Is Your Amazon Prime Ruined By Hermes?

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Trevor
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No
Mine was.

I've never had a parcel go missing when they were sent by Royal Mail or DPD or any other means. Hermes on the other hand would fail to deliver three in ten parcels and EVERY parcel was late - often by a week or two. :mad: :banghead:

Anyway - good news.:D

I complained several times, but on the last occasion I told them that if they insisted sending my stuff via Hermes any longer, then I would close my account (had if for fourteen years) and go out of my way to encourage my friends, relatives and online contacts, to do likewise.
They said they would stop. I didn't believe it, but they did. It's now been three weeks since (I have two or three deliveries a week) I've not had anything sent via Hermes. :banana:

Well done Amazon - you have really cheered me up. (y)

Hermes - you do not deserve to be in business. Good riddance. :mooning:

You now know what to do . . .
 
We've been pretty lucky with Herpes and touch wood never had anything go missing....BUT our driver is so bloody lazy he can't even be bothered to press the door bell. Every delivery is just dumped on the door step and he's gone. Somebody is always at home so it would be nice just to get some indication that a delivery has ben made.

I tried to catch him the other day to show him how a door bell works but he was too quick and driving down the road before I could get out there.
 
Yup! I had all that - dumped in the garden, put in the rubbish bin, thrown over the fence, in next door's greenhouse, wrong house, wrong street, under the car, under the neighbour's car - bloody useless the lot of 'em.

It's such a relief now that the postman brings them. :)
 
Nope, absolutely nothing from Amazon is delivered by Hermes round here. Perfect service so far.
 
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I've had a few miss delivered parcels by Hermes but the worst was actually an Amazon driver who delivered a Micro Pc and didn't follow the instruction to deliver to a neighbour who works from home. It was left on my front door step apparently which is 13ft from the footpath in direct view. It cost Amazon £435 for a replacement. I even got hold of the driver who delivered the replacement and asked him if he new what a doorbell was for :D
 
Amazon is a horrible company. They may be good to their customer but they are horrible to anything else. Crush competitors, crush worker rights, avoid tax.

Amazon has their own driver where it's financially good for them to do so. Which by the way, is a modern sort of slavery. The drivers are "self-employed" but they have large overhead costs on which they have no saying. Amazon choose the van, the uniform, the PDA, the garage they use, the cleaner they use, the "self-employed" has to pay them.

Where it's not profitable for them to have their own drivers they use a mix of third party courier and royal mail. Royal Mail is obliged by law to charge the same for any address in the UK. Amazon has taken away from them the profitable packets and only offload the unprofitable (hard to reach) packet onto them. This system is unsustainable for someone like royal mail.

When you use amazon you are killing jobs everywhere along the way between the supplier to the delivery man.

In 95% of the case, you can find the same item at the same price on a different website with a quick google search.
 
Lemaildetom said:
Amazon is a horrible company. They may be good to their customer but they are horrible to anything else. Crush competitors, crush worker rights, avoid tax.

Amazon has their own driver where it's financially good for them to do so. Which by the way, is a modern sort of slavery. The drivers are "self-employed" but they have large overhead costs on which they have no saying. Amazon choose the van, the uniform, the PDA, the garage they use, the cleaner they use, the "self-employed" has to pay them.

Where it's not profitable for them to have their own drivers they use a mix of third party courier and royal mail. Royal Mail is obliged by law to charge the same for any address in the UK. Amazon has taken away from them the profitable packets and only offload the unprofitable (hard to reach) packet onto them. This system is unsustainable for someone like royal mail.

When you use amazon you are killing jobs everywhere along the way between the supplier to the delivery man.

In 95% of the case, you can find the same item at the same price on a different website with a quick google search.
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Similar can be said of a lot of companies. Amazon aren't the only company that uses legal loopholes to minimise the tax that they pay.
Supermarkets put many butchers, bakers, grocers etc out of business.
 
I got rubbished on an earlier thread where I criticised Amazon, good to see that others finally feel the same way. They are a nasty company who treat their workers like dirt.
 
