to think that Yodel must deliver for free

[SlightlyJadedJack]

because I can't believe any company would willingly entrust them with their deliveries?

It's that time of year again where I depend on internet shopping and twice in this past week I have had the unfortunate experience of getting an email from Yodel telling me that they are delivering my parcel that day.

So first things first, telling me in an email at 12.30 that day that you are delivering my parcel is not great. I could be anywhere. Secondly, there are no time indications, I check their tracking facility and it says out for delivery. Their web chat person tells me it could be anytime up til 7pm. Right.

So you race home, checking for a note to see if they've been but no, you're safe. You wait in for the rest of the day and they don't fucking bother showing up and then at about 11pm they may, if you're lucky, update the tracking to say 'delivery not attempted' and 'your parcel needs a signature' (just to make sure you waste the next day waiting for them too).

Twice in a week they have done the same thing the bastards, like I've got nothing better to do than wait in all day for them. I can't be the only person they do this to surely? So why would any company use them when they are so unreliable? They're free aren't they?

[BoomBoomsCousin]

Well I think the actual delivery person gets paid peanuts. So in a sense, almost yes.

It seems to be really variable here. Some of them are excellent but we had a spate two years ago where if I saw it was Yodel delivering I just ordered again from somewhere else, because I knew it would either be damaged, far too late or not turn up at all.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Yes, I can well believe the drivers are paid peanuts.

How can I tell who uses Yodel? Obviously the two companies who have just delivered but otherwise I'm not sure how I can tell.

I think it's the complete lack of proper communication that's the worst thing about it. And my wasted days waiting in vain.

[DidoTheDodo]

I had a problem with Yodel last week, they "couldn't find my house in the dark"! I got back to the company who sent the parcel who had it sorted with Yodel within half an hour. Delivery arrived safely the same day. Maybe try contacting the sender? (As obviously contacting Yodel is a big no-no!)

[TheJiminyConjecture]

Yodel delivered to us just before 11 pm one night. Scared the bloody life out of me thinking it was the police or bad news. Still should be grateful they delivered I suppose!

[chillychicken]

A month ago I ordered something through Very, saw Yodel had tried to deliver at 6pm "no access to property" - fair enough, it's a business, we close at 4.30pm and have a gate which is locked at 6pm. So I called Very, told them this and the next day it was delivered at 2pm. Perfect. Good customer service from Very.

DH placed two orders with two separate companies for delivery to the same address, two weeks ago. The same message flashes up every day "no access to property" and always after 5.30pm, despite Yodel telling us they don't deliver to businesses after 5.30pm. So DH sat there until 6pm the other night, with the door open and lights on. No Yodel driver, yet an update to the system at 5.45pm saying "no access to property". He's livid. One company said they'd refund immediately, the other said they need the goods to be returned - except Yodel now can't find the goods and funnily enough, the tracking number no longer works. After a week of endless phone calls, I have confirmation that they will refund but the customer service (basically "computer says no") from the company, along with the fact they use Yodel mean we won't be using them again.

You can always call the company and ask which courier they use. I do this. I send out items daily and my courier is excellent - I'd be mortified if they gave the same level of service as Yodel.

[DillydollyRIP]

I've had quite a few problems with Hermes.
Last week they delivered to my 'side door' (chucked over the gate), and 'secure porch' (left on doorstep).
I found another one randomly hidden in the bushes that just said 'delivered'.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Yep, just be grateful you got it TheJiminyConjecture!

I've just checked my tracking again and they've now updated it to say out for delivery at 8.15am - note that this has only gone up in the last 30mins!

Dido I'm hoping that I might actually get it today (although you know they'll come during the ten minutes I'm at school pick up!) but I think I will feedback to both companies about the lack of delivery.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

That's unbelievably bad service chillychicken!!

Dillydolly RIP don't say that, I am also currently waiting for Hermes to pick up a returns parcel from me!

I think I need to start frequenting actual, real life shops again.

[Caramelkate]

I opened my front door to let the cat out last week and the Royal Mail postman actually handed me a 'no answer so we took it back to the Post office' slip. I was actually standing infront of him. He definitely hadn't knocked or rung the bell. It took me a few seconds to realise what had happened and then I chased him down the street to ask for the parcel. It took him ages to find it in the can. He had clearly written the slip and had no intention of delivering my parcel.

