Dabs.com/Parcel Force Deliveries in Central London

[(Shovel)]

Appear to have gone up t'spout this week.

Order from Dabs goes to parcel force on Friday. One package (of two) arrives today after much nagging. The other is still to be seen...

Essentially we may want to order some more kit from Dabs soon, but while Dabs service was good as usual the piss poor performance of Parcel Farce is a major distraction. I've never had this problem in other parts of the country (Manchester, Cambridge) but I need some confirmation from regular Londoners that this isn't normal. Otherwise I'm faced with having to order from elsewhere and probably having to spend more - which isn't desirable.

 

[Scooba Da Bass]

Depressingly my post is totally shite. A single letter recently took a week to get about 15 miles across London.

 

[Embattle]

Part of the problem is the recovery from Xmas/New Year so post etc is often crap right afterwards.

 

[abom2002]

i had a problem like this b4 with dabs n parcel force, got my monitor but no sign of my system, had to go to dabs n blag another 1 out of them

 

[.Cask]

I've really grown to hate couriers. Last time I was waiting to recieve a parcel I had to stand outside for 3 hours to make sure he couldn't just leave a note and fuck off. Again I find myself waiting for a delivery but there's no way I'm standing outside all day in this weather.

Ok, it is partially the fault of the layout of this apartment block.. but the guy leaves the notes about 3 metres away from my door. If only he could use a bit of sense then they wouldn't have to make 15 trips every time they deliver something to me. Apparently their drivers don't even carry phones... which is just wrong.

 

[Ash!]

My Advice would be to move out of Central London if the service would be better. It will be a damn cheaper than sitting on the phone queing for their non existant customer team to answer the phone.

Lines Open at 9.00.

9.01-You are caller number 54276 in the que,please hold the line
GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[xane]

I do often take into account the courier when I order now, I had a delivery from eBuyer which went back to the courier's depot, I had to go down there, not a pleasent place and the working standards were rather ... well, lets just say they were not suitable for precision or delicate goods.

Dabs and Parcel Force is fine, although a great many deliveries end up back at the depot and it is a bit of a chore to drive down there, but they stay open till 8pm so I can do that most weekdays. I actually prefer Parcel Force as they do seem more reliable than others.

Most couriers will leave with a neighbour round my way, in fact one courier firm knows the guy across the street personally, so thats a big advantage I think it is more dependent on your area than the firm itself.

Someone had the idea of local "pickup" points, I remember because I had the idea some years previously but couldn't figure out how to get it started. Basically a local corner shop, petrol station, etc agrees to take in parcels for you, for a small premium, like £1 (or depending on weight/size) and you give their address as the delivery instead, if you got this scheme online and the agreement of both supplier and maybe a well-known chain of shops then it might kick off ...

 

[.Cask]

Problems arise when you're waiting for a 40kg parcel and don't have a car

I actually find the whole idea of picking a parcel up from the couriers quite bizarre. Isn't that like going to a restaurant and cooking your own food?

 

[Will]

I've found the perfect way to get parcels. Get your Dad to retire, and use his address, then let him bring it round when you get home from work. All you have to do is offer him a cup of coffee and fifteen minutes of chat.

 

[~YuckFou~]

Originally posted by Will.
All you have to do is offer him a cup of coffee and fifteen minutes of chat.

Far too high a price to pay for me.

 

[Ash!]

Parcel force

Has anyone had problems with damaged Parcels which have been delivered via Parcelforce.

I build a a lot of systems. Mainly shipped to mainland UK. Despite packagine everything in polystyrene, Bubble Wrap and put a great big sticker on saying fragile item enclosed, will break if dropped they still manage to fuck up one way or the other. Up until Ocotber when I switched couriers 1 in 3 puters arrived damaged

 

[.Cask]

My dad did some agency work for parcel force a few years back, he said the parcels roll along a conveyor belt to the back of the van, then the driver just chucks em in. They prolly don't see the sticker till it's in mid-air.

I believe the drivers themselves are under huge amounts of pressure to complete as many deliveries as possible in a day. Especially when they have like score charts, showing who's in the lead for the most deliveries. Definately doesn't sound too nice working for the big courier companies. I find the smaller companies to be much more efficient, as they're more likely to give you 5 mins then leave a note and leg it.

Anyhoo I left a note on the front door and left it unlocked, hopefully I can get it today otherwise it'll go back to the shop :/

 

[(Shovel)]

Just an update, the parcel still has not appeared.

I'm going down to London on Friday and my plan is for me and Jo to go to Parcel Force and demand our parcel, however, I want to know if this will yield a result.

Has anyone tried this before? Or do they keep undelivered parcels someone separate from one's that may be collected? Frankly, since they will have had it for two weeks I'm tempted just to show up and shout at them...

Experience anyone?

 

[Embattle]

I doubt you will get any result.

 

[.Cask]

Haven't got my fuckin parcel either. Utter, utter unprofessional BS.

I leave my note on the front door saying that I'm in, and telling him to ring the doorbell and also gave my phone number just in case. Of course, the bastard doesn't even turn up so I phone them on Friday to see what's going on.

The couriers tell me to ring the company I ordered the parcel from, so I ring them and they ring the couriers, and then they ring me back saying it'll be delivered on Monday. So I leave my note on the door and of course he doesn't turn up again. I go out Tuesday to my exam, and lo and behold when I come back there's another note on the mat.

Total despair now. The parcel has come with 30 feet of me at least 5 times now but he just leaves a note and runs off. One time I actually chased a courier van down the road after he had left a note through the door. Spinted 200m when I saw him stopped at traffic lights but he just pulled away before I got there.

All I want is my parcel