Hermes Parcels

[Andrew ByronParticipant @andrewbyron13518]

problems with hermes being discussed on radio 4's you and your right now.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I have just had a package from Hermes which was lost by them for three weeks. The poor ebay seller has been pulling his hair out trying to get sense out of them. They said that it had been signed for some time back. That is not true, because since lockdown I have had lots of Hermes delivery's but have not signed for any of them. Trouble is, the poor couriers get so little for each package that they will take the easy way out. The local man would put unsigned for packages behind the side gate which was comparatively secure. Now they can just drop things on the front doorstep without waiting for more than 20 seconds. I can't get there in time to see the man. Eventually the seller got hold of a human being from Hermes who managed to find the errant package at the other end of the country. The package had been logged as entering the Hermes system the day after I paid for it, so there is no fault accruing to the seller. He uses a local drop shop which is very convenient for him which makes changing the delivery service difficult. The package arrived damaged but the address label was intact, and the contents were fine.

Hermes tracking tried to fix the blame on the unfortunate local courier, first saying he had delivered it, and then saying that he could not find the address.

Edited By old mart on 24/06/2020 16:35:56

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

I have lived in my present home since 1987 and I have yet to experience a delivery by courier that has been 100% satisfactory.

When buying by Mail Order, I always ask for the goods to be sent by Royal Mail Letterpost – not Parcelfarce – even if it is more expensive.

In my view, all courier companies are a Wart on the Backside of Humanity.

In comparison, Royal Mail Letterpost provide a good-plated service.

At present, I’m not going out due to the COVID-19 lockdown and the postman and women have invariably agreed to take outgoing post back to the Sorting Office.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Dead right, postman Pat is your friend.

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

One of the local DHL drivers was excellent, even managing to notice a parcel addressed to the next village was in fact meant for me. He is an RC model plane flier & I suspect that if he had more time he would love to  have a look at my lathe & mill. Have not seen him lately, but they are still the best.

I have regular deliveries by pallet & the local pallet delivery company has the same driver for this area. He is excellent & invariably goes the extra mile getting the pallets- weighing up to 1 tonne- right into my garage, or shed. the odd tip does help though.

One company delivered my life raft & the 2 drivers would only carry the parcel 50% of the way up the drive & then dropped it there. Said they had " Met me half way" & that was that.

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 25/06/2020 15:36:43

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

Actually, I don't know the names of any of the Postmen or women.

The next time I see one I'll ask if he or she is "Pat"

MC

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Watch out if you are having stuff left outside your door!

Our local Police alert system has reported a package delivered and then stolen from a doorstep.

Edited By V8Eng on 25/06/2020 15:39:17

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

I have a large notice on my front door asking callers to RING the BELL (because I'm deaf and can't hear knocks). Also to leave packages with my specified next door neighbour if no answer.

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a large quantity (<£200) of Smoked Fish from a Smokery in Norfolk.

It was to be delivered by DPD.

I noticed something white showing through the glass panel in the front door and was amazed to find two boxes left in the Sunday on my front step in full view of the street. He had NOT followed the instructions and had simply left it.

I later found an email message and an SMS text message both saying that it had been left "safely" in my "porch".

I do NOT have a porch!

I am waiting to hear from the Smokery about DPD's response

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Unfortunately the government guidelines for delivering parcels gives the couriers carte blanche with the drop offs. Just dump it and run is the order of the day.

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

There was a discussion yesterday dinner, June 24, on BBC4, about Hermes from both the sellers and receivers. Some horror stories of missing and lost parcels. They said that contact was impossible when problems occurred and if queried again they just got an email to say it was sorted. Having said that I had a Hermes delivery last week and all came as prescribed int the time prescribed.

[Steve Skelton 1Participant @steveskelton1]

We run an online business and historically (three or four years ago) had nothing but problems with Hermes so didn't use them. We tried using the eBay Packlink service on something we were selling privately – we chose Hermes thinking it must have changed – what a disaster they were supposed to pick-up but didn't. You cannot talk to anyone and all it caused was stress for my wife.

NEVER AGAIN.

Steve

[norman valentineParticipant @normanvalentine78682]

I have been given the Hermes customer service number by a supplier, I haven't tried it myself.

0330 08 08 5456

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

Having a telephone number doesn't imply that it will be answered by a human being who is able to actually do something to resolve problems!

It would be interesting to see the results of a trawl through this thread tabulating the number of good and bad comments about each brand of Courier.

I'm in the middle of a project in the shed-workshop so can't offer Treasurer do it myself

MC

[MC Black 2Participant @mcblack2]

Posted by norman valentine on 26/06/2020 12:06:24:

I have been given the Hermes customer service number by a supplier, I haven't tried it myself.

0330 08 08 5456

When I tried to ring this (our of interest) the telephone told me: "You have dialled an incorrect number…."

MCB

[old AlParticipant @oldal]

Just remember, we, model engineers have huge trust in the people we buy and sell to.We are likely to honestly describe the stuff we put in boxes and send via this type of courier. But stop and think. these people are poorly paid and looking for' a little extra'. Someone just might see a juicy sounding parcel and 'lose' it. When you describe your items, use vague descriptions such as metal parts instead of 'vintage rare steam engine parts' or whatever.

