More and more companies seem to be using Colis Privé these days; I haven’t had any problems until now. It’s usually a van driven by an Asian lady with broken French who delivers at 7pm in the evening, probably for a pitiful sum.
A few days ago, I got an SMS to say my parcel had been left in my letterbox at 7pm, however I was there in my living room, which is behind the front door, which in turn is right next to the letterbox. The letterbox was completely empty, and no parcel had been left anywhere else. It doesn’t appear to be left at a neighbour’s house by mistake either. As far as the shipper is concerned the goods are received and can’t be contested. A message was sent to Colis Privé who take 4 days to get back to you in the form of a voice message which sounded very scripted assuring me that it was placed in the letterbox (they said GPS shows the driver went to the address). As they’ve washed their hands of it I don’t seem to have anywhere else left to turn! Has anybody had an experience with them?
They seem to be carrier you don’t get a choice of using & they, until very recently, never bothered to come all the way out to our address. Instead we got messages telling us that our address wasn’t accessible & to rearrange delivery to a relais in town, which could add days on the arrival time if a weekend is involved. The relais option was never there when ordering the goods initially, otherwise we would use it.
Just this past month or so there we have received stuff via them, I suspect due to there being a new driver with a brain.
That’s the problem, sometimes I don’t even know things are being sent Colis Privé until after they’re dispatched… Crazy that they wouldn’t come to your address in the past.
Maybe having things delivered via Mondial relay is a safer option? I see boxes outside of the supermarket for that purpose, and assume they have to scan the item before dropping it in the box, so perhaps it’s more fail-safe? Certainly a lot more hassle though.
One order was scheduled to be delivered by them a few weeks ago. We hadn’t got an email suivi so it was only a few days later that we checked the order to find it had been delivered,
So we complained about non-delivery, with some annoyance as was a very good offer. They said they couldn’t trace it so we duly got the money back.
The snow melted on Sunday and it rained buckets. And there was our parcel, totally sodden in shrubbery behind garden gate. Whoops!
The bell on my gate post which covers the whole drive has a camera which takes photos/live video as soon as something or someone comes in or even drives past. Good for proof of delivery as I have found this xmas when parcels have come and been left either side of the gates which are always locked.
I was always curious how much that was enforced? If I had an Amazon ring doorbell for example (which I don’t intend doing), it would be impossible for it not to record outside of my property as there’s only a couple of metres of garden outside the front door, and then there’s a small public chemin (not even a road) running past, and then more of my garden.
Every single house in this street has cameras on their gates and I think if there is a criminal act carried out, the gendarmes would be pleased to see the footage. It only lasts a few months before being wiped clean automatically. The camera on my doorbell is approx 5m from the pavement.
Shiba, as far as I understand dashcam’s are legal (providing you aren’t uploading them to social media, even then I think you’d only get in trouble if somebody was identifiable and they complained), and they’re used on public roads all the time. Even shops like ‘Action’ sell those, although they’re still not very popular with the French.
They aren’t illegal which is slightly different. The law says nothing about dashcams so you can get them without problem. But must use them within the legal requirements.
Same with door/gate cameras one can use them to see who is outside, but can’t record on/in public spaces. And if complaints about them then the gendarmerie can remove them.
I also have two sets of “free” powerline adapters because the Amazon numpty hid them so effectively it was about three weeks after I got a refund that I spotted them.
I’m sure Amazon “cost in” lost parcels.
As to the described delivery problem - is there a “small claims” process in France? Write to the supplier (LALR, of course) asking for replacement and letting them know you will take legal action if they do not comply (after all it is ultimately their job to prove delivery not yours to prove non-delivery which is impossible).
Though TBH if it was only a few € I’d chalk it up to experience and use a vendor who employs a different courier.
I once initiated legal action against a third party French Amazon seller, who absolutely trampled over my consumer rights with a really snide ignorance. It was a bit extreme, but they were quite rude, and Amazon wouldn’t intervene at all. The lawyer sent a letter reminding them of their legal obligations, although because it was a low value item (less than 500 euros) they wouldn’t actually proceed, it was just scare tactics. The letter certainly did the trick though, and they soon coughed up.
No it is not only if you take photographs of people who can be recognised and also there are many exceptions. But just taking a photograph outside your property is perfectly legal, in France that is.
Ali Express seems to be very fond of them now sadly. I have encountered similar problems. What you and others recount is now sistermatic of this transporter. It might have become too successful & undercutting Mondial Relay, Chronopost and obviously the quality & service has suffered terribly all over France. Their habit of claiming they cannot locate your easy to find address and then dropping things off at their designated relay is concerning to say the least.
Oh yes! I have been with amazon prime for 15 years and until they changed de,ivery to Colis Prive was a very satisfied customer . I moved to a village in the mountains near Carcassonne and after 6 months was told deliveries were to be once a week on Mondays , if at all . Numerous deliveries never arrived , amazon refunded, gave compensation and chastised CP , all to no avail. I suffered the same lies and misinformation from Colis Prive! I had amazon not send any goods using CP . I am now in Nimes and delivery is back to expected levels , no sign of CP here, life is good !