Shipping with DHL is like Playing Russian Roulette with your Package --- NOT RECOMMENDED
Written: Nov 19 '06
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Pros: good web-site
Cons: terrible shipping, very expensive, damaged all my products, acted like they didn't do anything wrong
The Bottom Line: Yes they are on time in their shipping, but who cares if the product is always arriving damaged. Not Recommended.
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| three_ster's Full Review: DHL USA Overnight |
I use shipping companies all the time in the current job that I have. In fact, with nearly any position I have ever had in the workplace, I have worked with shipping companies to both receive products quickly, and to have them sent out to requested destinations. In all instances, I have wanted the package to be received by either my destination or by myself in top condition. Nobody wants their package to be damaged, and really nobody wants their package to get lost during the long transit process. I have come to expect that if a package is getting shipped, that it will sustain moderate shaking, and that it’s going to get shuffled around in the box if you aren't careful. But packing it tight, you should expect it to come intact. Using DHL Overnight, it isn't a cheap endeavor, and when you are paying for that "extra quick" shipping, you would also think that you were paying for the product to get there in one piece, and that it would almost be guaranteed. But unfortunately in my experience, I am here to tell you that DHL has never stood up to U.S. Priority, FedEx, or UPS through my uses of their Overnight Shipping.
If you are looking to have a package sent overnight, you can figure out roughly what time you will be receiving it the next day. For instance if you sign up to use the DHL Overnight on a Monday morning, you can expect it to reach the destination by 12pm on Tuesday. It seems like a pretty good deal when you sign up for it, and it goes without saying that if you want "Overnight" shipping, that you want the package to get there the next day. They usually give you two options as well, so if you only need it there by the next afternoon (3pm according to their services), you can do it for a slightly less expensive price. For a 5 pound package that I wanted sent from Philadelphia PA to Spokane WA by the next morning, they gave a cost of $54.48 to get it done. For the 3pm drop off time, they charged $46.81 for the same trip. The prices are about double the cost they have for 2nd day shipping, and around 7 times as much for their ground service (which is around 7 or 8 days of shipping time). If your package is gets larger in dimensions or weight, the cost is going to increase, whereas if the package is lighter (like a letter) you will probably find a much cheaper rate.
Now there are two ways (three instances) that I have used the DHL service, and that has been through my own use of the site, and through a company using DHL as their primary carrier. All encounters with DHL have been expensive, and even the ground option turned out to be pricey simply because of the weight of our product. I would guess the later product was about 60 pounds, but it still cost almost $100.00 to have it shipped over to Washington from Ohio using the ground shipping option. Not cheap by any means, you would think it would insure a good condition product would be received on either end of things. I am here to say that the service has been disgusting, and that using DHL, I have never had a product go undamaged. That expensive product that I was talking about, was a small set of lockers to go in one of the lab rooms. The corners were bent in, the backing was scratched, and there were dents all over it. The condition of the box was flat out appalling, and the first set was rejected as a result. To add to it, one thing I didn't mention before, was that the shipment was delayed because the FIRST set had been damaged so badly that DHL didn't complete the delivery.
It seems like a game that DHL plays, where they damage the product during transportation, and then returns it to the shipper, meanwhile taking the money and running with it. I have used DHL three times myself, each time paying very expensive shipping costs, and in all instances ended up either receiving a damaged product, or having someone else receive a damaged product from us. Sure, they have a good web-site that makes everything easy. From the determination of the cost, to the time it will take to ship, and even showing all of the available options, their site does a lot of good work in that regards. The problem however, falls between the shipment and the recipient, where your package goes through the ringer, and comes out the other side in unusable condition. With three (or four depending on how you look at my examples) terrible experiences using DHL, I don't think this is a company I am ever going to willfully use again. When you pay that much to have something sent out overnight, you expect it to get there with speed and for it to arrive in one useable piece. Having not experienced that with DHL, while using their Overnight Shipping, I will continuously tell people NOT to use this method of shipping, because it is simply a waste of money.
Recommended:
No
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