DHL Express
reviews and complaints

It's no secret that DHL has one of if not the worst track record of shipping services. I made the mistake of using thier company for shipping from an online site that offered free next day shipping with DHL. Figuring I could save a few bucks and still have days to wrap it for X-mas gifts I did so. Suffice it to say the package did not arrive the next day. In fact a few days later it has still yet to arrive. I've watched the tracking of my packages and the interesting thing is that every day they change the expected date of arrival another day forward. Five whole pounds may in fact be the weight limit that cannot be exceeded for prompt delivery. Or I figure that "next day" for DHL implies "weeks later". For fun try complaining to DHL about a problem. I have yet to get any responses. Reckon I'm not nearly important enough for them to care.

Yes I have learned from this. I will NEVER use DHL again and I would rather pay significantly more with other companies to insure that I actually get my merchandise. I reccomend Fed-EX, UPS, USPS, carrier pigeon, tying package to rock and throwing in general direction of destination, or using sheer psychic willpower as more reliable methods of delivery.

- Tralfaz

Tracking number: [protected]
Compensation case number: E080085319

On Sept 3 2008, we shipped a suitcase weighing about 22kg from Frankfurt, Germany to Sesto Fiorentina, Italy via DHL. The tracking number is: [protected]. When we asked whether we should insure it, DHL staff assured that there was no need to since the package will be tracked all the way with no chance of getting lost.

Two months later, after lots of inquiries made by me about the whereabouts of the suitcase, in November, we were told that the suitcase is lost and that DHL will pay compensation of amount Euros 189.82, which includes Euros 32 paid to DHL for shipping. The compensation claim number given to me was E080085319. Please see the email from Christiane Dornecker of DHL, dated Nov 5th 2008. She asked me for the IBAN/BIC number of my US account. I told her that US banks do not have this number and I asked her to send a check. Ms. Dornecker responded on Nov 25 2008, that she would see if a check can be sent.

After that, I have heard absolutely nothing at all from her or from anyone else at DHL. I have emailed Ms. Dornecker several times. I have sent 2 letters, 2 faxes and phoned up 2 times. My last contact with DHL was on Dec 10th, when I spoke to the manageress at Customer Service. Each time, I was assured that a check would be sent to me and that an email confirmation would be send the next day. And yet, since Nov 25th, I have not received any communication by email, phone or mail from DHL.

WHAT I WANT: I think DHL should be ashamed of a suitcase -the cost of the suitcase and contents is Euros 1728. DHL should be even more ashamed of the way I have been treated. I want them to, at least, send me a check immediately for Euros 189.82 that they agreed to pay. Plus if they have any sense of decency they should pay me Euros 50 on top for the cost of the calls and the aggravation I have suffered. I believe they should compensate me fully for the Euros 1728 that my suitcase was worth but I understand that it was not insured, so I will settle for Euros 189.82+50= Euros 239.50.

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Nov 5 2008

Good morning Mr. Butt,

Compensation for suitcase is 157, 82 €, compensation for freight is 32, 00 €. So you´ll get 189, 82 €. This item is gone by economy, so it will be compensate by weight.
Compensation for 22 kg weight is 157, 82 €.
Please wait, case has been handed over to accounting. You´ll get a further letter soon.

Kind regards

Christiane Dornecker
Deutsche Post CSC Hamburg
Eiffestr. 78
20357 Hamburg

every time i recived a shipment from any country in a super way of delivery by DHL from any place within 2 or 3 days it is kept in the in the wear house in the QATAR branch for dayyss and did not delivere it to my place despite that they call me to take the address for delivery... and when i call them they transfere me to each other without any benifit and i hear them by phone that they have fights with each other ... and they tell me that they well solve the problem and they well call me .. but, they are not calling, , and put their phone in the answer machine and not call again ..
i think that persons who are working in the branch in QATAR not doing their job very well
Dr, Haya

