The Courier Saga

I’d requested for the services of a popular package delivery service sometime back to deliver a package. The person who takes the packages, through whom I’ve been sending packages for the past three years, is a good friend of mine. He took it in, and said two days, indicating that the package would be delivered to the destination in two days.

I gave an extra couple of days, and called the recipient to check whether or not they’ve received the package. Surprise of all surprises, I was told “No!”. I’ve been sending stuff to the same address for the past three years, and something like this has never happened. I called my friend up, and mentioned the same. He said that he’d got back the package since the address was reported invalid, and he’d re-sent it. He knew that the address was valid, since I’ve been sending packages to the same address.

A week goes by, and still, no delivery. I get a little anxious. I meet the person, and he calls up the service personnel, and blasts him. Another week passes by, and still nothing. I told him, the next time this is returned, please don’t re-send it. Have it with you, and I’ll come and pick it up. He gets very apologetic, and says that he’ll take it up with the MD of the company that offers the service. Finally, after three weeks, the package returns.

I go to his place to pick it up, and notice right away that the contents do not feel like what I’d sent. I look at the package right in front of him, and realize that someone has cleanly slit the cellophane tape that I’d used to hold the flap of the envelop. Since I’ve noticed that paper envelopes tend to tear off at the edges, I always take the precaution of using a cellophane tape around the edges to ensure that the same does not happen. Next, I’d glued the flap of the envelop, and also realized that someone had already opened it and put it back. I open the envelop right in front of the him, and inside it was a sheet of folder blank paper. I take it out, show it to him, and tell him that the cost of a blank sheet of paper is Rs. 0.30, and I didn’t have to spend Rs. 40 to send it all the way. He understood what I was talking about, and told me that he’ll get back whatever I’d sent.

I don’t have hopes on getting the contents back, but now I realize the reason behind the return of the package.

I’d used the services offered by “Franch Express”, a very popular and “reliable” service. Please take care that you do not send important documents, or anything that’s to be delivered urgently through these people.

I later got to know, from a different person, that this is not the first time they have been doing this. A lot of complaints had been received on loss of packages, which resulted in a few offices being closed down as well.