Payperdrop seemed to have stopped business for now..

[laura032004]

I've just tried to book them (first time since Sunday), and their website says that they are closed for the time being.

Just booked with another company Balloon and Gift anyone tried them before?

Oh no I wanted to book them for my santa swap on MN.

Please let me know if you find a good alternative.

I've booked the company in the post above. They apparently use DHL too, so hopefully I will still keep my usual driver (we're on friendly terms now, I know what time he'll turn up etc.). I've received a confirmation email from them, but with this message:

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR PURCHASE(S), I CAN CONFIRM RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOKING REQUEST
AND CONFIRM YOUR PARCEL(S) BOOKED FOR COLLECTION AS STATED.

27/11. PLEASE NOTE DUE TO PAYPPERDROP NO LONGER OFFERING DHL COURIER SERVICES
WE ARE EXPERIENCING VIRTUAL MELTDOWN. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND TRY TO KEEP EMAILS
TO MINIMUM. WE ARE TRYING OUR HARDEST TO SERVE OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS AS
BEFORE AND ACCOMODATING NEW.

THANKYOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS AND WE PROMISE TO ENDEVOUR TO PLEASE
ALL OF YOU.

PLEASE PAY AS SOON AS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS SERVICE, IF NOT ALREADY PAID,
AND LEAVE FEEDBACK ASAP, I WILL DO SAME.
YOUR CUSTOM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I STRIVE VERY HARD TO PROVIDE YOU
WITH THE SERVICE YOU WANT AT A PRICE THAT IS REASONABLE. VERY OCCASIONALLY
I GET LET DOWN AND YOUR PARCEL IS NOT COLLECTED, IF THIS HAPPENS PLEASE EMAIL
ME AND WILL REBOOK ON 24 HOUR PRIORITY FOR YOU SO YOUR CUSTOMER IS NOT WAITING
UNDULY.

The poor lady has probably got 100's of requests through, when she's just used to a few.

DHL do a non account service but it's more money
not sure how much they charge if you open an account
dhl lt

I would recommend using www.interparcel.com They are courier brokers. They use several couriers, Last time I booked it was DHL, UPS and several others, basically all the main couriers are available. I have found UPS to be more reliable than DHL and they also do same day collection if you want it. Oh and with Interparcel you can pay by Paypal or card. I have used them tons of times with no problems.

I prefer to just use DHL so that I know what time the courier will arrive - that way I'm not waiting in all day. I send parcels probably 3 days of the week for Ebay, so otherwise I'd be in a lot of the time.

Thanks for the link though - it's always good to have other options. How do they compare price-wise? The balloonsandgifts Ebay person is £6 per parcel. Bit mad with PPD as it's now thrown all of my P&P calculations out. They could have given a bit of notice (or did I miss something?)

interparcel vary by weight and package size its the same as the actual courier. I have found UPS to be more reliable on the pick up front they tend to pick up earlier in the day than DHL but then that is just here. You also specify times. i.e. the parcel is ready to pick up between 3 and 6 or whatever on the interparcel website.

why arent ppd doing it anymore?

They are forming their own collection and delivery business - so actually doing it, not outsourcing to DHL.

My parcels were picked up today, so all seems fine.

Aargh - don't sell often but have loads ending Monday which are priced for p&p on the assumption of using ppd. As I don't try to make a profit on postage I'll probably end up selling things at a loss now. How am I going to explain that to ds1 as I'd promised him the proceeds towards the Wii he's been saving up for?

You could just revise your item and say that postage costs have increased due to pay per drop being closed.

The person I am now using (linked to above) is only £1 more, so hopefully not too much of a difference?

i use these. never had any problems. touch wood

Home Textiles on ebay is good. They use Parcelforce.

I have just used interparcel - DHL 48 hour service and it is cost £8.21 inc VAT

Anyone know of a courier that won't involve me being in all day waiting for them? I can be in all afternoon, but not mornings. Can you specify a time for collection?

CSWS - not sure, but I could drop off to my local DHL depot if I needed to.

Are interparcel and home textiles ebay shops ? I have a travel cot I need to send; had been using Payperdrop previously...