Do not use DHL for any time sensitive deliveries! I paid $17 for next day shipping on an order I needed for my finals week of my last semester of school. I used DHL's online tracking information which told me my package would arrive Dec. 9. After it did not arrive on the 9th, I called DHL to find out why. The person I spoke to told me the package was held up but could not tell me why. He then assured me it would arrive later that day. When it did not arrive by 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 10, I called again. The person I spoke to this time sounded very annoyed and told me it would come that night. When the package did not come that night, I called again first thing in the morning on Dec. 11. Finally the person I spoke to was very helpful and I was able to get the package held at the DHL office so I could pick it up. The person even made sure to get my phone number and had someone at the office call me to confirm the pick-up. Although the office was difficult to find, I had no other problems picking up the package on my own. Yet, it is absolutely ridiculous that next day shipping takes three days and three phone calls! I will never use DHL again!

On 12-5-08 I was expecting a package from DHL Express out of Kansas City, MO. My regular delivery driver called me and told me that she did not have a package from me. She asked what zip code it orginated from and I told her. She told me she would make some phone calls and get back with me. A short while later, I spoke with her again and she told me that one of the other drivers had by mistake put it on his delivery route truck and the package was still in Kansas City, two hours away. This was very upsetting as this package contained payroll checks.
This delivery driver told me in a conversation that she would be willing to meet me halfway later in the day to get the package to me. After discussing the situation with the owner of my company we decided to file a complaint with DHL, through their 800 number. I also had the contact name and number of the individual in the Kansas City location, so I therefore called him. I told him that this was a mistake by one of his drivers and that it was an inconvenience to myself and the regular driver. He became very angry and screamed ' I know what you F***ing want, I'll bring you your f***ing check!". With that he hung up on me. I therefore contacted the 800 number again and lodged another complaint. A short while later a DHL rep by the name of Jim Davis called me back, I explained to him what had occured and he was very apologetic. He told me that Chuck was on his way down with the package/payroll.
At 2:36 Chuck Chiddix arrived at my office. He threw the envelope down on my desk and proceeded to scream that the regular delivery driver was going to meet me later that day to get the package to me. I told him that we pay DHL to provide a service and they fail miserably at it. He then proceeded to scream more calling me a liar and other things. He slammed my office door shut and stomped off down the hallway. By this time other businesses in my office building had come out of their office to see what all the screaming was about. Everyone was rather flabbergasted at the unprofessionalism and actions of Chuck Chiddix.
I again spoke with Jim Davis from DHL and later in the day a Jim Royal, (sp?) (who is the actual employer of Chuck Chiddix from Gateway in Omaha Nebraska) called me. Gateway is a contractor for DHL express. Jim R told me that he had discussed the first incident regarding the profanities on the phone with Chuck Chiddix and he had known nothing about the incident that took place in my office when Chuck Chiddix delivered the package. He too apologised and said that he thinks that Chuck is stressed out due to DHL folding and everyone losing their jobs. He said that if they were not losing their jobs in a few weeks, then he would terminate him for this but because of the status of DHL, he would not be doing so.
This however is NO excuse for Chuck Chiddix's behaviour. Chuck is the driver SUPERVISOR. What an example he leads for the others.

I have seen this individual in person twice now. I was stunned when I first found out that he was a supervisor as he was very dirty and unkempt looking

I know that there have been drivers, namly an individual by the name of Justin who worked in the Warrensburg, MO area until last friday, when he was let go early, Justin in the past has been suspended because of throwing packages while at the depot. This was not in the presence of a customer as Chuck Chiddix's was.

Also, Chuck Chiddix did not give me the scanner to sign that I had received the package, instead he signed his own name. He told his supervisor that he did so in order to avoid a confrontation. That is bull. When he walked in my door he was wanting a confrontation!

I would like Chuck Chiddix to be repremanded and made to apologise to me and the people in my office building who heard his tirade.

