*!#@*#! Parcel Force
Discussion
I sent a painting to a customer on Thursday. It was too big for special delivery so I sent it by parcel force 24 hour with enhanced compensation. So it was guaranteed to arrive yesterday. He just called me. It arrived today and the glass is smashed. 
I triple bubble wrapped it then put air plus bags all around it then carboard then brown paper. Then I made the crucial error of putting fragile stickers all over it. The monkeys must have thrown it around for fun.
I triple bubble wrapped it then put air plus bags all around it then carboard then brown paper. Then I made the crucial error of putting fragile stickers all over it. The monkeys must have thrown it around for fun.
Paul,
I have a similar problem.
£250,000 worth of similar conditioned high end TVs and other assorted electronic paraphenalia.
This was one year's damage upto close of trade 31/12/00.
To date, less than half that amount has been paid and since then, we've lost several hundred grand subsidising our own distribution but it is the lesser of two malignant evils.
The problem is this: the overwhelming majority of people employed as handlers/drivers withing ALL UK courier networks are total boneheads.
I have used them all and none of them are fit to burn, these f@ckers have literally cost me several supercars over the last decade.
The horror stories are endless...
I have a similar problem.
£250,000 worth of similar conditioned high end TVs and other assorted electronic paraphenalia.
This was one year's damage upto close of trade 31/12/00.
To date, less than half that amount has been paid and since then, we've lost several hundred grand subsidising our own distribution but it is the lesser of two malignant evils.
The problem is this: the overwhelming majority of people employed as handlers/drivers withing ALL UK courier networks are total boneheads.
I have used them all and none of them are fit to burn, these f@ckers have literally cost me several supercars over the last decade.
The horror stories are endless...
derestrictor said:
Paul,
I have a similar problem.
£250,000 worth of similar conditioned high end TVs and other assorted electronic paraphenalia.
This was one year's damage upto close of trade 31/12/00.
I sympathise Simon.
I used to run a fashion sportswear company and we also went through all of the carriers. We used parcel force for a while. They "lost" so much of our gear that they turned round one day and announced that they were no longer prepared to insure our consignments!! Because their staff were nicking our goods!! And we were paying around £200k a year in carriage costs!
My response was predictably unprintable.
unrepentant said:
I used to run a fashion sportswear company and we also went through all of the carriers. We used parcel force for a while. They "lost" so much of our gear that they turned round one day and announced that they were no longer prepared to insure our consignments!! Because their staff were nicking our goods!! And we were paying around £200k a year in carriage costs!
My response was predictably unprintable.
Christ, this is exactly the same as us. Scum!
As an after note, Parcelforce refused my compensation for the damage to the painting on the grounds that paintings were excluded from their compensation scheme, as is glass, porcelain and anything else that is not indestructible.
It is up to us as customers to ascertain whether our item is exclude or not, even though they are not listed in the PF (extensive and written in very small type) terms of business. Apparently you are required to check their web site before attempting to send your parcel! This is clearly ludicrous.
One letter to Adam Crozier later pointing out that I had been sold a service fraudulently and my case has been "re-considered" and they have decided after all to compensate me.
The moral of the story is the same as it has ever been. Ignore the brain dead in "customer services" after they have refused you once and write to the boss. It's the only way to prevent
It is up to us as customers to ascertain whether our item is exclude or not, even though they are not listed in the PF (extensive and written in very small type) terms of business. Apparently you are required to check their web site before attempting to send your parcel! This is clearly ludicrous.
One letter to Adam Crozier later pointing out that I had been sold a service fraudulently and my case has been "re-considered" and they have decided after all to compensate me.
The moral of the story is the same as it has ever been. Ignore the brain dead in "customer services" after they have refused you once and write to the boss. It's the only way to prevent
derestrictor said:
The problem is this: the overwhelming majority of people employed as handlers/drivers withing ALL UK courier networks are total boneheads.
Thank You.
I trust you are talking about the guys who are the first/last link in the chain i.e. the van men?
In my experience, and damage probably occurs in the sorting hubs. It is 3-4 hours of absolute chaos with trucks arriving from all over the country, thousands of parcels to sort and reload with the constant pressure of time. A 200 mile journey to the hub is timed to the minute. If you are one minute over, they are on the phone
Too much emphasis is made on mechanical handling (fork lifts etc) and that is where the damage occurs.
Steve
Recently done a survey for CCTV cameras to be installed in one of those distrbution hubs so the management can track where any mishandling occurs. With individual pallets worth between £0.25million and £2million the management are rightly worried about any damage. Some distribution/storage centres have to keep the goods for upto 3months and in that time the goods must be monitored 24/7 incase the customer has a complaint about the goods in transit. These by the way are specialist carriers and not your everyday courier, tho I have done simillar work for smaller couriers.
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