A thanks

Over the years, I've bought a lot of goods online, many of which have come from overseas. I've had packages sent by a vast number of shipping companies; anywhere from USPS to UPS to Fedex to DHL to the UK's Royal Mail. Even Australia Post *shudders*...

As most are likely well aware, you usually only hear about the horror stories. You could Google problems with each and every one of those, and you'd get hit after hit from customers complaining about how their packages either became lost or took ages to arrive.

You'll even read posts from those who claim they've worked for these companies, and how they recommend staying away from them.

I have a different story to tell.

For starters, if I'm being honest I'm probably one of the more anal customers one can get. When I'm expecting something, I'm refreshing that tracking website just about all the time. As it happens, I'm waiting for something at the moment, and it's getting done just about every opportunity I can get.

So if they put a step wrong, they hear about it from me. Entertainment is my life, and when my purchases don't arrive on time, it's like Doom 2 Hell on Earth all over again.

Thankfully though, the vast majority of shipping companies have never put a step wrong by me. USPS, UPS, DHL, I have nothing bad to say about any of them.

If I'm being honest, Fedex annoyed me once or twice, but an extra day here or there is nothing to really get in a knot about. All things being equal though, I can see why they're not really all that big out here in Australia. I wouldn't not recommend them, but then, I wouldn't go out of my way to use their services again either.

Australia Post have, without doubt, pissed me off the most. I have a PO box with them, and it's annoying enough that junk mail finds its way there, but what really got my knickers in a knot was when they didn't put a slip in the box to let me know the packages I was anxiously awaiting had arrived. And yes, that's packages... as in, two of them. One I could maybe understand, but two?

All in all though, I'm happy with the lot of them. They are doing marvellous, marvellous work. Yes, even the clowns over at Australia Post. Thanks!