Purolator Sucks: “We Missed You”… Again!
Canadians are used to getting few shipping options when shopping online. Although I’ve received packages from Canada Post, Fed Ex, UPS, USPS, DHL and Purolator, a choice of two (or three, if lucky) from the list seems to be the norm on a typical shopping day.
This lack of choice leads to getting burned by the same shipping outfits time and time again.
Options for international shipments can be sticky. UPS will rob you with exorbitant import fees if you make the mistake of going with their “cheapest” option. Thankfully, the fee is waived if you pick Expedited Services or one of the other premium options.
Purolator has an entirely different problem that can’t be avoided. Purolator drivers avoid YOU.
I’ve missed a fair share of shipments. Most companies will have a driver come by at least twice understanding that people are busy and not completely home-bound, given the fact they are popping by at an arbitrary time.
The Purolator driver in my locale comes by once, often early in the day, and nine times out of ten I miss the delivery. There is no second chance. I’ve now been issued the infamous “We missed you!” slip telling me exactly when they tapped on my door for three second then gave up. There is a stamped address of Devon Plaza where I live in Windsor.
When I paid for a product to be delivered to me but have to go through the chore of driving way out of my way to present photo ID and grab the package, a nasty thought goes through my mind.
Would it have been easier for me to simply go to a local shop like Future Shop or Best Buy?
Sure, this isn’t always the case as many of the items I purchase aren’t available locally. Still, online shopping is meant to be the ultimate in convenience. Purolator finds a way to degrade that to a level so low you wonder why you did it.
It goes back to the original point that Canadian shoppers lack options online and there are times when services from Purolator are a necessary evil.
Given the choice between UPS’ import fees and Purolator, even the idea of missing a delivery again seems like a risk worth taking.
The back of the Purolator slip has an authorization form that allows the driver to waive the need to obtain a signature upon delivery. It wouldn’t be fair for me to exclude this fact.
My problem with this solution is it isn’t very secure to dump a parcel on your porch when the contents may be worth a hundred dollars and up. In the suburbs I can see it but for city dwellers in less than ideal neighborhoods it’s strikes me as risky.
It is also tough to give the driver that level of trust when he or she has never gone beyond the bare minimum level of effort to ensure you get deliveries.
As much as I hate to finally give in, it looks like I will be signing this form today. If boxed into a corner in terms of delivery options the Purolator driver can dump the package on my porch in peace. I simply won’t be using these people for expensive items.
Share Your Purolator Horror Stories
If you found this page it’s reasonable to believe you probably agree that “Purolator sucks”. Please pick up your pitchfork and torch, and post a comment outlining your experiences.
With enough bad press we can hope Purolator may take a hard look at their business model, or at least a boy can dream.
