The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Good old Parcel Force (or should that be Parcel Farce?). A couple of weeks back I ordered a brand spanking new G-Shock as my ultimate beater, and found a superb deal on one in the States that even with postage and import charges would still be significantly cheaper than buying one in the UK.

Within 2 days of buying it, it had left the shop in the States, travelled to the local hub, and was in the air - superbly fast turnaround. Then it arrives here in Cr*pland (aka England). For 6 entire days it sits in Customs while they sit around, drink tea, and scratch their heads while they come up with the exorbitant figure to charge as a "handling charge". (£22 on an item that cost less than £69 )

When they finally release it into the cack-hands of Parcel Farce, that's when things really go wrong. A further 3 days later I receive the Customs bill from Parcel Farce, which in the past I have paid on the day at the depot when I go to pick it up. So I drive the 10 miles to the depot, and the guy behind the counter says, "Oh, sorry, it's not here yet, it's still at the hub in Coventry. Give us a call tomorrow". Tomorrow comes and again I call - "Oh yeah, it's still not here. I'll call them in Coventry again. I'll call you back". No call-back happens.

Next day, I call again - "Still no sign of it, mate". (Thanks for the professional "mate" there as well ).

Next day, I call again - "Oh yeah, still no joy mate. They need to get an engineer to check the nets under the conveybelt as stuff often falls off". Just brilliant. So I ask how long this will take. Reply - "Oh I didn't ask. I'll call them again mate, and call you back". No call-back happens.

Next day, I call again - "Still no sign of it mate". So I say I want to start making a claim for it. Pause. "It will turn up mate". To which I reply, "When? Tomorrow? Next week? 6 months?". Reply - "I'll give them another call and let you know". No call-back again.

Today I phone up again - "Still having trouble tracing it mate". So I now tell them I'll be making a claim, which he told me has to be done in writing as a hardcopy (no on-line option), and can 'take a while'.

Total incompetance.

I can (just about) accept that things may go missing occasionally, although it shouldn't really happen given that delivering parcels is ALL that Parcel Farce does. What I can't accept is a complete lack of even pretending to give a damn.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

" G-Shock's I got a crazy don collection" -tinie tempah

Hope it work's out for you D8, Be it finding the G-S or a refund!

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Your country's not working mate.

Cheers breanach78. Let's hope so. I just hope these idiots don't try to claim that a G-Shocks counts as jewellery or else they may not pay up.


Ain't that the truth. I've got to get out of this place.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

What a KICK in the nuts!!!! You should be real happy its not a Ling they stole , I mean lost.

I am for some reason picturing the guy at the Post as looking like the guy on Nat lampoons europe vacation , the guy behind the counter at the hotel saying you guys are the winners of the Pig n the Poke.

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One Watch At A Time.

Driver any chance of notifying the queen? hahaha ok sorry that was my attempt at a stupid joke.

22 pound duties seems a bit harsh on a 69 pound item. thats almost 33%. i can see how all these things plus your parcel going missing would piss you off. hope it clears up soon and you get your watch.

Yeah it was just a bit of a rant guys. Sorry.

Yes it is fortunate it's only £70 (+ all the taxes, etc ). If it was a new Breitling I'd have probably burst vital artery or something by now! I just get the right hump with poor service.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Come on down to the good old Bankrupt USA, Our postage is alot cheaper ,and we don't even have to pay tax on the shit we get in the mail. America is great!!!!!! The US postal service lost 3 billion last year ,and is still in business, I need there business model.

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One Watch At A Time.

Driver you could always give the parcel people a swift kick to the nuts! that seems to get the point across quite well

Update?

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Nothing to report, other than I've put the claim form in, and they are still (allegedly) looking for the parcel.

I actually genuinely think it's just been lost and not stolen by an employee as they already managed to send me the customs bill. It'd be a very daft person to lift it when it's already been signed in at the depot, and the bill has been sent to the customer.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

interested to see how this pans out as the whole jewellery thing. At least it was not expensive one, makes me think as i have sent and received watches insured but knowing the clause there. Again keep us updated,

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Well believe it or not, I'm going to have to take back at least part of what I've said.

Amazingly, Parcel Force have found my parcel, and I picked it up this evening! I was served by single-handedly the most miserable looking, sour-faced girl in the entire world, but my G-Shock was there and totally unmolested in it's package!

Not a clue where it had been (and neither did Parcel Force), but the main thing is it's rocked up safe and sound. And here it is -





I'm really pleased with it. I'm not going to become a digi/quartz convert (never in a million years!), but for what I want it for - the ultimate beater - then I can think of anything better. All's well that ends well.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It's amazing how something can be lost, and then appear all of the sudden. Glad it worked out for you D8, and the G-Shock looks great!!

Glad that worked out for you Enjoy it finally.