Should I be Disappointed?

[Petrolhead]

I really wasn’t sure about posting this moan as I didn’t know if it was justified or not but then it did beg a bigger question.

So here it is. I was home alone this weekend so planned a brew and ordered the grain Tuesday morning but it didn’t turn up so no brewing this weekend and as I am away next weekend I may have to put a long evening in this week. No hardship. But the question is should I have expected the delivery to have been made or am I just being spoilt by the services of Amazon and many others today?

 

[Drunkula]

It's understandable to feel disappointed but don't hold it against whatever company it was if they're not matching the delivery services of Amazon. They're probably paying their taxes, don't have zero hour workers and possibly care about what they're doing. If they didn't break any promises then just think fair enough.

 

[Mavroz]

For me it would only be an issue if the company I bought from stated it would be 24 or 48 hour delivery but the purchased items didn't arrive within their stated timescale.
If they contacted me and said there had been an issue with the delivery, no problem but if not, I would be disappointed the items hadn't been delivered when stated.
Some companies charge a very high delivery charge in my opinion for a vague,unreliable courier and delivery time, when there are many such as Ups that charge the same price for delivery and the items are delivered exactly when they say they will be.

 

[An Ankoù]

I live in France, as you know. I have ordered from the Malt Miller Sunday night and had the package turn up Wednesday lunchtime. On the other hand I've ordered from The Homebrew Company and delivery takes the entire week- a bit longer if there's an intervening weekend. Both use DHL. Both suppliers make up the order immediately and the order is dispatched within hours of start of the day's business. Bizarre! It just needs a bit of forward planning.
Who did you order from, by the way?

 

[Sadfield]

Yes. Even if you take amazon out of the equation, for the reasons @Drunkula gives, there are plenty of business and courier services that offer good service and deliver within a predetermined time frame. If you are being charged for delivery, then you should expect industry standard service.

I feel that, all online retailers should be made to display despatch times and which courier service is to be used, so that buyers can factor in this important part of the process when making purchasing decisions.

 

[An Ankoù]

Yes. Even if you take amazon out of the equation, for the reasons @Drunkula gives, there are plenty of business and courier services that offer good service and deliver within a predetermined time frame. If you are being charged for delivery, then you should expect industry standard service.

I feel that, all online retailers should be made to display despatch times and which courier service is to be used, so that buyers can factor in this important part of the process when making purchasing decisions.

...and when they advise dispatch they should provide a tracking number. I had one package which, through no fault of the supplier, had been delivered to an address some 20 miles away. All I knew was that my package was flagged "delivered". After a few days research the supplier offered to re-send the order in full (fair dos to them), until we got an unexpected phone call from a stranger asking us to move a large cardboard box from their conservatory.

 

[Leon103]

I live in France, as you know. I have ordered from the Malt Miller Sunday night and had the package turn up Wednesday lunchtime. On the other hand I've ordered from The Homebrew Company and delivery takes the entire week- a bit longer if there's an intervening weekend. Both use DHL. Both suppliers make up the order immediately and the order is dispatched within hours of start of the day's business. Bizarre! It just needs a bit of forward planning.
Who did you order from, by the way?

But one is in the UK mainland and the other isn't. Perhaps Dhl work differently in different countries

 

[An Ankoù]

But one is in the UK mainland and the other isn't. Perhaps Dhl work differently in different countries

Absolutely. I think the determining factor is the depot for collection rather than the delivery address. I still think DHL are the most reliable and traceable of all the couriers.

 

[Sandimas]

I order from a variety of homebrew suppliers and they all usually deliver in that time.

 

[David Heath]

That does seem longer than you would expect to wait. I take it they didnt contact you to let you know of this delay?

 

[Petrolhead]

Well I didn’t mention their name as I am not sure they deserve any criticism and in truth my post was more a thought of what our expectations should be. Yes they only have to meet their promises but do we always check delivery times now we are used to such good service.

However, I did check today and interestingly they gave 4-5 days for European delivery but didn’t give a time for UK delivery. As it turned out I ordered on Tuesday and it was shipped Thursday, sadly it was a Parcelforce who are about the worst in my mind, so delivery arrived today rather than Friday.

I have had a couple of Parcelforce delivery attempts in the past where they haven’t put a parcel number on the card. This has meant that I cannot arrange delivery to a post office or different address and have had to go to the depot to collect. Unfortunately their depot is in Newport about 30 mins min from where I live. Annoying.

 

[phildo79]

For me, Yodel are the worst. Their tracking website is a joke. If you aren't in when they show up, they either leave you a vague card or give it to the first neighbour that will open their door. I got a card once that simply said, 'left with a neighbour'. Ok, which bloody neighbour? There are about 70 houses in my street. I've actually avoided buying stuff online because I seen that Yodel was the courier.

 

[Sadfield]

For me, Yodel are the worst. Their tracking website is a joke. If you aren't in when they show up, they either leave you a vague card or give it to the first neighbour that will open their door. I got a card once that simply said, 'left with a neighbour'. Ok, which bloody neighbour? There are about 70 houses in my street. I've actually avoided buying stuff online because I seen that Yodel was the courier.

Same, won't touch anyone that uses them.

 

[Portreath]

Must admit, of the HB suppliers I've used everyone has been spot on with deliveries, and sending postage info..