Support non franchise Delivery companies.

Today Saturday morning was taken away from me due to having to trapse around Bath, Bristol and associated areas to pickup the many packages I was expecting delivery from.

I've know most of this for a while - but today prompted me to write this.

If possible I urge people to use non-franchise based delivery companies.

I missed delivery of 2 Royal mail packages, went to my local post office, showed ID and picked them up. Very easy.

I went to pick up a package from City link which I phoned on Thursday to tell them I'd be collecting.

It was locked in a holding cage until Monday ?? bottom line was - they don't care

I went to APC to pick up a package to discover this was a man running the franchise out of a unit which was a garage !!! so the packages where in the MOT tool area. Pacakges everywhere, battered, being kicked out of the way, with tools on top of them, etc etc.

Now I know that franchises will be hit and miss in some areas and that I'm probably unlucky that my area - these two franchises are laughable, but its also the principal. Any one can by a franchise as the guy running it from his garage has highlighted again to me, they don't care as its not thier business, they are just paying to use the name.

Yes Royal mail has its problems, but they are a real package delivery company, with the intention of delivering packages.

I urge you all to think about the companies you are using and the people recieving the packages, just because the City Link franchise is good in your area, doesn't mean it will be in the area your sending to, and do you really want your £2000 PC delivered by a guy with a van working out of his garage while fixing cars (he had to stop an MOT to get my package).

Perhaps this is something to think about in all matters, not just postage, get behind companies that are there to do a job, not behind jack of all trade companies or people who pay to use the name.

food for thought.

Is it the same with Deutsche Post/UPS? Cause they have specific vans, so I guess they run their own distribution network?

If they do run their own distribution network, then just use them?

Not %100 on those two, but I think UPS and DP are both genuine carriers.

City Link are dog kack round here. They have their own vans, they also have their own boots that they use to stamp all over everything with.

Never had any problems with Royal Mail. Parcel Farce is another matter, but Royal Mail is great.

great to hear, all the more reason to use royal mail

I must admit I never had any problem with CityLink in my area (East London). Tough to tarnish a company based on a localised incident (or is it more widespread?).

Same here city link delivery in East London by the drivers/couriers is good, can't fault them at all. But their telephone/call centre staff need basic lessons in customer care, they really are the dogs c_ _ P.

thats what I was trying to say, its localised as its a franchise its nothing to do with the company how good your area is as they just sell the right to use the name/citylink facilities.

Its up to you who you use, but I'm asking you to consider who you use when you send packages, eg: you send for city link which is great for you, but when I recieve it its poor service.

Imagine you send me an item and it goes from a good depot, but when I get it it goes to the man working out of his garage.

Consider not just the service you get but the service your recivers.

I only ask you think/consider your options, and invest in a company that specialises in a service, rather than companies that specilise in selling the use of their name.

I had a motherboard delivered recently, courtesy of City Link.

As I sign the paperwork, driver advises me that "your package got a little wet, in the back of my van":confused:

I agree city-link are useless in my area, but what really annoyed me this friday was them NOT coming to my house and NOT "carding" me at 3.28pm as they have claimed on their website. I know it's a busy time of year but why can't they just be honest and say they are really busy and we are sorry we wasted your day waiting for us but we couldn't deliver today as promised.

I send quite a few packages and I always use RM. Not only is it cheaper most of the time but it's also very reliable. Nver had one problem with RM.

So are all CityLink depot's franchise operations?

Or is there a way to find out which ones are?

My closes one, in Altens looked proper enough (big citylink sign, a number of vans there etc) when I had to go pick up a HD a few years ago, but now I do wonder...