GLS Royal Mail (UK) deliveries

[Jonegy]

Hi Canoeman.

Listed packets on Anyvan and had first quote this morning - £30 dearer than TNT but looks like a more personal service.

A very good point for me is that in the case of sending to yourself, packets can be held in Maia ( 21 days free ) and delivered after arrival in pt.

Thanks for the tip - will see other quotes I get upto the weekend

[jellybean]

Originally Posted by canoeman

I'm not making any excuses for them, but pointing that 150 vehicles to delivery throughout Portugal, isn't enough, that's 8 per administrative region hardly thick on the ground or sufficient to give a good service, or as you seem to think

"That's more than enough for a country the size of Portugal "

If they dont have enough vehicles to provide an efficient service they shouldn't have taken on the contract or the Royal Mail shouldn't have offered them the contract. Aren't these things put out to tender? Seems the Royal Mail went for the cheapest option without caring about whether or not the company can deliver a decent service.

It has taken me 2 days to get through to GLS about the 2 parcels. When I asked why they had not been delivered they said that my address was 'not on their system'.

Me: But the address is on the parcels
GLS: But it is not on our system
Me: So why didn't you take the address off the parcel and put it on your system?
GLS: We do not work like that. The shipper has to call us to confirm the address so we can put it on our system.
Me: That's ridiculous!
GLS: That is how we work
Me: What if the shipper can't get through to you? I have tried for 2 days to get through to you and noone answers the phone.
GLS: We are very busy (Note: NO APOLOGY)
Me: So when will my parcels be delivered?
GLS: They will be delivered tomorrow now that we have your address. Please give me your number in case the driver can not find your home.

So that's the latest. I can put money on them not turning up or calling to say they dont know where I live even though I live in a well populated area with door numbers and road signs (which is not always the case in some Portuguese villages) and even though they have been here before!! HUMPH!

Nothing to do with whether or not they have enough vehicles. They are simply incompetent!

[canoeman]

Or maybe Royal Mail for giving them the contract, maybe you should inform shipper who probably won't be pleased, and Royal Mail

[jellybean]

I have done both. The company I ordered from have also complained to RM and were told that they are 'monitoring' the situation with GLS. Sounds like more people have complained so perhaps the service will improve or, if not, the contract will go to someone else. I live in hope.

[robc]

Just to chuck my two pennyworth in to the discussion.
I had my delivery from Amazon, via MRW, absolutely spot on and considering they shipped it via the free super saver option, even better.

Now I have a couple of more things I wish to purchase in the UK, so I have mailed the selling companies asking if they use Royal Mail, as if they do then I will go elsewhere.

One replied and made alternate arrangements, the other said "Royal Mail or Nothing" so I told them I will take the nothing option then. (My that felt good to do that even though I have not sourced what I need elsewhere yet)

Perhaps if enough of us get through to RM via their sales operation then things will change

Rob

[jellybean]

Originally Posted by robc

Just to chuck my two pennyworth in to the discussion.
I had my delivery from Amazon, via MRW, absolutely spot on and considering they shipped it via the free super saver option, even better.

Now I have a couple of more things I wish to purchase in the UK, so I have mailed the selling companies asking if they use Royal Mail, as if they do then I will go elsewhere.

One replied and made alternate arrangements, the other said "Royal Mail or Nothing" so I told them I will take the nothing option then. (My that felt good to do that even though I have not sourced what I need elsewhere yet)

Perhaps if enough of us get through to RM via their sales operation then things will change

Rob

Ah! Now that's a good idea Rob! I have already told one of my suppliers that I would rather pay extra and have my stuff delivered in 2 days by DHL without the hassle you get from the Royal Mail/GLS arrangement! So I agree, we all need to ensure RM get the message that we are not happy with GLS and will take our business elsewhere! Spread the word!!!!

[robc]

Originally Posted by jellybean

Ah! Now that's a good idea Rob! I have already told one of my suppliers that I would rather pay extra and have my stuff delivered in 2 days by DHL without the hassle you get from the Royal Mail/GLS arrangement! So I agree, we all need to ensure RM get the message that we are not happy with GLS and will take our business elsewhere! Spread the word!!!!

Hopefully it will via the good offices of web sites such as this.


Rob

[jellybean]

Originally Posted by robc

Just to chuck my two pennyworth in to the discussion.
I had my delivery from Amazon, via MRW, absolutely spot on and considering they shipped it via the free super saver option, even better.

Now I have a couple of more things I wish to purchase in the UK, so I have mailed the selling companies asking if they use Royal Mail, as if they do then I will go elsewhere.

One replied and made alternate arrangements, the other said "Royal Mail or Nothing" so I told them I will take the nothing option then. (My that felt good to do that even though I have not sourced what I need elsewhere yet)

Perhaps if enough of us get through to RM via their sales operation then things will change

Rob

Ah! Now that's a good idea Rob! I have already told one of my suppliers that I would rather pay extra and have my stuff delivered in 2 days by DHL without the hassle you get from the Royal Mail/GLS arrangement! So I agree, we all need to ensure RM get the message that we are not happy with GLS and will take our business elsewhere! Spread the word!!!!

[jellybean]

Originally Posted by robc

Hopefully it will via the good offices of web sites such as this.


Rob

Despite telling me that it would be delivered last Friday and having waited in all day, GLS have still not delivered my parcel! I spent the last 2 hours of Friday afternoon trying to get through to them without success. Complaining to the Royal Mail was hopeless as they just give the standard response that the SENDER has to fill in a form so they can look into the problem and you might get a response in 6 weeks if you're lucky! That doesn't get me my parcel! So I sent a letter of complaint to the GLS Head Office in Amsterdam expressing my frustration with my dealings with their operation in Portugal etc. I also spent all weekend sending GLS Portugal faxes asking where my parcel is and when would it be delivered, hoping that they would turn up on Monday morning with masses of fax msgs from me all over their office floor!

My campaigning appears to have worked as I got a message from the Head Office this morning apologising for the problems I have had with GLS in Portugal and promising to raise the matter with them. Shortly afterwards I got a call from a manager at GLS in Lisbon promising my parcel would be delivered today! So I am keeping my fingers crossed but not holding my breath.

The BAD news is that I have discovered that GLS is a subsidiary of Royal Mail so it looks like this is an arrangement we are stuck with. We can only hope that by complaining loudly, the service improves.

[canoeman]

Maybe complaints to sender if they are a business that uses Royal Mail for parcel delivery might help, hope it arrives today