Look after yourself

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Posted by norman valentine on 26/06/2020 12:06:24:

I have been given the Hermes customer service number by a supplier, I haven't tried it myself.

0330 08 08 5456

The on-line Hermes tracking system did not recognise the tracking code which the shop had given me, so I called their "helpline". It required me to enter my tracking ID, which they did not recognise. There was absolutely no way to get around this and the call simply could not progress. This is exactly the same response that I had using their "Holly" chatbot.

Fortunately, the vendor to whom I was returning the goods simply honoured the return and refunded me; as they had stipulated to use Hermes, I suppose.

James.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

I use Hermes and have not yet had any problems that is sending or receiving parcels. My delivery driver is very good and even knows to go to the back door first.

On the other hand, the post office/parcel force seems to think it is OK to delay parcels for so long. I am still waiting for a parcel from a supplier two weeks after it was sent. Spoke to our local delivery driver who stated if it is signed for it will be delivered within a 5 days window if not it is being held at the local hub for anything up to 3 weeks.

I do understand that things may be a little slow at this time but that is just plain stupidity. Is there something that says it is illegal to hold up the royal mail or is that just for highwaymen/government.

[norman valentineParticipant @normanvalentine78682]

I phoned the Hermes helpline and got through te the automated helpline that just told me that my package was with the courier. Today, a day late. I received an email saying that my package had been delivered with a photo to prove it.(on my front doorstep). The irritating thing is that I was sitting less than two metres from my front door and the b*****d did not ring the doorbell.

Edited By norman valentine on 27/06/2020 13:25:07

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

We have Hermes deliveries around 3 times a week. Never had a problem. They always ring the doorbell & then do a Logan, but with Covid that is ok.

Steve.

[Eric LucasParticipant @ericlucas71410]

Someone said today Drop….Hide…..Lose….DHL

I will never ever ever ever use Hermes…….loads of problems

I always use UPS

BUT ….one mans meat is …………………

its when things go wrong you find out who is the best.

Using UPS through parcel2go I sent  some stuff  15kgs to Moscow in April…..got stuck in Russian customs

when using UPS through p2go the ups tracker number is shown.

UPS where in almost daily contact with me until the problem was solved last week.

different contacts from UPS in uk AND ups in Moscow…..contacting me without being chased.

FULL MARKS UPS. Could never imagine Hermes doing that!

 

I ALWAYS MARK CONTENTS AS MACHINE PARTS FOR UK DELIVERIES

 

Eric

Edited By Eric Lucas on 29/06/2020 21:39:05

Edited By Eric Lucas on 29/06/2020 21:39:45

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Eric

If you always mark with "machine parts for UK deliveries" I'm surprised they don't come back to you.

Emgee

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by Mike Clarke on 11/06/2020 06:07:43:

Use a UPS/DHL reseller such as Parcel2Go etc. You get an amazing deal on multiple boxes to the same address.

I've never done a personal courier though at work we do so much we even have a special phone line to the designated company supplier.
Thanks to the above suggestion it gave me a selection of vendors and prices for arranging a couriier for someone who didn't want the hassle and had done a collection only ebay listing. I selected Parcelforce as half the price of Hermes and not requiring a printed label which could have been difficult for the vendor.
Pickup scheduled for Monday, 2 day delivery but a notice of possible 4 days owing to CV19. Tracking confirmed pickup yesterday so I casually checked about 11am today to see if it had moved out of the local depot near seller. It was marked as Delivered!. I thought Oh Dear they just took it back to the vendor or something. Opened my door and there it was – quietly deposited while I was on the phone maybe. Kent to Devon in less than 24Hrs.

edit – 40lbs weight for about £12 including insurance which was less than value of one of the changewheels in the collection.

Edited By Bazyle on 04/08/2020 12:56:41

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Probably not something for a private buyer / sender to try, but for a company affected as badly as that, how feasible would it be to send letters to the Head office, naming the listed Directors and telling them they have one week to sort it out or you will hold them – not the company – personally responsible for the negligence and ineptitude of their employees?

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Mike Clarke on 11/06/2020 06:07:43:

Use a UPS/DHL reseller such as Parcel2Go etc. You get an amazing deal on multiple boxes to the same address.

I too got an "amazing" deal using UPS via Parcel2Go, though not amazing in a good sense; UPS are still unable to trace a £500 Femi bandsaw I returned to Amazon at the beginning of July.

I bought the highest possible protection for the return [~£70], and though Amazon have now refunded me the purchase price ["as a goodwill gesture"] I am still waiting for my £70 courier fee back [plus compensation?] from Parcel2go/UPS. The last communication I had from them was over two weeks ago telling me they're still "investigating" the missing parcel. If I do nothing, will I ever hear from them again, I wonder.

[Paul MParticipant @paulm98238]

Not had any major problems with Hermes as the same lady drops off and is very reliable. Had two occasions where DPD packages had been pilfered. They were milling cutters and the packages had been torn with one of the items taken. Interestingly the photos taken by the delivery drivers showed the tear. The company I purchased from were ok about a replacement. I just wonder how much more we pay for products so companies can cover the cost of fraud in general.

[Author]

Posts