Any information on German postal system?

misterthrifty · 19 May 2019 at 9:18PM

Hi all

I posted a parcel to Germany using Royal Mail, about 4kg using printed papers International, not tracked. The buyer says it hasn't turned up and he is unable to make enquiries with his sorting office as he is the recipient not the sender. I think it is likely that Deutsche Post tried to deliver but couldn't so it has gone back to the sorting office. In the UK there is an online form to search for missing items that the recipient can complete, does anybody know if there is anything similar in Germany? I have looked on the Deutsche Post website but much of it is in German only.

I don't want to issue a refund too quickly as it may still be delivered.
TIA

Owain_Moneysaver · 19 May 2019 at 10:39PM

Does this help?

https://www.deutschepost.de/sendung/investigationInternational.html

Is it about a letter without additional service?

We are sorry that the content of your shipment is missing in whole or in part. Unfortunately, we can not process a search request for this shipment. We would like to explain the reasons for this below.

According to the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention, the postal organizations of the countries of destination have been free to carry out inquiries into consignments without additional services since 2006. Because the way and the whereabouts of a letter can not be proven without additional services, all postal services of the Universal Postal Union refuse to investigate these programs. So unfortunately we have no way to check the delivery of your letter.

For the demonstrable delivery of a consignment, the postal companies also offer the additional service "registered mail" in the international field. If required, this also includes a free inquiry procedure.

We ask for your understanding that we can not do otherwise due to the international agreements described above.

https://www.deutschepost.de/de/service1/themenseiten/zustellung.html

goodfella66 · 20 May 2019 at 7:54AM

It might not be delivered by Deutsche Post. I had an item sent to Germany via Royal Mail and it was passed over to a company called GLS for delivery. When they couldn't deliver it, they took it back to a local post shop and left it there with no card left to the recipient. Luckily I had sent it tracked so we could see what had happened although not where the parcel was left....which was not the nearest shop to the receiver.

misterthrifty · 20 May 2019 at 8:56AM

Thanks, it looks like the form is only for registered post.

I would be very surprised if the German Post attempt to deliver a large parcel, but couldn't for some reason, then it is impossible for the recipient to track it down. The customer says that he can only enquire with his PO and they have no information about what is held at the sorting office which is independent from them?
Maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound very German to me.

bhjm · 21 May 2019 at 8:51PM

misterthrifty wrote: »

Thanks, it looks like the form is only for registered post.
I would be very surprised if the German Post attempt to deliver a large parcel, but couldn't for some reason, then it is impossible for the recipient to track it down. The customer says that he can only enquire with his PO and they have no information about what is held at the sorting office which is independent from them?
Maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound very German to me.

thats german

nevertheless, if you have no tracking number at all - try this site for the investigation. https://www.deutschepost.de/sendung/investigationInternational.html

if you need any help for german/y let me know and I can look how I may assist as I am german

For the tracking - if you sent a parcel - you should have a reference number or tracking number, with this number you should be able to track the parcel down.

Deutsche Post does deliver parcels, however only small parcels which are non tracked or german "päkchen". DHL delivers parcel for Deutsche Post in Germany. So far i know, DHL/Deutsche Post is the delivery partner for international mail.

Deutsche Post and DHL are 2 entirely different companies, so he is right in this point as well.

misterthrifty · 24 May 2019 at 5:48PM

Thanks for the info.
The customer was offered a choice of postage and chose standard postage (small parcel but quite heavy) so there is no tracking available. It looks like that form can only be used if there is tracking of some sort.
In the UK the addressee can contact their sorting office or complete a form online which is directed to the appropriate sorting to make inquiries about missing mail which makes more sense than the sender trying to track it down. It appears that this isn't available in the German postal system.

soolin · 24 May 2019 at 6:50PM

misterthrifty wrote: »

Thanks for the info.
The customer was offered a choice of postage and chose standard postage (small parcel but quite heavy) so there is no tracking available. It looks like that form can only be used if there is tracking of some sort.
In the UK the addressee can contact their sorting office or complete a form online which is directed to the appropriate sorting to make inquiries about missing mail which makes more sense than the sender trying to track it down. It appears that this isn't available in the German postal system.

Buyers shouldn't be choosing the postage method, that's for the sellers to decide to protect themselves. As this parcel hasn't arrived you really need to be looking to refund soon, ask the buyer to open a case in ebay though as at least that way you get your FVFs back.

custardy · 24 May 2019 at 6:55PM

goodfella66 wrote: »

It might not be delivered by Deutsche Post. I had an item sent to Germany via Royal Mail and it was passed over to a company called GLS for delivery. When they couldn't deliver it, they took it back to a local post shop and left it there with no card left to the recipient. Luckily I had sent it tracked so we could see what had happened although not where the parcel was left....which was not the nearest shop to the receiver.

Was it RM or Parcelforce you sent by?

Any information on German postal system?

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