To ask why parcel delivery services are so terrible?

[InveterateWineDrinker]

So, I've ordered a couple things for home delivery. It's quite a rarity for us: unlike some neighbours who have multiple deliveries every week even once every three months is unusual for us.

Yesterday, Royal Mail emailed at 5.25am to say that a parcel would be delivered between 12.50pm and 4.50pm. Signature required. Fine, I rearranged my day to make sure I'd be at home.

Then they emailed again at 2pm to say it would be delivered between 5.45pm and 7.30pm. Inconvenient and irritating, but there you go. It didn't actually arrive until 7.55pm, which meant I had to get a slippery, dripping DC out of the bath to stop them drowning while I went downstairs and signed for it.

Also yesterday, DHL WhatsApped me to say that the other parcel would be delivered tomorrow, signature required. Again, I re-arranged various commitments to ensure I'd be at home. Just now, they've WhatsApped again to say it's out for delivery now and due between 11.45am and 1.45pm - a whole day early. I'm not at home because I'm out doing something I'd planned to do tomorrow and rescheduled on the basis of the information they gave me less than 24 hours ago.

What is wrong with these people?

The thing with ringing is odd - it seems to be only Royal Mail who refuse to leave parcels on the doorstep but also never bother to try to attract the attention of the homeowner. I understand if you have alcohol or something with an age limit delivered that they need to see you, but Royal Mail often just seem to add to their own work by taking the undelivered parcel back to the depot, meaning angry customers queueing up on their weekend for things that have literally been on their doorstep.

TBH Royal Mail is very good here. If there a RM option for delivery when I’m ordering online, I always opt for it, even if it’s £1 more. But our postman is brilliant. I use RM Click and Drop for sending parcels, too.

I’d never choose Evri, after they dumped a parcel on a neighbour’s doorstep several houses away.

It’s why I use lockers or drop off at the coop, if you need to be home I don’t order it. The lockers are really good though

I always pick stuff up at the local drop off shop. They are usually open till late, so no problem picking stuff up.

Royal Mail leave your parcel on your doorstep if you designate it as your safe place.

they don’t do this as standard because, well, they view themselves as a higher quality courier than the ones who lob it over the fence.
And they are coming to your house daily anyway, so can easily come back tomorrow.

Also if customers claim it’s not delivered they are entitled to compensation. I can only assume other couriers suck up the cost of this Because they pay their staff so little it’s worth it.

I had a £500 parcel left on my doorstep in the rain (it was an electrical item just in a box) yesterday by RM. They didn't ring the bell or knock on the door, I was only aware of the parcel because my neighbour rung the bell I assume about 10 minutes later for something different.

Royal Mail and Evri are both good round here

just saying

I live in Germany. We get this too, however, the times I‘ve caught the delivery guy returning from putting the parcel straight in the safe space rather than ringing, it’s always been because he doesn’t speak German.

You can translate anything written, but if you ring the bell, the customer will start talking to you and you won’t be able to reply.