I sold a bumper on eBay and needed to find the exact shipping charge. DHL claimed to be the cheapest based on online searches. I wanted to confirm I was inputing everything correctly and so I went to the DHL Location in Rockledge Florida and had them tell me the amount. The wrote all the dimensions, weights and the cost on the package. I collected the money and input the info into their online electronic delivery site after creating an account. The amount ($127) matched very well with the DHL Rockledge location (dollar for dollar), so I arranged shipment. Later, they had charged me an extra $108 for a total of $235. I disputed this and they could not explain why I was charged an extra $108, but refused to disallow the extra fees, even though the Rockledge location had quoted me the very same amount. I said, "If I would have shipped through Rockledge, I wouldn't have been charged $108 extra." to which the worker Theresa agreed, but refused to do anything about it. Now after trying to elevate it and getting nowhere, I am coming to you. I can't imagine I am the only one they are doing this to. It is a bait and switch. They quote a price lower than their competitors and then charge you an excessive amount later. My bumper sold for $40 on eBay. I collected $127 in shipping costs based upone 2 quotes from DHL (online and in person). Shipping cost $235, so I am minus $68 on the transaction do to DHL's deceptive practices.

27.11.2008

about 10 days ago.. I bought some collectable cards through ebay...
through different sellers from United States and Canada.. and one of them are sending the cards through DHL and the rest through regular post...
the funny thing is they all came about 8 days after my ordero...
All of them arrived fine except DHL only left a message said that item was undeclared,
ooooook... so I rang them and told them it's actually collectable cards rather than gifts stated on the package, so they will deliver today

AND, WOW, I waked up around 7am this morning and waited waited waited waited waited and waited and waited then waited

yes, I have live, I am browsing internet while I was waiting
it was raining the whole morning and I didn't go out to check my mailbox and around 11:45am the rain stopped, so I walked out and check the mail box to see

IF THE DRIVER LEFT THE DELIVERY ON THE GROUND OR ON THE MAIL BOX OR OUTSIDE OF MY GARAGE DOOR OR IN THE RAIN(well.. it was raining)

and... I got supprised that I only got a note said "Unsuccessful Delivery At Tempt"

wow.. it's so amazing!

so I rang the DHL office "OLD Eagle Farm" site number : [protected]
and a women answered, I gave her the Air Waybill number and she told me Driver's record I am not home,
so I told her I was waiting for this delivery, how could I miss it?

and she become un-patiented and say it's driver's record that I am not home ( oh? If I wasn't home who the hell is ringing you right now?!?!)

after I hang up.. I was thinking.. I need to make compliant so I looked through DHL's main site, and founds out they don't have anything regards customer services ...

wow.. so I googled it...
topic "DHL BAD SERVICE"
"DHL LAZY DRIVER"
"DHL COMPLIANT"

and I found heaps of interesting DHL stories about people
and I am Happy that I am not the WORST one! LOL!

this is not the first time about the evil DHL service... same thing happened to my books before.. they were delivered by DHL but the driver just left it at door step. and when I found out I just "oh.. it's DHL again"

I might try make compliant through ACCC and see if they would give better service

To whom it concerns, (urgent complaint)
For a long time, we have noticed and knew sorrowfully that the regional manager responsible for Egypt in your respectable company is notoriously biased against the Muslim staff working under his tyrannical authority. It is really shameful of your company to free his hand in degrading, suffocating and driving Muslims to a narrow corner forcing them to leave their jobs in your company. We are just giving you a mere hint hoping to draw your attention to this fanatically religion- biased man, waiting for the proper decision to be taken, we'll remain for ever
Yours Faithfully

DHL might more appropriately named DHB for DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH in awaiting delivery.

I made an online purchase from a vendor who has a warehouse located about 25 miles from me in NJ. DHL picked up the order that same day, then delivered it to a hub in Allentown PA. Somewhere along the way the merchandise was broken and returned to the vendor. Their online tracking service stated it was delivered to me and signed for.