Lemaildetom said:
Royal Mail is obliged by law to charge the same for any address in the UK. Amazon has taken away from them the profitable packets and only offload the unprofitable (hard to reach) packet onto them. This system is unsustainable for someone like royal mail.
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I hadn't thought of that. We don't have Amazon drivers round here (west Wales) and I think RM delivers our Amazon parcels.

RM is pretty reliable round here and we know our postie pretty well. If only RM were more price competitive for all parcels. They're good up to 2kg but ridiculous above that. RMSD is also good value too, of course. I'd stick with RM if it was sensible financially - it would keep the local PO in business as well.
 
jerry12953 said:
I hadn't thought of that. We don't have Amazon drivers round here (west Wales) and I think RM delivers our Amazon parcels.

RM is pretty reliable round here and we know our postie pretty well. If only RM were more price competitive for all parcels. They're good up to 2kg but ridiculous above that. RMSD is also good value too, of course. I'd stick with RM if it was sensible financially - it would keep the local PO in business as well.
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If you are a business and send a lot of parcels then you can use Tracked 48 or Tracked 24.
Tracked 24 costs us £5.35+vat for up to 20Kg. I think that's pretty good value. No way in hell I'd send customer orders with Herpes just to save a quid or two.
 
ecoleman said:
If you are a business and send a lot of parcels then you can use Tracked 48 or Tracked 24.
Tracked 24 costs us £5.35+vat for up to 20Kg. I think that's pretty good value. No way in hell I'd send customer orders with Herpes just to save a quid or two.
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I do send a fair few so I'll definitely look into that. Thanks!
 
Lemaildetom said:
Amazon is a horrible company. They may be good to their customer but they are horrible to anything else. Crush competitors, crush worker rights, avoid tax.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that they are - just like any other big corporation. That's capitalism and how business is done - this is how it has always been and how it always will be, so there's no sense moaning about it, that's the way of the world; dog eat dog. Survival of the fittest.

Lemaildetom said:
When you use amazon you are killing jobs everywhere along the way between the supplier to the delivery man.
Click to expand...

Indeed. The same as you do when you buy from any other company - you will always deprive somebody. You can't pay everyone and you can't change the world - it's the way most people want it. I don't FWIW, but Amazon have the best online customer service I've ever had to deal with and I've been buying online since the early 80s. No such thing as the WWW back then.

Lemaildetom said:
In 95% of the case, you can find the same item at the same price on a different website with a quick google search.
Click to expand...

Of course there are exceptions, but IME this is rarely the case. There are always extra charges for delivery and packaging - often well over the actual cost of such. Besides, I'd rather buy from a company that I know will look after me and if there is a problem will refund/replace almost instantly instead of starting a dispute.

From my perspective (in a wheelchair, mostly housebound); Amazon is my lifeline. Without them, my life would be very difficult indeed. As I'm sure it would be for the millions of other disabled people (and very lazy ones) out there who can't go to the high street - not that there's anything there any more anyway.
 
robj20 said:
Nope, absolutely nothing from Amazon is delivered by Hermes round here. Perfect service so far.
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Same here, they've been using their own vans for quite a while.
 
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I don't want to kick up a hornets nest but......
If Amazon are so bad to work for then the staff can look elsewhere for a job.
The drivers I've spoken to are happy with their jobs so it can't all be bad.
 
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Sky said:
They said they would stop. I didn't believe it, but they did. It's now been three weeks since (I have two or three deliveries a week) I've not had anything sent via Hermes. :banana:
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That's a result (y)
My feelings on Hermes are well known ;)

Although recently I've started to see Amazon branded vans around again.
They seemed to have disappeared ( here at least) about 3 years ago, in favour of Hermes or the battered old ( any colour you like) van.
 
