Anyone Familiar w/ DHL Freight?

THEY SUCK JERRY

GO WITH FED-EX GROUND..VERY ATTRACTIVE RATES..

 

Are you sure you need "Freight"??? FedEx ground will deliver up to 150lbs under regular shipping, freight is above that weight.

I used DHL 3 times - NEVER AGAIN. Their tracking system is lacking. They scan when the package leaves the origin, and scan again when it arrives at the destination. In between, there's nothing. So if you are wondering where it is, they can't tell you. And if it gets lost, they will tell you "just wait a few days". They can't track like FedEx/UPS do and know where it is, who touched it last, etc. I shipped stuff for a trade show - they lost it. I asked if they could expedite a search and re-delivery, but they said no. Basically I was totally screwed and they wouldn't/couldn't do anything to help me.

I've also used UPS. They are mediocre, but not great. Lots of little problems - stuff gets damaged, damage claims are a bear, they will never leave a package without a signature unless I specifically request it, international prices are $$$$, and their COD process is not as good as FexEx.

I have used a bunch, and FedEx is the best. They bought RPS who they turned into "FedEx Ground". Prices are very good - lower even than US Postal for domestic packages. You can track much better than the others, and their COD process is exceptional.

One caveat when using FedEx. If you are concerned about fraud - people saying they never got the package, make SURE you check the box "Do not deliver without signature". If you don't specifically request it, it's up to the drivers discretion. If the driver leaves the package on the doorstep and it gets stolen, they will not pay on that claim so long as it was delivered. I've had customers do this to me - and it gets old after you re-ship a few of them.

 

Agree with Bruce. btw, regarding overcharging - I use a company (www.moneybackaudit.com) for my bills (Fedex, in my case) that do a good job of auditing. No affiliation, other than a happy customer.

 

My experience with DHL is that my major supplier switched from UPS about one month ago. I essentially get daily shipments from them but many are lost, late and not delivered at a set time. My UPS always comes between 10:30AM and Noon. My DHL shipments could come anytime after 10AM, if at all. In the last week, my 2-day package was delivered in 5 days, another 2-day package was delivered in 3 days. These people need to get their act together or they won't be in business much longer...

 

*thumbs up* However, the attractive rates/discounts seem to start applying heavily when you use 1 & 2 day air freight. Nothing on the FedEx Ground.

 

NOT TRUE

I GET BETWEEN 10-20% DISCOUNTS WHEN I TRUCK 20LBS OR MORE...

BETTER RATES THAN UPS................SEE YOUR REP..............

 

DISCOUNTS APPLY ON FED EX GROUND......SORRY

 

YES JERRY

CAN SET UP TIME FOR PICK UPS WITH THEM

ALSO, EVERYTHING IS TRACKABLE BY COMPUTER AS SOON AS YOU SIGN OUT AND GIVE THE DRIVER A LOG SHEET

VERY EASY..................

 

FEDEX is the only way to go.............UPS is bad......DHL isn't good or bad....just average...FED-EX is incredible !!!

I just ship documents BTW..........and FEDEX has never let me down yet in 5 years.

 

You can get a discount on ground - but like Bruce said it depends on the weight. For light weight packages you're already at their lowest level. My rep claims they dont make money on anything less than 5lb, and actually lose $$. If you do some good volume with ground, or ship stuff more than a few lbs, you should be able to get a decent discount.

I get pretty good discounts for FedEx express - and I'm working on switching completely to FedEx ground from USPS in a couple of months and the discount offered is pretty good.

 

DHL is in a big expansion mode and bringing on new independent contractors all over to gain market penetration. I got a bid package in the mail to become and IC with at least 16 vans, but it was just confusing. Have you seen their ads that say "Yellow is the new Brown" ? In their IC package they are aiming to move up even with FedEx and UPS so I bet you could get some attractive rates to sign on, but if you get one of these new IC's handling your account that could be part of the screwups.

 

EEEKKKK!!!! Today I just sent a shipment to Brazil using DHL for the first time...Hope it gets there!!!

<Stay Tuned>

 

DHL is fabulous for world wide shipping especially to very hard to get to places. I would use UPS or FEDEX in the US.

 

My point of view is based upon importing product from Asia for over ten years. Every experience we have had with DHL has been a complete failure on their part. Late shipments, lost shipments, etc., etc., etc. Never use them. FEDX & UPS are first rate and continue to improve their product and services. Plus they are both U.S. based. I believe that's not the case with DHL. Good luck.

 

Did you contact your UPS rep and beat him or her up with your competitors pricing? This should be the first thing on your list. If you solicited the quote of a competitor, you should let UPS meet or beat their rates before taking away their business.

 

PD.......

I sent a package to Rio de Janeiro once by DHL..........it arrived 5 days later...........no problem.....except it was $65.

Everything I subsequently sent by FEDEX arrived 2-3 days later.........."all the time"........every time.

In fact..........if I get it to the FEDEX airport office before noon........it gets delivered in Rio the next afternoon. Still $65 though.

 

I ordered some parts from the UK and all seemed to go well until the package made it about 50 miles from my house. I contacted the merchant and was told the package was in Cincinnati. I contacted DHL and they said it was near Seattle but it had the wrong address on it. This was after the package had been sitting there for almost two weeks. I gave them the correct address (although they didn't say what was wrong with it) and still no package. After another week I called again and they said they had the right info now but it had made it this far with NO address and they didn't know why it had not been delivered now. This was on Thursday and they said it would be there the next day. Finally on Monday the package showed up, almost a month after it had been shipped.

If I have a choice I won't ever use DHL again. I had a couple questions. First why had it been sitting at their dist. center and they hadn't bothered to contact me or the shipper? Second, how did it make it as far as Seattle supposedly with NO address. Total BS job if you ask me!!

 

This is how good executives commuicate.

Any ambiguity in this statement? NADA.

Bruce should teach classes on the subject.

 

Jerry.

UPS rates are negotiable, just like anything else. We currently get discounts of 6-15% on Red, Blue, Orange label and ground shipments depending on the service. Stepest discounts are on the overnight stuff.

Additionally, they provide my shipping dept with PCs, labels, printers, forms, etc. We don't pay a penny for any of this stuff either, including all maintenance.

My experience with FedEx is good, but they force minimum service buys down your throat to get their better rates. And remember, they share airplanes with other freight, and sometimes they get bumped. Their ontime delivery rates, and lost package percentages, can't compare with UPS, who at least for me, really are "the best in the business." We do about $4-5K a week with them.

Our rep always goes to bat for us getting the best rates.

I only have overseas experience with DHL, but they are pushing, big time, into the US market. Not sure I'd put all my product in their hands, just yet.