

Honestly....sod this I'm off to Borders instead.

biscit

BexInLondon wrote: »

I recently bought something from play.com despite Amazon being 5p cheaper as I couldn't stomach the Hell Delivery Network.

Amazon don't always use HDN, sometimes it's Royal Mail, particularly for smaller items during non-strike times.

I know there are problems with Royal Mail, but you really need to experience the alternatives to put them into perspective. When we got married we didn't want a wedding list with a conglomerate, particularly as we wanted an ethical slant to our wedding list. We must have had the lot trying to deliver presents at one point or another. ANC was the worst, but we have suffered HDN for amazon orders.

Anyway our experience with couriers put any niggles we have with our postman into perspective!

Mrs_Ryan

Seriously fuming with HDNL now - the DAB radio I mentioned in previous post was due today - so I arranged to finish work slightly early so I could be back to pick up the parcel. I also had some books and a CD from Amazon that hit the same depot at the same time so I suspected they would come at the same time.
Which they did - I got home from work at 10.45pm on Monday to find the parcels neatly stacked ON MY DOORSTEP!!! :mad:
I wasnt concerned about the books and CD - I dont think an opportunist thief would find much use for 5 Just William books and a Susan Boyle CD :rotfl:
However, I was fuming about the DAB radio - understandably!!!

*zippy*

I need to ring M&S to complain about them. They delivered a coat this week, the garage was unlocked with easy access from the drive, but instead they came around the back garden, passing a workshop and a shed and instead dump the box on the greenhouse floor in a puddle of water, it was soaked through

In the past i've had a parcel stinking of cigarette smoke and twice boxes of books just left out in the rain, I did think had started to improve until this happened though.

ihatebt_2

I've had delivery drivers ring my doorbell once, and then scarper before I've managed to get downstairs and to the front door. More than once in fact. Why do none of them have the intelligence to ring again, wait a bit, and ring again?

custardy

ihatebt wrote: »

I've had delivery drivers ring my doorbell once, and then scarper before I've managed to get downstairs and to the front door. More than once in fact. Why do none of them have the intelligence to ring again, wait a bit, and ring again?

it takes 3 rings for you to get to the door?
ive knocked,waited,knocked again,wrote a card out and posted it
then delivered to the 15 other flats and been out on the street to have someone come running out after me
they are only little flats

HDNLMAN

Ive worked for HDNL for many years.
Just a few tips so your delivery can be hassle free.

Dont ask the retailer to put as an instruction , " try a neighbour" ask them to put exact neighbours eg No 72 or 59.

If you want the parcel to be left secure leave a signed note.

If the parcel needs proof of delivery which you cant be home for consider an alternitive delivery address at the outset.

Some HDNL deliveries now have estimated times of delivery texts so check that out.

If you are having an item redirected to your work place consider the driver. Tell reception to accept your delivery. The last thing the driver want to do is search the building for you.Also consider the parking outside your works premises. Can the driver park? Is it even legal to stop? Ive had customers telling me to park in red routes and bus lanes!!!

Please dont blame the driver for your missed deliveries. Also bare in mind the chances are youve asked for free delivery (depending on which retailer) so if anybody is to blame its them for not giving the customer the correct delivery day. I order from ebuyer who tell me free delivery is within 5 days so I use commen sense and have items delivered to my parents home who are retired.

Lastly some maths for you to digest. I take out around 175 parcels a day. Im in at 7am and have to load and sort . Im out around 9.30 am. I have until 7pm to get back to the depot. It takes me 30 mins to get to and from my route. Thats 8.5 hours delivering ! 175 / 8.5 hours =20.58 parcels per hour That allows less than 3 mins to drive between deliveries, park, find parcel ,get out , walk to door, get a signiture and get back in van. So the delivery guys needs on average to be outside your door only for 30 secs ! Any longer and he is behind with his deliveries !!! Maybe you will think twice next time?
You may ask why is a driver taking out so many? Im low some are taking 200+ If the retailer demanded HDNL or any carrier to lower driver/parcel ratio that would mean still having to pay us (the driver) so who would suffer? you the consumer with higher delivery costs. You cant have your cake and eat it as granny used to tell me

Hope this helps.

vannus279

only experience so far is hdnl left package at completely wrong address i live at 25 somewhere crescent and package was left at 25 somewhere avenue. Now i know this was not only the drivers fault as(lets be nice) a vigilant person may have read name and address and said to driver excuse me but this is not my name or address you are delivering this in error, but no person accepted delivery and kept item until i went to door and asked for it to be given to me.

Lokolo_2

I have had many deliveries from Amazon and Marks and Spencer using HDNL, in fact over ten in the past few months, all of them the item has arrived quickly and safely, tracking information on the HDNL website was always accurate too.
I can only praise them as a courier, they have always rung on the doorbell, even since we live in a gated estate they managed to get in. I will definitely continue to use them :j

Same can't be said for CityLink though, i think they win the award for worst courier service of all time! They sometimes didnt ring and just left a card, and their depot is over 10miles away!