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I hope not, just bought a Lightbox from Amazon that is out for delivery today with Hermes
Bloke here seems pretty reliable, old couple before him even had my phone number to check whether I would be about
 
Hermes aren't great in my experience - the last delivery they said we were out and took an image of a green field to "prove" that they had tried to deliver - problem is we live in a street with houses (and cars) both sides of the road and we are at least 500 meters from the nearest green space - they never put something through the letter box to prove the visit and their tracking web site is really no help.

We always use the good old GPO/Parcel Force and at least your see the friendly face of the Postman every day
 
My experience is the opposite. Have Amazon deliveries from a mixture of Hermes, Royal Mail or DPD.

It's only those that were supposed to be delivered by Royal Mail that have gone missing, whereas touchwood haven't had any delivered by either Hermes or DPD go missing yet.
 
Of the few Hermes deliveries from any source we have had none were particularly satisfactory! One particular supplier I told them that I would never use them again whilst they used Hermes!

In regard to Amazon, we have had a wide range of deliverers including a Taxi. In the main they have been proficient.....though one guy in an unmarked 'white' van never even knocks.

Oh, one item we looked for was available at the best price on their Amazon Fresh service.....I added a couple of minor items and with the £3.99 delivery charge was still the cheapest arrangement. A big bonus was that as a first time user of that service I could opt to get £12 discount off, so well pleased and it was delivered by a smartly dressed man in a white BMW !
 
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I ordered a plastic garden tool shed for my sister via Ebay.
The seller sent it and Herpes somehow managed to lose it.
The seller had to send me another one and cut his loss because he didn't use an insured service.
 
My Hermes delivery was at the start of the two hour slot they emailed me earlier today
No complaint from me on this occasion
 
Im a professional photographer but for 14 months I worked for Hermes to ensure I did not loose my house and I could feed my kids. After 21 years of photography covid was hard hitting. You should get the same driver each day as they do the same round each day, so get to know them and let them know where you want your parcels to go if you are out. In 14 months I delivered over 30,000 and only two complaints. On both occasions it turned out they had put the wrong address. The trouble with Hermes is the quality of service is largely down to the courier that does your round. They have in the last 12 months made some changes that are now improving their service including having their photos checked once a week by managers. I know of a number that lost their jobs due to poor service. For me they were great, I took home 40K in 12 months, of which 33k profit before tax. I did work hard 6 days a week and many of my customers were very disappointed to see me leave. The one thing I can say, from the millions of parcel delivery photos taken every day, mine were the best :) :)
 
I have had no trouble with Hermes ( and DPD RM etc ) for business deliveries for the last two years. The local couriers are good.

Just before that, I had an issue with an incoming from a Holland ebay seller who chose to use the Dutch Postal service who then ship on via Hermes ( cos its dirt cheap ).
The guy hadn't shipped insured, as I always do, and Hermes got the parcel and scanned it at the local depot from whence it disappeared.

I got my money back of course but it irked me than the parcel was a CV 35/2.8 in the Contax RF mount - only a short run made - what a waste.

I only use RM or DPD for shipping - would not touch Hermes with a very very long bargepole.
 
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bovey9 said:
Im a professional photographer but for 14 months I worked for Hermes to ensure I did not loose my house and I could feed my kids. After 21 years of photography covid was hard hitting. You should get the same driver each day as they do the same round each day, so get to know them and let them know where you want your parcels to go if you are out. In 14 months I delivered over 30,000 and only two complaints. On both occasions it turned out they had put the wrong address. The trouble with Hermes is the quality of service is largely down to the courier that does your round. They have in the last 12 months made some changes that are now improving their service including having their photos checked once a week by managers. I know of a number that lost their jobs due to poor service. For me they were great, I took home 40K in 12 months, of which 33k profit before tax. I did work hard 6 days a week and many of my customers were very disappointed to see me leave. The one thing I can say, from the millions of parcel delivery photos taken every day, mine were the best :) :)
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That's very intested to read although I did think the fault was with the drivers rather than Herpes or the depot.
Back in the day I was happy working six days per week and if younger people want to do 6 days per week for decent money fair play to them.
 
