Parcel services between UK and Germany are really swift

[Bernhard J.]

A wrist watch purchased Dec. 13, 2022, was dispatched by the seller Dec. 14, 2022, and arrived just today, hurray. The average speed calculates to less than 1 mph. If one would have walked leisurely and swum across the channel, a person would probably have made a similar average. But the costs of about 40 stays in B&Bs ....

I must admit that other deliveries from the UK were quicker, typically in the range of about 2-3 weeks. Even then, parcels must be piling up somewhere to considerable hills.

Cheers, Bernhard

 

[gmorse]

Hi Bernhard,

Even then, parcels must be piling up somewhere to considerable hills.

The postal service is suffering from a series of strikes at the moment, so I think you're right about the hills of parcels.

Regards,

Graham

 

[aucaj]

The Royal Mail international service was hit by a ransomware attack last month. It impacted all export packages. Things started moving again last week. But they have refused any new shipments until the backlog gets cleared.

Maybe the backlog led to the strike

R/
Chris

 

[Bernhard J.]

Well, the attack was mid January. The watch had been dispatched mid December by the vendor.

Interestingly items sent with the eBay international delivery service (includes custom fees upfront) move really rapidly. The Lee clock bought about a week ago is almost here. It seems that eBay international delivery service is handled with priviledge, at German customs also by the way.

Best regards, Bernhard

 

[novicetimekeeper]

There were a number of strikes in December, the backlog is huge. A great company being milked dry by a greedy management.

 

[Dr. Jon]

What is the relation between DHL and the German Post Office?

 

[Bernhard J.]

What is the relation between DHL and the German Post Office?

The same corporate group

 

[JTD]

Interestingly items sent with the eBay international delivery service (includes custom fees upfront) move really rapidly.

Wish I could agree with you, but I find that although the Ebay Global Shipping service is convenient (because everything paid in advance) it is often really slow. I am waiting for a parcel from USA despatched on January 26th, reached the postal hub at Erlanger (Kentucky) on 29th January and no update on the tracking system since then.

JTD

 

[Bernhard J.]

reached the postal hub at Erlanger (Kentucky) on 29th January and no update on the tracking system since then.

I would agree, if you had said Jan. 29, 2022 ... .

Compared with other experiences, I render two weeks for door to door shipping from or to outside of the EC rapid. Your parcel is apparently resting five days only (to date)....

 

[John Matthews]

Very difficult at this time to assess the performance of carriers operating in the UK when there is so much disruption.

The ebay delivery service is a two stage process. The vendor has to send the item to the ebay processing centre, where the formalities for international shipping are completed. Only then is the package dispatched to the buyer. In general because of this, if all other things are equal, it will take longer than direct shipping between vendor and buyer. But things are never equal. If the package is sent direct, custom formalities can take longer. This is not always the case. From the UK to France, since BREXIT, I have receive items £1000+ that have sailed through customs - no delay, no charge. I have also had to pay duty on items <£100 - paid online. In both cases delivered ~5 days, posted direct. I have also had items that have been delayed at processing centres and customs, had to pay the duty to the postman on delivery and taken 14+ days.

Even when there is no disruption due strikes etc. I think it is impossible to generalise. In my experience there is no consistency from item to item, even when the transport method is the same. Further no one carrier provides significantly better service than the rest - our opinions tend to be coloured be the most recent one that got away or the one landed in double quick time.

Like most of life's trials, it is far less stressful to just take it as it comes and in the case of carriers, ignore the countless unhelpful tracking emails that clog the inbox.

John

 

[Bila]

I can not speak for the UK and the delays as I do not buy much there, but seeing the mention of eBay Global Shipping has raised its ugly head..... Here in Australia when getting anything via that service delivery times are atrocious, does not matter which Country it is coming from in most cases. The longest delays I have endured are up to 32 days from the US to Australia in some cases, with the shortest, nothing ever under 21-24 days. In most cases I will not purchase from Sellers using the program unless I am absolutely desperate