Is DPD UK the worst company in the world?

[profmjh]

Ordered two items from Apple in the same order. Both shipped at the same time from the same place. The first arrived yesterday, on time, with an 11.30-12.30 delivery slot from DPD.

The second was inexplicably delayed by 24 hours. Despite being late — and there was no warning or apology for this — the delivery slot is 16.30-17.30, literally the latest slot I’ve ever had from DPD.

I was planning to ship this item to a friend in the Netherlands for Christmas. Now it’s too late to use Royal Mail. An earlier slot today — which would have been a courtesy given the delay — means I won’t get to the Post Office in time.

I could use another carrier, but that will cost three times as much.

DPD UK is the worst company in the world. Furious.

 

[daflake]

Ordered two items from Apple in the same order. Both shipped at the same time from the same place. The first arrived yesterday, on time, with an 11.30-12.30 delivery slot from DPD.

The second was inexplicably delayed by 24 hours. Despite being late — and there was no warning or apology for this — the delivery slot is 16.30-17.30, literally the latest slot I’ve ever had from DPD.

I was planning to ship this item to a friend in the Netherlands for Christmas. Now it’s too late to use Royal Mail. An earlier slot today — which would have been a courtesy given the delay — means I won’t get to the Post Office in time.

I could use another carrier, but that will cost three times as much.

DPD UK is the worst company in the world. Furious.

Bad time of the year for shipping anything and expecting to get it on time. We use DPD from time to time here in Germany and I find them okay. Still prefer DHL...

 

[profmjh]

I get that this isn’t the best time for delivery reliability, but they must have known the parcel was delayed. Why give me the latest delivery slot possible, especially when I’ve never had a slot anywhere near that late before? The system should prioritise the delivery of late parcels, not give them the lowest priority.

 

[tyke65]

Edited

 

[daflake]

I get that this isn’t the best time for delivery reliability, but they must have known the parcel was delayed. Why give me the latest delivery slot possible, especially when I’ve never had a slot anywhere near that late before? The system should prioritise the delivery of late parcels, not give them the lowest priority.

Oh, I agree with you on that, I can only go on my use of them. My wife orders yarn and such from the UK all the time using them and never had a issue. That being said, I can equate it to FedEx or UPS (I'm American) doing the same. Hopefully they will surprise you with an earlier visit, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[cube]

DPD at least gives you a delivery slot and works, unlike some other carriers who stick you waiting the whole day or whose parcels NEVER arrive.

 

[maflynn]

DPD UK is the worst company in the world. Furious.

I'm not familiar with the company but you are expecting fast turn around during shipping companies most active season. I know people who work at FED EX and the horror stories of how busy they are is mind blowing. I'm not sure a delayed package during the busiest time of year qualifies the company as the worst company in the world

 

[cube]

They are not newbies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_Parcel_Distribution

 

[jeremy h]

I could use another carrier, but that will cost three times as much.

I think we all feel your pain re delivery companies. But the essential problem is that in general we're not prepared to pay enough for delivery services. (I'm as guilty as anyone in this.)

As an aside I find DPD OK. The late (and not missed) City Link were another story!

 

[cube]

I think we all feel your pain re delivery companies. But the essential problem is that in general we're not prepared to pay enough for delivery services. (I'm as guilty as anyone in this.)

Public postal services in some countries are preferable to courier and much less expensive.

 

[eyoungren]

I think possibly you could change your thread title to worst package delivery company.

There are several American companies that could qualify as worst company. Offhand, Comcast, Century Link, Sprint…

But in this category my vote would be DHL Global Mail or USPS. DHL in America, unlike DHL outside of America, operates a convenience service for sellers on Amazon and eBay. It's very low cost, which allows the seller to give free shipping.

The problem is that DHL Global Mail treats all this as no priority. They hand off to the USPS for final delivery, but they only do that when they have enough packages accumulated to justify making a trip to the post office.

Your free package can be delivered anywhere from one to two weeks after you ordered. Even if it's in-state or cross-town.

Both FedEx and UPS have similar offerings, but they manage to actually get your package to the USPS in a reasonable time.

 

[cube]

Coincidentally, today is Free Shipping Day.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ordered two items from Apple in the same order. Both shipped at the same time from the same place. The first arrived yesterday, on time, with an 11.30-12.30 delivery slot from DPD.

The second was inexplicably delayed by 24 hours. Despite being late — and there was no warning or apology for this — the delivery slot is 16.30-17.30, literally the latest slot I’ve ever had from DPD.

I was planning to ship this item to a friend in the Netherlands for Christmas. Now it’s too late to use Royal Mail. An earlier slot today — which would have been a courtesy given the delay — means I won’t get to the Post Office in time.

I could use another carrier, but that will cost three times as much.

DPD UK is the worst company in the world. Furious.

If only you had known about Christmas bring on the 25th you could have ordered earlier!

I hear your frustration (and believe me, we've all been there), but tbh I think companies pumping chemicals into the local populations water supply or selling weapons to war criminals may well rank higher imo.

I run a warehouse and we ship goods out via UPS all across the globe. We have some parcels delayed, list or even stolen. But every company will have problems from time to time. It just happens.
The best we can do is to order earlier when we know it has to be somewhere on such a day.

So glad I don't do Christmas.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Firstly, I think the thread title somewhat guilty of hyperbole. DPD UK is not by any means "the worst company in the world" and I doubt that it is even "the worst delivery company in the world."

Secondly, the Christmas period is not an ideal time to send parcels and expect delivery to be ideal; the volume of mail alone - and the usual last minute stuff - will have an effect on all of that.

Mine (yes, some containing belated Yuletide stuff) will be posted in January.

 

[daflake]

Firstly, I think the thread title somewhat guilty of hyperbole. DPD UK is not by any means "the worst company in the world" and I doubt that it is even "the worst delivery company in the world."

Secondly, the Christmas period is not an ideal time to send parcels and expect delivery to be ideal; the volume of mail alone - and the usual last minute stuff - will have an effect on all of that.

Mine (yes, some containing belated Yuletide stuff) will be posted in January.

Agreed... I also noticed that he ordered with hopes that he would get it just a day before it should be shipped to the Netherlands. Sounds like a bit of late planning to me actually.

 

[robotica]

Just got notification, my DPD package that was shipped yesterday morning from Germany will be delivered here in Scotland later today! Pretty good service in my case.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’ve always found DPD to be the most reliable of the lot.

Bare in mind it’s the busiest time of year for couriers and half the country has had half a foot of snow over the past week. Where I live all deliveries were postponed on Monday and Tuesday due to the conditions.

 

[daflake]

I’ve always found DPD to be the most reliable of the lot.

Bare in mind it’s the busiest time of year for couriers and half the country has had half a foot of snow over the past week. Where I live all deliveries were postponed on Monday and Tuesday due to the conditions.

Hey, they just delivered the Mrs. yarn in the time slotted. Color me impressed!