They are all pretty hopeless I think.

[Bramshott]

Oh yes, I had Yodel dramas last week! Twice the parcel was showing as "no answer, card left". I work at home, about 6ft from the front door and there were no knocks on the door or cards left. Then when they did arrive, they literally threw the parcel at the door (massive thump) and ran at top speed away down the drive to the van (despite it needing a signature)....

I can only assume that they have labyrinthine systems, and pay their drivers peanuts.

[cherrybombxo]

I hate Yodel with a passion. Hermes are pretty bad too.

[TheJiminyConjecture]

After they left DD's Christmas present in our nonexistent porch I swore never to use them again but the odd (accidental) delivery has been fine.

I think the problem is they take on temp staff this time of year and they're not always honest so things go missing. So frustrating though!

[BoomBoomsCousin]

Slightly I can only tell after I've ordered when I look at the tracking information or order update information many companies seem to make available. Most places will use a variety of delivery firms to help them manage costs and loads, so there's often no way to avoid for certain with most online orders. I always complain about poor delivery though and reflect it in my feedback and rating where appropriate. So they have an incentive to choose better delivery companies and pressure the ones the use to be better.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

I have on both occasions left frothing feedback on Yodel's survey. Like that'll make any difference.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Sorry that face was for Yodel not you BoomBoom.

[gamerchick]

I feel sorry for yodel drivers tbh. They get 40p a stop and can't take out more than 40 parcels.

Would you give a shit if you were on that money?

[BoomBoomsCousin]

Not Yodel (though it could be cathartic!) - the company you buy from. They are Yodel's customer. They are the ones deciding to give Yodel money. They are the people who can bring pressure to bear.

[OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat]

it's amazing how many porches they invent to leave parcels in Jiminy.

We don't have a porch either unless a porch is your front step with a small canopy over the front door but we've had parcels left in it more than once .

But sadly, the fall out from Amazon, eBay etc offering 'free' delivery is that they pay peanuts to the delivery companies so it is not possible to offer a decent service.

Also, the drivers are self employed, so bear all the costs of running a vehicle themselves and can only make a living by exploiting the HMRC allowance for using your own vehicle for business purposes and the (now closed?) tax credits loophole where you could be self employed, earn very little and receive significant tax credits.

The tax credits people now assume that you earn minimum wage, which a lot of the drivers probably don't as they would have to deliver hundreds of parcels a week to make this and they probably only do that many by working stupidly long hours at Christmas time.

[AMumInScotland]

We regularly get the 'no answer, card left' update on the website, despite DH working from home, with his desk overlooking the driveway, and strangely enough not the faintest sign of a card through the letterbox...

The actual drivers have my sympathy - they get paid peanuts, and we are out of the way so it doubtless costs them more to come to us than it is worth.

But Yodel as a company need to sort that out, and companies ned to stop using them until they do, because the service to many users is simply crap.

[EustaciaBenson]

Yodel lost 4 parcels of mine last week. The 4th parcel was a replacement for some items in the other three that they has "lost". I still haven't had refunds on three items because they claim they are still going to be delivered despite the fact they were in the same package as items that were lost and they have no tracking info for them. I feel your pain OP!

[HeyheyheyGoodbye]

Yodel are the fucking worst. The Daily Mail of delivery companies.

Hermes used to be shocking before we moved but the lady we have now is great. Still no rhyme or reason to what the Post Office will leave in full view outside my door or what they'll give me a Red Card of Doom for though.

[SlightlyJadedJack]

Gamerchick, yes I appreciate the drivers don't make much, that's not disputed but I'm not employing the drivers. I've paid for a delivery to a company who have employed someone else to do the delivering and the company organising that delivery is shit.

Boomboom, yes I'll contact the selling companies too but it was therapeutic to rant on Yodel's feedback page.

No sign yet....

[SlightlyJadedJack]

I did just go for a wee though so I should probably check the 'porch' and see if there's a parcel or a red card of doom.

[DillydollyRIP]

I daren't go to the loo when a parcel is due because I know for sure as soon as my pants are around my ankles the bell will ring!

[TimeForAnotherNameChange]

Shitty Link are worse ime!