I don't generally have problems with couriers at all, but here's the thing, you need to talk to them. If you're not happy with the service, talk to the courier company and talk to the company that set you the product as well. You don't want them blissfully unaware that the delivery service is letting their customers down.
Often Kiwis put up with bad service, or vote with their feet, saying they will never do business with that supplier again, when the supplier doesn't even know that their contractors are letting them down.
I receive a few boxes here every week. Either Amazon stuff we buy (a lot) or review units. The FedEx guy knows me by name and I get nods from the CourierPost guy when he drives past and I am walking down to the mall for a coffee...
I've had trouble with Courierpost leaving cards when we are all home in the morning. I went to the depot to pick it up after work and asked why this kept happening and I was told that the official policy was...the driver toots his horn and that's it. They are not allowed to knock or ring the doorbell in case they wake people up. No kidding, that is what I was told.
Yeah I wasn't brave enough to say it myself, more amazed really that there could be a policy like that at all. We have all the lights on and it's fairly obvious we are up anyway. But it's happened more than once, I think it's just a lazy driver thing. Can't be bothered getting out of the van - I wouldn't be surprised if they have the cards already written out when they rock up to the driveway.
I had the most interesting thing yesterday - I got a call from a courier asking me to arrange a delivery time, before even attempting delivery! Might seem annoying at first glance, but actually it's brilliant! This way they don't go to all the trouble of trying and failing to deliver, no hassle with "cards to call", no constant back and forth delivery attempts, just let them know when you'll be around and they'll deliver then.
More courier companies should try this! (This was Sonic Couriers, by the way).
I've had very few problems with CourierPost, NZ Couriers seem fine however I've had problem after problem with Fastway to the point where If I see a company ships with them I start looking elsewhere, They are consistently slower than the others and are the only company so far to deliver a parcel to the wrong address, of which they have managed to do twice.
I will note most of my issues with couriers would simply be fixed by sellers providing decent courier options, I've gotten rather sick of sellers requiring signature required shipping particularly on smaller/low value items driving up the already inflated cost of shipping. The few card and runs or knock and run leaving me not having enough time to get to the door i've had could have simply been avoided by the seller giving the option of non-signature required shipping.
If at all possible I get every delivery made to my office.
This makes my life much easier as I live in an apartment building which doesn't have anywhere for a courier to even try and leave a card to call. They sometimes buzz the apartment but more often than not i'll receive a letter in the mail saying they tried and failed and to call to arrange re-delivery.
RickD: I have had no problems with CourierPost. But Fast Way is useless, they have no 0800 number, contacting the branch here is nearly impossible - you get an answer phone if you call in the middle of the day, they leave a card without calling the number on the package when they say they will, once they've left a card it's a number of days before they get round to re-deliverying even if they say it'll be next day, they don't seem to be open weekends/don't answer the phone in weekends so for me a pick-up is impossible... I'm never ordering from a site that uses Fast Way again.
I had a card left by Fastway the other day, I rang the number on the card, they looked for the package and said it was there, I went around and picked it up. That was the smoothest service I have ever had with them
Just has courier post courier sign for something himself and apparently drop off the parcel at my front door according to track and trace but I still can't find the parcel
I would second what someone above said - talk to the Courier company. Business in that industry is fairly competitive. Tell them your concern, lay it out factually and let them know what you dont find acceptable. If enough people in an area complain about a delivery person, that person will get a prod where it will do them the most good - courier companys normally do try to do the right thing.
Also if deliveries do take an exceptunally long time, more than expected, feel free to dispute the invoice from the company. Our over night packages regulalrly took three days from Chch to Auckland or Wgtn. We 'negitiated' (read refused to pay full price) the price for those deliveries.
I got charge $65 for a parcel from Tokaroa to Chch - 8 days. Negotiated that price down to the level of what I would have paid via NZ post. THe company found the hold up point in the north island and had discussions with those responsible - I believe that francisee may have lost payment on the entire job to cover the reduction in my bill - I'm sure their resposnse levels improved. However, until i worked to improve the service , the courier company had no way of knowing what was happening.
Be proactive - be part of a continuous feed back loop to improve performance. - Also make sure you play nicely with the local guy. The ones i 'know' seem to give best service.
nunz: I would second what someone above said - talk to the Courier company. Business in that industry is fairly competitive. Tell them your concern, lay it out factually and let them know what you dont find acceptable. If enough people in an area complain about a delivery person, that person will get a prod where it will do them the most good - courier companys normally do try to do the right thing.
Also if deliveries do take an exceptunally long time, more than expected, feel free to dispute the invoice from the company. Our over night packages regulalrly took three days from Chch to Auckland or Wgtn. We 'negitiated' (read refused to pay full price) the price for those deliveries.
I got charge $65 for a parcel from Tokaroa to Chch - 8 days. Negotiated that price down to the level of what I would have paid via NZ post. THe company found the hold up point in the north island and had discussions with those responsible - I believe that francisee may have lost payment on the entire job to cover the reduction in my bill - I'm sure their resposnse levels improved. However, until i worked to improve the service , the courier company had no way of knowing what was happening.
Be proactive - be part of a continuous feed back loop to improve performance. - Also make sure you play nicely with the local guy. The ones i 'know' seem to give best service.
I aggree with this one any problems where the couriers don't seem to be doing thier jobs complain, remember that majority of courier companies are done on a contractor and with contractors getting paid by the ticket can be an issue for them to make thier money.
So its a flow on effect from this, theres a company that does telco/lines work in a certain area of NZ that suffers similar type of effects and this unfortunately due to some lazy/rushed contractors causes them a bad name.
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