DHL

I have never been motivated to join Unilocal until now. This is the absolute worst company I have ever dealt with in my entire life.
The customer service reps are utterly incompetent — For days they kept giving me the runaround and straight up lying about the status of my package.
The first time they attempted delivery at my house, they left a note saying that I needed to set up a signature release through their website, otherwise they couldn’t leave the package at my door if I wasn’t home. Sounded reasonable enough. I did that immediately (this was on a Friday), and on the following Monday I even called them first thing in the morning to confirm that everything went through correctly. They said that all my information looked fine (including the signature release), and they assured me that my package would be delivered that day.
Well, Monday came and went. I never received my package. I called them around 5pm to ask what was up, and they claimed my item had been forwarded to a «third party» courier service, which can sometimes deliver as late as 8:30pm. So I wait a few more hours, and by 9pm it still hasn’t arrived. Mind you, their website told me that the DHL warehouse where my package had shipped out from at 10am that morning was in a town about 20 minutes from me. Even considering factors like the third party transfer taking some extra time, or my address being at the very end of their route, how can the package not reach me within an *entire day*? That doesn’t make any sense.
That night I went through a couple more phone calls with DHL and different reps kept telling me different things («You’re going to receive a new tracking number in the morning!» «No, the tracking number will remain the same»), so eventually I gave up out of frustration.
I checked the DHL website first thing the next morning, and to my surprise it said that they had attempted delivery yesterday, but «the recipient wasn’t home» (AGAIN).
So… Why on EARTH did you have me set up a signature release on your website if you were going to completely ignore it (even after I also called and confirmed with one of your reps!)?
I called again, hoping that maybe by some miracle there would actually be a mildly competent person on the other end of the line this time. Alas, no.
This rep told me that my package had been forwarded to a third party courier service because my address was not in DHL’s delivery area. She said that even though I had set up my signature release with DHL, this third party service likely didn’t know about it, and that’s why the delivery attempt had failed.
Oh, so DHL doesn’t provide *any* relevant information to the third party services it contracts with? That’s nice. Great business model.
Then, not two minutes later, she turned around and said that DHL would be delivering my package themselves that day, instead of the third party.
I asked how it was possible for DHL to deliver my package considering she had just said a few minutes ago that I wasn’t in their delivery zone, and that’s why it had been forwarded to this third party in the first place. She said, oh no, my package had only been forwarded to a third party because it was a *Monday* and Mondays were particularly busy for DHL and so sometimes they contracted out with third party couriers to help them with the extra loads and blah blah blah.
This terrifying fever dream of endless double talking customer reps and inexplicable «delivery attempted, recipient not home» messages lasted for days. Given all the stories I’m seeing on Unilocal and elsewhere, I consider it an absolute miracle that I received my package at all.
What finally did the trick (and I’m not kidding…) was literally taping an ENORMOUS sign to my front door with a GIGANTIC, BOLD, ALL CAPS MESSAGE spelled out very clearly with black marker: «SIGNATURE RELEASE HAS BEEN SET UP WITH DHL. PLEASE LEAVE PACKAGE ON FRONT DOOR EVEN IF RECIPIENT IS NOT HOME. THANK YOU» (Followed by my signature on a separate piece of paper taped to the sign, for good measure). These people need goddamn light up signs to understand how to carry out the most basic aspects of a service that literally all of their competitors are able to do without much issue.
DHL should be out of business. I haven’t seen a single positive word about them online, aside from the handful of laughably contrived, glowing testimonials written by thinly veiled DHL marketing interns. Nice try, folks.

Firt time and never again!
I was expecting a very importat document which was supposed to arrive yesterday. i have been calling them all day yesterday since the morning to make sure that it will arrive me in time and eventually it has never arrived! And they delivered it to an incorrect adress that they still could not find where it is. I have called them 2 times befor the the delivery and couple of times after the delivery and there is nothing postive yet. Such a mess! Do not use this courier company!!!