We get quite a few Hermes deliveries but not from Amazon, mostly clothing shops and have only had one issue with a delivery in many years (wrongly delivered, but rectified by the courier and delivered two days later).

Amazon Logistics who deliver around this way for Amazon are another story, damaged parcels, theft from parcels, late deliveries and parcels just left in the open outside have all happened.
 
Sky said:
so there's no sense moaning about it
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Maybe, but I just choose to not use them and wish other people would do the same. I spend my days carrying amazon packet. I live in a rural area and work for royal mail. 75% of our packets are amazon. It is not healthy for this country. I wish people would choose to support other businesses.
 
Dave * said:
Amazon Logistics who deliver around this way for Amazon are another story, damaged parcels, theft from parcels, late deliveries and parcels just left in the open outside have all happened.
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Once they have delivered to me I get an email from them asking for feedback about the driver.
If they received bad feedback from a few customers about a driver I assume they would look into it.
Moving over to their own logistics and vans gives me the feeling this is the best way they control problems.
 
hashcake said:
Moving over to their own logistics and vans gives me the feeling this is the best way they control problems.
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But that the catch the drivers are self-employed paid to the packet. Technically this should be illegal. Another way for Amazon to avoid paying taxes and giving rights to people working for them such as job security, holidays and sick pay. The amazon drivers get none of that.
 
There's a large intersect between people wanting goods at the lowest possible cost and people not happy that budget couriers cut corners.
 
hashcake said:
Moving over to their own logistics and vans gives me the feeling this is the best way they control problems.
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unfortunately (at least around this way) Amazon Logistics isnt Amazon, it’s a bunch of subcontractors, usually in dirty, rusted vans who only get paid per item delivered. Hopefully with the new logistics centre about to open nearby that will change and they’ll be phased out.
 
hashcake said:
That's very intested to read although I did think the fault was with the drivers rather than Herpes or the depot.
Back in the day I was happy working six days per week and if younger people want to do 6 days per week for decent money fair play to them.
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At my sub depot there were 15 couriers. At 50 I was the second youngest. Every time a young person would start they would always quit within a week and ofter within a day. Most but not all do not like hard work :(
 
Well, I knew it wouldn't last long:

I've had ten deliveries this month - seven delivered next day by Royal Mail, but three missing. Yup, you guessed it - all sent via Hermes.

Can anyone recommend somewhere else to shop online? I've really had it with Amazon now - they insist on using this useless company, no matter how much I complain.
 
hashcake said:
I don't want to kick up a hornets nest but......
If Amazon are so bad to work for then the staff can look elsewhere for a job.
The drivers I've spoken to are happy with their jobs so it can't all be bad.
Click to expand...

I am a prolific Amazon user and have been for many years, but have never seen the same driver twice so where do they all go ? Their delivery service is good.. DPD is good and RM has "room for improvement".

Herpes are not desperately bad in my experience (other local people would strongly disagree), but they right at the bottom of the league. If I always had the choice of courier I would not select them.
 
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bovey9 said:
Im a professional photographer but for 14 months I worked for Hermes to ensure I did not loose my house and I could feed my kids. After 21 years of photography covid was hard hitting. You should get the same driver each day as they do the same round each day, so get to know them and let them know where you want your parcels to go if you are out. In 14 months I delivered over 30,000 and only two complaints. On both occasions it turned out they had put the wrong address. The trouble with Hermes is the quality of service is largely down to the courier that does your round. They have in the last 12 months made some changes that are now improving their service including having their photos checked once a week by managers. I know of a number that lost their jobs due to poor service. For me they were great, I took home 40K in 12 months, of which 33k profit before tax. I did work hard 6 days a week and many of my customers were very disappointed to see me leave. The one thing I can say, from the millions of parcel delivery photos taken every day, mine were the best :) :)
Click to expand...

the thing is how do you get complaints when it's not possible to speak to anybody at the company.
Our driver is a woman and she is bloody useless. Parcels are just dumped on the doorstep, whe can't even be bothered to press the doorbell button.