DHL never satisfactorily answered my queries about what was happening, and the vendor wasn't much help either.

Finally, a replacement shipment was made and, according to DHL's tracking service, was to arrive the next day. Instead it went to a hub in Iowa where the tracking service said it was received, then sent out. Nothing!

Finally I was able to speak to a live person who told me the shipment was damaged. I finally got them straightened out, and they realized it was the FIRST shipment that was damaged.

The second shipment seemed OK, but it had been mistakenly sent to Iowa by truck and was now on a truck back to NJ. It will arrive in about a week.

I don't know if it will or not, but I will heretofore check to see if vendors use DHL. If so, I simply won't order from them.

My parcel shipped to me via DHL from Florence, Ital on May 8, 2008, arrived in the DHL office in Calgary, May 24th, 2008. I was contacted by phone and then by email to complete forms, describe the contents of the parcel and my visa was charged duty on imported goods. I was told that my description matched the description of the items in the hands of the DHL representative and that it should arrive at my door in Saskatchewan with a few days. That was May 24th 2008. It is October, 2008 and my parcel has been classified as lost and my file and claim have been closed. I have been told to file a claim with my insurance or contact the store I purchased the item from in Florence, Italy. The Italian store has filed a claim as the initiator of the shipping with DHL as a courtesy to me however I have all kinds of documentation and emails from DHL evidencing that my shipment was in their hands in Calgary. What I suspect is that someone affiliated with DHL has taken my items for themselves. Yes, I am accusing them of theft. I will continue my pursuit of customer service and will never use DHL again. I will tell everyone I know or meet.

How can a company get away with this. My hope is that DHL would stop dropping the ball on their customers and start internally investigating their employees or installing survellence tapes. Much could be said and done in this regard.

After the first nightmare I had with DHL I always advise shippers not to use DHL. Their drivers are hired by private contractors and are of questionable character. I have had three bouts with DHL. The last experience started, Oct. 7, 2008. Driver stated that he couldn’t find the address. I live on one of two main roads in the area, mine being the only 4 lane highway. UPS, Fed X and USPS have no problem finding me. DHL had a problem three times. On Oct 9th I called and complained and asked customer service to notify the driver to call me when he gets in the area. I assume he got annoyed by my complaint because my VERY IMPORTANT contract suddenly became lost.. I advise everyone never to use DHL. Just look at this website and all the complaints against DHL

DHL SUCKS... I live off of a main 4 lane hwy. in Louisiana. There are only two roads that go through this area and the other one is a two lane. Three times DHL couldn't find my house. The problem is, most of their deliveries are 17 miles south of my address in Port Fourchon. Port fourchon is the busiest port in the united states. When the inept irresponsible private contractors are returning from Port Fourchon to deliver on the east side of the highway where I am located. the addresses are not real close. The speed limit is 65. They fly by my house and when the discover that they passed a delivery point, Oh well. These irresponsible drivers could care less about the delivery. This has happened three times in the past year. When ever someone tells me that they are going to overnight a package I advise them never to use, DHL. By the way, this last time I was expecting a very important contract. When the package didn't arrive on time I called and complained. I guess the driver got upset and all of a sudden the package was listed as lost. A w0rd of advice. Never, NEVER use DHL

The delivery person never bothered to come and marked my package undeliverable. I know he didn't come because I was at home all day waiting. I didn't shower and waited doing h/w. If I had missed it he would have left a note and brought it to our rental office because they sign for packages. The SOB just never came! I can't believe I paid for overnight service on a document that will cause me to lose my job and they just simply didn't come. Don't SHIP DHL or you will not receive your package.