Just the worst time. Ordered something from So. Cal. picked up ok, then went to Marysville Calif., about 200 miles from my address. Then sat there for days, DHL refused to reply to my e-​mails, even tho they have a «contact» box. Finally got hold of someone on phone (her location? Germany) told me complete lie about it being in my town, and assured me everything ok. Finally got my package to me many days after promised. Try to stay away from these group.

Personally, I absolutely abhore DHL! And while my distate for UPS does not run deep, I would choose FedEx (and actually do) over both of them!
Way back in the days, a major company that I worked for then used DHL as their primary shipper for next day deliveries. I often used them to ship out paychecks w/​delivery confirmation. Having sent out hundreds of these, I really didn’t have time in my busy day to check the tracking of each of these packages to make sure they made it to their intended destination.
Well one day, I got a call from a former employee whose check had been sent out to her a month ago. Apparently she was either not home at the time or DHL could not find the address, so she never received her check. Entering the tracking # of her package through DHL’s website, I find out that her package has some hold message on the status section. At no time during this entire month did DHL bother to contact us regarding the inability to deliver to listed address, or ship us back the package.
I called up DHL’s cs hotline, and find out that her paycheck was now in some warehouse on the east coast (my office and the shipping address is on the west coast)!!! The CS rep could not explain to me why the package was not delivered or why we were not notified. But could only fathom that it was because the address was undeliverable. I was absolutely shocked that for the price we paid for shipping, DHL could drop the ball so badly! I asked the rep to please ship the check back to us as we needed it back and reverified to ensure that the funds were not withdrawn in order to reissue a new check. And his response was that he would do so but it would take 3 – 5 business days. I told him that due to the prolonged delay already caused by their company and the urgent nature of the situation, we could not wait the weekend and then an additional 3 – 5 business days. But instead needed it overnighted to us. He stated that while he could not get the package to us that quickly, he would use next day air to ship it back to us at no additional cost. 2 business days go by and I remembered to check on the status of the paycheck as we still had not received it from DHL. Low and behold, the status on the website was still exactly the same!!! I promptly called up DHL, and this time they had no record of my conversation with the previous CS rep and the paycheck was STILL sitting in the warehouse on the east coast! The rep this time apologized about the «inconvenience» and stated they would have the check shipped back to us in 3 – 5 business days. I once again relayed to him my frustration and the urgency of getting the package back asap. Outright demanding this time that he upgrade the shipping to next day air like the previous rep promised. The rep unfortunately refused to budge on the shipping stating that it was not possible. I asked to speak to his supervisor who them promptly gave me the same spiel. At this point, I was absolutely mortified at the lack of service, professionalism, and accountability that DHL demonstrated to even their major accounts.
Shortly after this whole incident, the entire company changed their express shipping carrier to FedEx. Thank GOD!
I’ve used FedEx both personally and professionally for a number of years now, and very rarely have ever encountered a problem with their service. They have always gone above and beyond the call of duty; even once looking up my PH# through the white pages when I accidentally listed the wrong one on my account. Just so they could inform me that my package was undeliverable because the genius who I was shipping to lived in an apartment building and failed to provide me with his apartment #. This way, I could simply call them back to update the shipping info once I got the full address so that they would not have to ship it back to me. Thus saving me from incurring a 2^nd, unnecessary shipping cost.

Don’t even think of using them! They are a joke! Twice in a row they failed to make an international delivery to my address and once totally lost the package. Stick with what works… USPS, FedEx or UPS. Stay away from this company or you will just have to suffer the consequences like I did.

DHL is the most incompetent of all shipping services I have used in the US. Do NOT use them. They are popular abroad, especially Europe since they are German. If you are getting a shipment from abroad, insist on FedEx or if not available, UPS.
DHL delayed severely some important documents which would have arrived overnight with FedEx. Customer service sounded so clueless on the phone that I would be scared to entrust anything to this company.

What can I say? You WOULD THINK that a company that SHIPS PACKAGES could do THEIR JOB and SHIP THEM TO THE PLACE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GO aND HAVE BEEN PAID FOR
I have to go pick up my package tonight they have been alledgedly delivering every day according to the daily phone calls I make to them.
What the hell are these people doing all day???

