Home Delivery Network: Who else has been let down?

twoodat

Hi all. Much to my dismay Amazon have started using Home Delivery Network as their 'First Class Equivalent' which it certainly is not! In my experience they say they have attempted delivery at times when I have been at home waiting and never once heard the doorbell! Looking at various other websites I see this is a common problem. Anyway, the Amazon package is now missing and, unfortunately, Amazon has been struck off the list of companies I will buy from untill they ditch HDNL! I have also had trouble with packages from 'Simply Sweat' (aka: Simply Scuba, Simply Hike etc) and 'Very,' two companies which have also lost my business because they use HDNL. On these occasions it took around a month to receive my package. Also they never leave a calling card as evidence they have attempted delivery which makes me wonder whether they actually did. If anyone has a HDNL calling card let me know!

Would anybody like to use this thread to share their experiences and also I can find out what other companies use HDNL (they rarely state it before you buy as it's nothing to be proud of)? This way I can see which companies to boycott!

Amanita_2

They've been using them for a while. HDN lost an Amazon package sent last November by me to my DD's address. It was actually delivered to a neighbours address, HDN didn't bother leaving a card nor did they keep a record of where they delivered it to.

To be fair Amazon replaced it promptly by Royal Mail but if this is widespread then it must be costing them a fortune.

vuvuzela

Home Delivery Network - warning!
Home delivery network - I just want my parcel!
HDNL - The WORST delivery service I have EVER received
etc, etc, etc...

twoodat

Thanks for the links Vuvuzela. I was amused and amazed by the HDNL employee defending them with the excuse that they have a lot of parcels to deliver. I would like to know how every other delivery service manages to get my parcels to me somehow (even if it means me recieving a calling card and collecting them myself which I don't mind). Three deliveries on three occasions which have been so much trouble that I have sworn off using these companies - that's pretty bad! Especially since Amazon is one of my favorite stores!

tiny_tear

it's more a case of who hasn't!

although to be fair the only time I had a problem, I did get a card.

the card did not let me rearrange delivery to a new address or to a weekend so that was me shafted...

I ended up going to the depot which is 2 tube zones away so had to pay for my 'free' delivery...

I emailed Amazon and to be fair they refunded me the money I spent on the travel card to pick up the parcel.

Now I just get everything delivered to work where people are always in to receive my parcel...

sarahg1969

HDNL always deliver our parcels to a house with the same number 2 streets away. They leave them in their garage and don't put a note through the door. I know now that I have to go round and ask them if I've been waiting for a parcel that hasn't arrived. The first time I knew of it was when we found FOUR separate parcels in their garage last summer!

honey9

I had a problem with them a couple of years ago when I ordered a book from Amazon, of course it arrived when I was at work (didn't realise they'd be using HDN till I got the dispatch confirmation) so I tracked it but when I got home - no card! On checking the tracking it said it had been signed for - not with my name! Luckily my neighbour had seen the delivery guy taking the parcel back to his van, so I had to conclude that he had falsely signed for it (I think they get paid per delivery) and probably planned to try again next day.

I called to complain and I had a nightmare trying to find a number for them, eventually got through to their warehouse where I spoke to a guy who sounded like he heard this sort of thing a lot...anyway I got an apology but I also complained to Amazon and told them I wouldn't use them again if they continued to send things via HDN. Although I have got a few things from them since, but now I either get them sent to work or I use the express delivery if it's a present, which annoys me that I have to pay more to basically guarantee I get my parcel.

They seemed to go back to using Royal Mail after that but just lately I have noticed they're using HDN again...my husband ordered a book for his son's birthday this week and now he won't get it til Saturday (after the birthday) because it was delivered by HDN and they won't change the delivery address and we can't take time off this week to wait for a parcel that might not even arrive. Oh and OP we did get the elusive calling card this time!! never seen one before :-)

fluffnutter

I'm not normally much of a ranter about poor service, but I must say that the only time I've had a problem with a courier, it was Home Delivery Network! Despite assurances that the courier tries a certain number of times to deliver (and you can phone a number to arrange a suitable time) I never got through and my parcel was returned after only one attempt at delivery. It was from Amazon and, once I'd contacted them, they immediately sent a replacement via Royal Mail. Amazon = good, HDN = bad.

Perdi

All these courier firms have bad drivers and I think we've had pretty much all of them pull some right stunts, but for some reason HDN really rub me up the wrong way.

• Despite all the stories about them leaving things in garages etc, they still require as much proof as you need to be able to open a bank account in order to collect the parcel you've flippin well bought.

• Poor website design. When you go on to rearrange delivery, there's a link to collect which takes you to the details for the depot. What neither of us realised, because some genius put it so far down the page it doesn't show on a normal screen without scrolling, is there's a button you're supposed to click to warn them you're coming to collect it! The woman got right stroppy with us about it, apparently we were stupid for not knowing about it. :mad: Not that I've ever had to tell any of the other couriers I'm collecting, I just turn up with my card.

• As part of her throwing a strop at us, (and trying to tell us we'd have to come back next week because we hadn't clicked that magic button) she had the nerve to tell us that she may not find our parcel 'because it's buried in a big pile somewhere, and the warehouse is too large for me to go searching for it'... so what she's saying is HDN has no tracking or stock system in their warehouse and just throw things in a corner?!? :eek: Fills you with confidence!

oldagetraveller

A lot of this must depend on where you live? I must say that I've NEVER had any problems with courier services, delivery or collection, in my locality, including HDN and that other one which sometimes gets slated, Hermes, maybe I'm lucky?
In fact only yesterday I had an Amazon delivery, sent Tuesday and on checking tracking via my Amazon account it was out for delivery at 6 am. If there's no one at home they ALWAYS leave a card or mostly leave with a neighbour and advise same on a card.
All the drivers are friendly and polite, men and women, in spite of being rushed. So pot luck then?

twoodat

Where do you live oldagetraveller? You are soooo lucky! I'm pretty convinced, like honey9 said, that they are paid per delivery or delivery attempt. The lack of evidence that anybody has called round when they have said a delivery attempt was made makes me think there are some dishonest drivers who say they tried to deliver when they have just been sitting at home all day! You must have one of the few honest drivers out there!