Never use DHL for deliveries! I ordered some items from a catalog, first they delivered it to Shorefront drive. I had to re-order, and I just checked on line and they delivered it to Shoreline Drive. (My address is Shoreside drive and is correct on everything.) I just called them, the drivers don't have cell phones, just radios, so I have to wait for dispatchers to contact them to go pick it up. (And my first experience with DHL, they were supposed to ship something overnight and it took a week to get here!) They are without a doubt the worst delivery service I've ever dealt with - 3 out of 3 screw ups! Don't know how they stay in business.

DHL picked up my package and delivered on sept 2, after 2weeks later, DHL neither deliver my package nor return to me without any acceptible reason.

During the 2 week time period, I called customer service for 5 times, they said we made mistake, we will re-delivered and it should be received soon. now DHL hold my package because I am angry to them and I am pursue the legical assistance to sue them.

How BAD service it is, how frustrated we are. I just read numerious complaints about DHL service problem, why there is no organization to investigate DHL 's problem? why DHL can still operate with such disorder management? DHL does not delay our package, DHL wastes our time and money.

For the second time I have not received a package from DHL. I await my package, check my DHL tracking number and find out, both times, that my package is listed as delivered (left by my door). Needless to say, i never got any package. Nothing was left by my door. I called DHL and they said they did not have my apartment number listed but that the package was delivered to my apartment. That makes no sense. How would they know what apartment to deliver to if the, as they claim, had no apartment number? I will not ever use DHL again and will never do business with any company that uses them either.

My supplier sent me a couple of boxes from Hong Kong via DHL, but to my surprise the tracking showed the package as delivered. The signature and name of recipient does not match name package was addressed to. I contacted customer service informing them the goods were not delivered to me, it turns out the driver had taken them to wrong address. I begged them to please return to the address and recover same day but they refused, of course come next day, the recipient is not opening his door, and DHL have been totally untruthful. DHL - driver helps lose.

I opened a DHL account this year. A sales rep called to welcome me aboard. I shipped many items with them with no problems. I shipped a car seat in April 2008. I have shipped two or three before that. The DHL calculator showed about $64.00, with is about average for a box of 48 lbs. So I sent the invoice to the buyer (ebay sale) and then made a pick-up appointment, all online. I printed the label on my printer and the receipt shows a rate of $59.25. I shipped this May 1st or 2nd.

Then on April 11 I received the bill from DHL for $238.50! I called and the sales lady told me that the package was re-weighed at 239 lbs! They told me that my label receipt ws not proof. SO I filed a claim and it ws ignored. I have called them to no avail. I asked a second or third rep why they didn't notify me of the changed shipping price before shipping and the answer was' We don't have the time to call every customer'. Oh yeah? Well you sure have the time to steal from me !

I am filing another claim with my bank because this company refuses to acknowledge that they are being dishonest. And I am unable to close the account! There should be a law against what this company can do. I want my account closed with DHL and I never will do business with them again!

Dell uses DHL shipping company to send electronics when purchased online. I purchased a very expensive piece of electronics and it was shipped by DHL out of California. I used the ability to track shipment online and saw they would attempt delivery on the 13th which is the day I was out of state on business. When I inquired, I was told Dell requires signatures on their electronics and they would attempt delivery and when I wasn't there, they would leave directions on my door how to pick up my delivery in person at their closest location. Dell also indicated signature required on my order. Just to make sure, I left a HUGE note on my door with a magnet clip telling the delivery person not to leave a package but to leave directions how I could pick it up next day (Friday) at their nearest location. when I returned home very late at night the 13th, there was the package, out in the weather, in plain sight on my doorstep. the note was still on my door, also in plain sight. when I complained to DHL, they sent back a canned email note "sorry we didn't meet your expectations". Dell has not responded. I won't buy from Dell again if they continue to use this shipper. I do not live in an area where electronics or other expensive items should be left in plain sight. I was so very lucky it wasn't stolen or badly damaged by weather. DHL is not a good shipping experience.

UPDATE: Dell responded and gave me a 15.00 credit for my inconvenience and were very responsive in their email reply. GREAT SERVICE from Dell. I just hope they don't use DHL in the future.