This review is based solely on their hard-​selling salespeople. One of their guys called our office last week and managed to get one of our executives on the phone, who promptly referred him to me (ops manager) and another person who handles the delivery vendors. We called him back and told him we weren’t interested — but the shows up today, insisting he had a 10AM appointment with me and the executive.
I patiently told him the executive doesn’t have any dealings with vendors, but I do — and I never set up an appointment with him. He kept insisting OVER and OVER and OVER he had set up an appointment with the executive… I told him for the third time we were happy with Fedex and had a great rate and asked him to leave.
He was so freaking rude I could not believe it!
Oh, and when I called DHL’s salesoffice to complain they could find no record of him working there.
Yeah, OK.

Tragic.

«Consignee premises closed. Will attempt again next business day.»
Closed? Can a residence be «closed» when its occupants are there waiting the
You’d figure that if you’re spending the extra dough for a Saturday delivery, the delivery man would either get the doorman’s attention, call the phone number that I required to give them, or use the phone box in front.
Next time I see a DHL deliveryman, I’ll yell at him from across the street. He’ll be too lazy to do anything about it.

I know that I’m restating the obvious but WOW… this company is one awful sort of mess and I needed to get this off my chest. Do not use them under any circumstances. Ever. My mother has been waiting at home for 3 whole days for a delivery. I’ve called more than 6 times. First they tried to say that the package was left near the «fence»…Um. Fence? What fence? This is a large apartment building. oh. package magically reappears in SF office. They will call… nope! They will redeliver. Re? How about just ringing the doorbell and waiting a minute for someone to answer it?! What do these people do all day? Why are they getting paid? Are they trained in incompetence? In thievery?
Still nothing… The package has fallen into the black hole that will be forever know as DHL. I wonder how this scam company stays afloat… my poor mom is still waiting. DHL DISGUSTS ME!

This review is not so much for DHL as a whole, but for a particular delivery fellow… Dominic. Here is my ode, to the man all the ladies love.
On a cracker
In the nude
A juicy lip smacker
I want this dude
Delivers long
Delivers hard
So very wrong
In my yard
So hot he be
I want him more
Sweet like candy
If he wasn’t a man wh*re
For the most part, I have had few problems with DHL. Yes, sometimes they are too lazy to walk up steps, and other times they don’t make the 12:00 delivery time, but 99% of the time they are 78% on time.

Worst shipping company in the business bar non! I could sit at home, dream up a company name (let us say DOH), set up a «customer service» phone operation «offshore» (let us say Bangalore), arrange to send everything from DOH using FEDEX, and it would all be done faster than it would take DHL to figure out how to lace-​up their collective shoes.
These guys are sooooo late with packages that they make UPS and FeDex COMBINED look good. 17 Post Office trucks have passed my house, but not one of the bright, yellow eyesore that I’ve been expecting for hours. Imagine their surprise upon receiving a bill for my time. Phkrs!!!

Plain and simple,
I ordered a plasma TV online that would take 2 weeks to deliver. 2 weeks and 3 days later I called DHL to tell them to deliver the TV from 2 – 5 pm since i was going to be at work earlier. I leave work early to get home at 1. when i got home i found a note saying that they tried to deliver it at 11:30 am… ummm okay… that’s not between 2 – 5 pm.
–The next day I’m home all day and they don’t come.
–The following day, I call DHL again to tell them to deliver it between 2 – 5 pm. This time the note comes at 12:45 PM. So i call them and tell them to deliver right now. the manager of the Oakland DHL station says he can’t get ahold of the driver so I can’t get it.
After more bullshit from them flash to damn near 2 weeks since it was originally suppose to be delivered. The DHL manager told me the night before that i was going to be the first delivery of the morning. Come 1 Pm and nothing. I call the guy and he tells me that the TV is at the office and not on the truck. My exact quote to when he told me this: «Are you fucking kidding me??». so i told him to leave it there and I’ll do their job and pick it up.
To make it even worse, when i got there the front desk lady told me that no one can help me carry a 42 inch plasma, in it’s box that is longer than my wingspan or any person’s wingspan that is not Shaq. It took me yelling at her until she got 2 people to come help me.
So summing up my thoughts on DHL
F*CK DHL

NOT
the
tightest
ship
in
the
shipping
business.
use UPS or Fed Ex if you want the package to arrive to its intended destination.

