Comments on: My DHhell nightmare http://aralbalkan.com/1495 Passionate geekisms. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Toon http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-188632 Toon Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:53:23 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-188632 DHL definitely sucks more than the other companies. Although, to be fair, a lot depends on the driver. Ironically, if (s)he is brave enough to flout company policy and drop your package at the neighbours', you'll get your package but (s)he might lose their job. I usually pick standard delivery when I can help it. It's cheaper and the service is better. And if the sender is within the EU, it's usually not that much slower. DPD is the courier service that delivers most packages to my place and they always drop it off at the neighbours' if I'm not in. Excellent standard policy for packages delivered to private addresses imho. There is a risk of your neighbour stealing your expensive new printer, but hey. How hard could it be for these companies to add an 'OK to deliver package to neighbours at nr. XX' field to their database? Very hard, apparently. Probably needs to go through fifty management committees and thirty IT consultants. DHL definitely sucks more than the other companies. Although, to be fair, a lot depends on the driver. Ironically, if (s)he is brave enough to flout company policy and drop your package at the neighbours’, you’ll get your package but (s)he might lose their job.
I usually pick standard delivery when I can help it. It’s cheaper and the service is better. And if the sender is within the EU, it’s usually not that much slower.

DPD is the courier service that delivers most packages to my place and they always drop it off at the neighbours’ if I’m not in. Excellent standard policy for packages delivered to private addresses imho. There is a risk of your neighbour stealing your expensive new printer, but hey. How hard could it be for these companies to add an ‘OK to deliver package to neighbours at nr. XX’ field to their database? Very hard, apparently. Probably needs to go through fifty management committees and thirty IT consultants.

]]> By: Nir Hodara http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187972 Nir Hodara Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:12:16 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187972 I would like to add some examples of the rare exceptions to large corruptions being corrupted. Google and FedEx are the modern day exceptions, they are the good large corporations that are examples for all other corporations to follow. Hopefully they will not change and keep consumer responsibility at the top of their priorities. I encourage everyone to blog about bad and good experiences with businesses. I've read Aral's experiences with his iPhone and wireless service provider, and now with DHL and I think if there were more people communicating their experiences then corporations will feel the effects. I would like to add some examples of the rare exceptions to large corruptions being corrupted. Google and FedEx are the modern day exceptions, they are the good large corporations that are examples for all other corporations to follow. Hopefully they will not change and keep consumer responsibility at the top of their priorities.

I encourage everyone to blog about bad and good experiences with businesses. I’ve read Aral’s experiences with his iPhone and wireless service provider, and now with DHL and I think if there were more people communicating their experiences then corporations will feel the effects.

]]> By: Nir Hodara http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187967 Nir Hodara Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:35:45 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187967 I've had this experience with large corporations multiple times. It took three bad experiences with three corporations (AT&T, Rogers, and Amazon) to finally seal the deal with a final solution. My solution? Only do business with small to middle sized businesses, even if it costs more (because in reality, it costs less since I don't waste hours dealing with customer support and corporate policies). Overall, I get treated like a human being, it's better for the economy by supporting competition, rewarding growth, and supporting good customer service. My theory is the larger the corporation the more corrupted it is, exceptions are hard to come by. I have canceled all my services from large corporations, from cell phones to ISPS, and my satisfaction has improved greatly using services from smaller businesses. Smaller businesses can't afford to treat their customers poorly, and don't want to deal with the legal system, or other hassles, whereas large corporations can afford it and profit from the legal system. Life is too short to deal with lawsuits, policies, hours on customer support, and other hassles, and those that make that their business don't get any of mine. I’ve had this experience with large corporations multiple times. It took three bad experiences with three corporations (AT&T, Rogers, and Amazon) to finally seal the deal with a final solution. My solution? Only do business with small to middle sized businesses, even if it costs more (because in reality, it costs less since I don’t waste hours dealing with customer support and corporate policies).

Overall, I get treated like a human being, it’s better for the economy by supporting competition, rewarding growth, and supporting good customer service. My theory is the larger the corporation the more corrupted it is, exceptions are hard to come by. I have canceled all my services from large corporations, from cell phones to ISPS, and my satisfaction has improved greatly using services from smaller businesses. Smaller businesses can’t afford to treat their customers poorly, and don’t want to deal with the legal system, or other hassles, whereas large corporations can afford it and profit from the legal system.

Life is too short to deal with lawsuits, policies, hours on customer support, and other hassles, and those that make that their business don’t get any of mine.