The other day I had to return something to Amazon so they arrange a collection with Herpes. On the first collection day nobody turned up so we re-arranged it with Amazon. Again, on the collection day I checked the tracking and they had provided a two hour time slot for the collection. During that entire two hours, my wife was in the living room right next to the front door and I was upstairs, no collection was attempted and yet the tracking updated to say they had tried to collect but nobody was in.

I got hold of Amazon again and this time they said they had cancelled Herpes and arranged the collection with Arrow. The following day this dim wit rings the doorbell. Again I was upstairs and immediately got up from my chair and made my way down stairs. By the time I'd reached the bottom of the stairs a card was thrust through the letter box and she was off.

I opened the door and shouted to her so she reluctantly returned. I asked here what she wanted (acting dumb) so she told me she had a collection. So I confronted her about the day before. No comment, she just left.

Can I complain? No chance.
 
ecoleman said:
Our driver is a woman and she is bloody useless. Parcels are just dumped on the doorstep, whe can't even be bothered to press the doorbell button.
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My driver is also a woman and also bloody useless.
Leaving parcels on the doorstep in the pouring rain, and not knocking or ringing the bell.
How does she know if I'm in or out?
3 parcels ruined in less than a year despite the fact there is a large notice by the bell, saying where my safe place is.

ecoleman said:
the thing is how do you get complaints when it's not possible to speak to anybody at the company.
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I always email the CEO that gets a response, granted, not personally, but from a minion in his office.
Martijn.deLange@hermes-europe.co.uk.

People in my rough post code ( same courier) were always having issues,
until I posted that email addy.
Nothing has reported on local hub for ages.
Coincidence? :D
 
arclight said:
I am a prolific Amazon user and have been for many years, but have never seen the same driver twice so where do they all go ? Their delivery service is good.. DPD is good and RM has "room for improvement".

Herpes are not desperately bad in my experience (other local people would strongly disagree), but they right at the bottom of the league. If I always had the choice of courier I would not select them.
Click to expand...


having worked as an amazon delivery driver in the past they don't go anywhere, its purely random who you get. We rock up to the depot in our vans, get allotted a cage or 2 full of parcels, throw them in the back and drive off following a preset route. it was a mugs game back then, not sure if things have changed since. Doesn't sound like it!

Hermes is odd. At my last address they were fantastic. Always used them for my ebay sales and never had a problem in 3 years. Moved to my new address and used them twice, first one "got lost" second one was smashed to bits. Never used them again. But they must be similar to amazon, just use a fleet of 0 hours drivers who turn up on the day and get a delivery sheet to work to. Purely random and luck. Hence why the royal mail is possible better due to a fixed staff.
 
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After herpes losing 5 items last year going out and in bound , plus all the relevant hoo hah chasing up and claiming etc , I now specify not to send via herpes … that applies to Amazon and e.bay .
Thankfully Amazon have opened a local super depot with a fleet of there own electric vans so normally no problem with them with incoming goods
 
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Almost all our actual Amazon stuff comes via their own (electric) vans but some of the marketplace stuff comes via other couriers. Luckily, all of the regular drivers seem to be good ones. Had a watch delivered (from the manufacturer in Austria) via UPS. The e-mail from the manufacturer said it would be arriving today, the one from UPS said Saturday so I felt safe going out on Friday with a note on the door and keys in the meter cupboard door. Got home to find the box in full view on the doorstep...
 
Nearly all of our Amazon Prime deliveries come via their own couriers (not in branded vans, I guess they are just contracted) and have done for some years now, very very rare for a delivery to not arrive next day. We are nowhere near a depot (or city) either. A handful come via DPD, no issues with them either. Amazon drivers give a 3 hour window (usually accurate), DPD give a one hour window (always accurate).

I remember in the early days of Prime they'd just send stuff via first class Royal Mail, ended up with months and months free because nothing would ever arrive as scheduled. Then they moved to couriers such as Hermes and it was terrible, we've now had the same handful of Amazon drivers for years and they've been great.
 
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