Whoever said «don’t shoot the messenger» never relied on DHL’s «premier» global delivery network.
What? You want to quibble with me that the DHL dude isn’t a «messenger» but package delivery… well, then by definition they would need to deliver a PACKAGE… good luck!
The stats: 23 out of the previous 25 reviews for the SF depot are 1 star. I challenge you to find another company with more than 10 reviews and a lower rating.
My experience in a nutshell… 3 failed deliveries, one lost (i’ll bet stolen) laptop, 2 weeks to get the acknowledgment, another attempt to get a five finger discount on the replacement laptop, 4 complaints, 0 callbacks.
It is truly tragic for the other 99% of their worldwide employees that there just a few bad apples in SF that will drive their company out of business.
And the ivory castle folks are far from exculpated here. They have structured their customer service to route all calls through a call center totally separate from the service location. In fact, they will fire the call center employee if they give out their direct phone number (although you might be able to find the SF # on Unilocal on another review). The call centers will call the location and request a call back to the customer. But if this request is ignored, there are no repercussions. There is NO feedback loop. ARG!!!
Friends don’t let friends ship DHL.

DHL: Delivery is Hopeless Loss
by TOJM
Been on hold for 11:34… 11:35… 11:36…. It is 4:59 PM and I shouldn’t be at work still, listening to DHL’s dead air hold. I should be running out the door to get home asap and rip open the package of goodies my mom sent me from the east coast. Alas, here I sit, listening to nothing, growing older.
13:21… 13:22… 13:23… .
Like a panther tracks an elk, all week, I’ve been tracking this package on their website. All week.
to be continued…

Okay. so you pay for a courier to send your package to your DOORSTEP. Well, they decide… its doesn’t require a signature. lets just drop it at the local USPS!
Apparently DHL drops any @home delivery at your local post office. That’s it. After that. its still not guaranteed for another 48 hours! Why would you pay for a package to be dropped at your local post office??? Next time. I am making sure that the seller ships using UPS! They are a local Atlanta company and OH SO MUCH BETTER!

EGADS… DH-​HELL is right… DHL should stop lying!
I tracked a package being sent from overseas and stayed home all day Friday as it was «With Courier» for delivery… Then I see the posting «Premises closed»…ughh…I stayed home all day, so they could not deliver it… Monday, I stayed home all morning…10:40 AM Premises closed… same thing… Tuesday, I stayed home all morning, yet again… this time the tracking stated… «Can’t find address, please call Customer Service»…if that was the problem, how come they didn’t write that on the first delivery attempt!
I realize looking up someone’s last name on an apartment building to press the building code is a complicated process, but somehow UPS, FEDEX, and even Safeway are all able to do it… I guess they needed a note saying «DHL this is Apt 301, waiting for you, please press the following number!»
If DHL runs into any problems it looks like they just say «Premises closed»…this is a horrible company policy, that looks like its pissin off countless former customers… they are truly DH-​HELL

DHL is a bozo operation.
After leaving me a delivery attempt notification on Monday, they did NOT attempt redelivery for two days. Their tracking website showed someone else having signed for my package (and received it!) three days PRIOR to my receiving a delivery attempt notification. When I called their number, I can to call back several times because the phone rang and rang for minutes on end. Then, when speaking a representative, they gave some weak excuses for the bogus tracking data and said they would try again tomorrow.
This is certainly the worst service I’ve ever received from any courier.
UPDATE: the worst service i’ve ever had just got worse. It is now thursday and my package did not go out for redelivery AGAIN. It has been 4 days and I have called them FOUR times.
I highly recommend anyone dealing with these clowns call the san francisco dispatch directly (415−826−7338), because they only get confused when they receive instructions from their own people.