]]> By: san http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187914 san Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:43:14 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187914 Aral, funny story, recognizable. Can you send met the url with the paralax scrolling example (http://blog.drwoohoo.com, the WOW effect ;) I am suing it for a review of the Adobe User Group in Amsterdam and ofcourse your session. I'll send you the review on my blog when i'am finished. thanx in advance, san Aral, funny story, recognizable. Can you send met the url with the paralax scrolling example (http://blog.drwoohoo.com, the WOW effect ;)
I am suing it for a review of the Adobe User Group in Amsterdam and ofcourse your session. I’ll send you the review on my blog when i’am finished.

thanx in advance,
san

]]> By: Peter Elst http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187912 Peter Elst Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:30:54 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187912 I'm not a big fan of DHL myself, left author copies of my last book out in the rain last year -- only ended up finding it round the back of the house the next day after I called them and they said it had already been delivered. So far for requiring a signature to deliver a package. I’m not a big fan of DHL myself, left author copies of my last book out in the rain last year — only ended up finding it round the back of the house the next day after I called them and they said it had already been delivered. So far for requiring a signature to deliver a package.

]]> By: Richard Lord http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187886 Richard Lord Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:44:57 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187886 It's all about the humans - our local DHL delivery man is fantastic, so I love it when companies use DHL. On the other hand, I've only needed support from Moo once and the woman who provided that "support" was worse than useless. It’s all about the humans – our local DHL delivery man is fantastic, so I love it when companies use DHL. On the other hand, I’ve only needed support from Moo once and the woman who provided that “support” was worse than useless.

]]> By: Lee McColl Sylvester http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187766 Lee McColl Sylvester Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:46:35 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187766 @Seb : I actually get a really good service with ParcelForce. In fact, I can't remember ever having a bad service. I guess it's different from depot to depot. I find FedEx to be the most impressive, though. My publishers use them, and they're incredible. If you have a parcel to send, they're at your door within two hours, and when they say they'll deliver, they're there within a six hour timeslot, even when they're delivering from the States. I can have a parcel delivered straight to me from the backend of the US within four days... If only all couriers were as good! @Seb : I actually get a really good service with ParcelForce. In fact, I can’t remember ever having a bad service. I guess it’s different from depot to depot. I find FedEx to be the most impressive, though. My publishers use them, and they’re incredible. If you have a parcel to send, they’re at your door within two hours, and when they say they’ll deliver, they’re there within a six hour timeslot, even when they’re delivering from the States. I can have a parcel delivered straight to me from the backend of the US within four days… If only all couriers were as good!

]]> By: monkeypox http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187760 monkeypox Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:27:20 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187760 I have never had a good experience with DHL. never. and unfortunately for me, apple uses DHL for their repair service here in the states. one time not too long ago, I sent in my macbook to get the topcase replaced. first visit from DHL, I wasn't home. signed the signature release, and left a note on their little hangtag that they could drop it off at the office of the condo complex, or hide it on my porch. next morning, new hangtag, note ignored saying they'd try again the next morning before sending it back to the depot. so I decided to take half a day off of work to make sure that didn't happen. well, it ended up being an entire day off work, because they never showed up. called customer service, and dispatch informed me that the driver had supposedly stopped by at 1pm, rang the doorbell, and left when no one was home. which seemed strange, since I'd been sitting there on the couch with the front door open all day, and nothing larger than a van had gone by. not to mention there was no hangtag for the visit. I have never had a good experience with DHL. never.

and unfortunately for me, apple uses DHL for their repair service here in the states. one time not too long ago, I sent in my macbook to get the topcase replaced. first visit from DHL, I wasn’t home. signed the signature release, and left a note on their little hangtag that they could drop it off at the office of the condo complex, or hide it on my porch. next morning, new hangtag, note ignored saying they’d try again the next morning before sending it back to the depot. so I decided to take half a day off of work to make sure that didn’t happen. well, it ended up being an entire day off work, because they never showed up. called customer service, and dispatch informed me that the driver had supposedly stopped by at 1pm, rang the doorbell, and left when no one was home. which seemed strange, since I’d been sitting there on the couch with the front door open all day, and nothing larger than a van had gone by. not to mention there was no hangtag for the visit.

]]> By: Josh Tynjala http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187753 Josh Tynjala Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:36:35 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187753 I've also had poor experiences with DHL. Once they refuse to deliver because I'm a normal person who isn't home during the day, I can never seem to get my package and it gets returned to the sender. I never get a human when I call in, and last time I tried, I couldn't figure out where I could physically go to pick it up. It was horribly frustrating, and I now avoid DHL at all costs. In the US, FedEx and UPS are much better, in my experience. I’ve also had poor experiences with DHL. Once they refuse to deliver because I’m a normal person who isn’t home during the day, I can never seem to get my package and it gets returned to the sender. I never get a human when I call in, and last time I tried, I couldn’t figure out where I could physically go to pick it up. It was horribly frustrating, and I now avoid DHL at all costs. In the US, FedEx and UPS are much better, in my experience.

]]> By: Seb Lee-Delisle http://aralbalkan.com/1495/comment-page-1#comment-187749 Seb Lee-Delisle Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:19:22 +0000 http://aralbalkan.com/1495#comment-187749 I had a very similar experience with ParcelForce last week. Late arrival. No apology. Rude service. No refund. Shit. Seb I had a very similar experience with ParcelForce last week. Late arrival. No apology. Rude service. No refund.

Shit.

Seb

]]>