I was in. Honest !

[L Austin France]

Amazon tracking said my parcel would be delivered today. La Poste sent a message saying the same & included security number & QR code to show to the postie.
Despite having numerous things to do due to my celibataire status I deligently stayed indoors until 1230 hrs when I knew no self respecting postie would be anywhere but at lunch but no parcel delivery.
At about 1500hrs my curiosity got the better of me so I checked the delivery status to find that "La Poste a rencontré un problème lors de la tentative de livraison." "Yeah right" said I & off went me & Bob to the local post office.
Lady at the 'parcel hatch' ran away as I was asking if I should wear a mask & only returned when I put one on, so, I gave her the codes & asked if they had my parcel.
After lots of tutting, computer tapping & 'parcel pile' searching her maskless colleague turned up with my parcel.
He seemed very pleasant until I asked him if "masks were obligatory & whilst I was there, maybe he could tell me at what time le facteur had tried to deliver the parcel which I had waited in for all morning?".
At this point the atmosphere got decidedly chilly with lots of Gallic shrugs & harumphs indicating he didn't know or care as I was here to collect said parcel anyway.
I'd liked to have thanked them for their help but as it was obvious I was inconveniencing their otherwise tranquil afternoon I picked up my parcel & left to have a moan at Bob, who by the way, didn't give a toss either.

[Hotrodder]

My latest encounter with my local Poste was to buy a stamp for a standard sized envelope to another departement. I wrongly assumed it would be a quick process but no. She looked at the envelope and then instead of reaching for a stamp she engaged with her computer screen, clicked a few times and then pondered for a moment or three while I started reading the hotch potch of notes and posters on the wall. Eventually she produced a stamp. I had the correct change laid out on the counter already. A standard stamp for a domestic letter. Why did she have to refer to a computer? I suspect she would have been totally flummoxed if I had asked for something more complicated.

[Veem]

Another delivery story, but this time gas.

Back in January Antargaz made two appointments a week apart to fill our underground tank. They failed to turn up. The third time did turn out to be lucky, except we were the last delivery of the day and there was only enough gas to top up to 53% instead of the normal 85%. Winter has been long and cold so with the level down to 10% we were getting concerned. An appointment was made for today and sure enough the lorry pulled up just before 8.30 and we're safe again.

Deliveries of anything are so hit and miss.

[Doug]

We're with antergaz and for the first time in three years ordered a topup
Told it would come on 23rd mars and it did and we were not in, surprised at the cost as the same as last fill up.

[Sparkle]

I got a surprise yesterday from Groanapost - they actually delivered the parcel to my house instead of dropping it off 20 km away at a petrol station. Actually on checking Groanapost had passed it to La Poste and I cannot fault our factrice.

[Antonia]

Don't talk to me about Chronopost
In 16 years I have never had a delivery from them. The usual scam is to wait until 11:15 then call. The driver doesn't actually want to talk to me so the line is left open. He just needs a record on his phone. He then calls base and tells them the customer (me) has requested the package is left at a pick up point. He'll use whichever one is closest at the end of his shift so I normally have to wait until the afternoon before the details appear online. Actually I tell a lie. I've discovered that, if I don't pick up said parcel within the time allowed, the driver will try and deliver it rather than drive it back to base. That has lead to some interesting conversations when I refuse the parcel as it has already been replaced/ reimbursed. I have complained more times than I've drawn breath but it doesn't get me anywhere. It's one of the reasons I use Amazon so much. Their reimbursements are top notch.

[Sparkle]

I ordered something from Amazon.fr last week. It was delivered by DPD except I didn't know it had been until I checked on Amazon to 'suivre' and to my surprise found it had been delivered! I got in touch with DPD saying I'd not received it and not had any communication about it and if it had been delivered where was it. Within an hour or so I got an apologetic reply saying it had been delivered to a pick-up point and here was the ref. number followed by there was no-one at home - of course there was there always is. It was fortunate I checked on Amazon otherwise it would have been returned to sender and then I would have been

[Blaze]

We get stuff delivered by UPS and our delivery woman is great (always the same one).
Never had a problem with Chronopost here.
Amazon are very good about returns/non-delivery, never a quibble.

It's one big plus for moving nearer "civilisation". At our old place, we accepted it was part of living in a rural area but we've got to the age and stage where we don't want to have to spend half our lives in the car getting from A to B, complaining about non-delivery of goods, lack of medical services etc etc. Of course it's a compromise, but it certainly makes life easier for us (not that we spend much time at the doctor's surgery )

[Hotrodder]

I got a surprise yesterday from Groanapost - they actually delivered the parcel to my house instead of dropping it off 20 km away at a petrol station. Actually on checking Groanapost had passed it to La Poste and I cannot fault our factrice.

Ours is also excellent. She knows her job, very pleasant, can think outside the box, and is good looking into the bargain.