DHL

So, yesterday, I had one of the most annoying experiences of my life. On Tuesday, I got a notice on the door that I had a package being delivered by DHL (connected sadly to Deutsche Post). They had tried, but as a signature was necessary, they couldn't do it. They would try back again, or I could come pick it up between 5 and 7 at their main warehouse (or whatever).

So, yesterday, I called them and after being rooted around on the money-grubbing, capitalist, automated phone machines, I finally got to talk to a person. She told me that they could deliver it between 5 and 7, but that the drivers carry no cell-phones, so I would have to wait in front of the building, or buzz the driver in. As I don't have "buzz-in" capabilities and I didn't want to wait outside for 2 hours, I told them that I would like to just come pick it up.

I was then told that the office was at 23rd St. and 3rd St. Well, that is in the middle of nowhere, roughly equivalent to 45th Ave. and Thomas (but with absolutely no transportation out there). Then, I realized that the new T-Line goes right out there, and I said, ok, and the woman on the phone said, ok, let me confirm this, and I will be right back. After about a 5 minute wait (this entire conversation is costing me cell-phone minutes, of course), she came back and said, it has been confirmed, and you will receive a phone call within the hour confirming this confirmation. This seemed excessive of course, but I couldn't really be against it. An hour later, I got a voice-mail saying I could come between that time and 6:30 at night.

At 5:15, I left work and got to the T-Line metro station at 5:20. The train (which is supposed to come every 10 minutes, came along at about 5:45 and then, it took us 30 minutes to go 3 stops to the end of the Market Street Tunnel (should be about 3 minutes). Apparently, a train had gotten stuck at Montgomery Station going in the other direction and thousands of people were angrily clogging stations and trains in front of us. Finally at about 6:30, I arrive at DHL (I could have walked faster). I walk out to the edge of civilization (it's a warehouse district right on the bay, and this one is at the very end of it). I walk in and they are about to close. I said, "Why does it say 5-7 on this sheet if you close at 6:30?" The man replied "because our drivers are idiots". They then informed me that my package had been delivered to the doorstep of 999 Bush St. Apt. 206. After fighting through the other 5 people lodging complaints, the original guy tells me, "strange too, they can't just leave alcohol sitting in front of a door. that's illegal" (that's when i realized it was the beer of the month club stuff, and i got excited). So, they got their supervisor, and he said, "what's the problem?" I very clearly said, "First, the driver put an incorrect time down on the slip on my door. Then, I have to fight the phone machine to talk to anyone. Then, I have to buy a metro ticket and suffer through the most annoying ride of my life. Then, I arrive here and your workers flippantly ignore me and tell me that my problem is strange because it's illegal to do such a thing. And now, my package is likely stolen because I live in a large apartment building. What should I do?"

The manager apologized. I believed him. He told me that if the package was not there when I got home, I should call him personally (he gave me his number) and he would attempt to rectify the problem. I found him to be incredibly respectful, aware and intelligent, and I said, thank you, and shook his hand.

When I arrived home, Marty helped me unload the box of beers into the fridge and we drank 2!

The John Coltrane Quartet - Up 'Gainst the Wall