FedEx, DHL, UPS etc

Just wondering if anyone has used these companies instead of the national post, if so then how was the service and the price difference?

Those who haven't used these, can they tell the price difference in their countries from the national postal service?

I checked with one of these and they asked for 52 USD for the international delivery while Pakistan Post did the job at around 7 USD.

My experience of DHL was good enough but I'm not pleased with that.

I sent some documents to my friend in France which took total 5 days only.

But i had to do so many paperwork to send the documents - it was the worst part of the shipment . 

It took 35USD here. 

But our postal service is better than DHL to send in European countries at cheaper rate .No paperwork is needed (except registered),

and i could send the documents at only 1 USD using postal service. Few months ago, I sent a mail using postal service to France took only 14 days(that took 1.3 USD because of coins which increased the weight).

Sabit

To me, situated in the EU, courier companies are only an interesting alternative to the postal service when talking domestic shipments of high value and/or urgency. Which I haven't had anyone to insist on, yet. Ordinary postal service is just fine, takes max. 4-5 days to arrive within the EU/EFTA/UK, even though relatively expensive for cheap lots.

I've only used DHL once for an outbound shipment (to the US), which was during the Covid lockdowns, when the recipient was ready to pay the price for prompt 3 days delivery time to Texas. At the time USPS shipments were stuck in customs for more than 14 days .

I'm no fan of FedEx due to pricing & service. During the pandemic (when I was actually home to receive my package) they'd sneak to my door & place their sticker on it (& run). At least it seemed that way (never notify me).  I always had to go drive across town to pick up the parcel.  Most of the staff at their plant/HQ in my city are friendly but there are a few that come across like NYC taxi drivers (bloated with attitude). 

FedEx Prices seem unfairly high & I hate receiving packages from them for 3 reasons:

1) if my package gets a duty tacked onto it crossing the US/Canada border, FedEx will pay it & then charge me a service charge plus the duty

2) they always deliver my packages during working hours & are inflexible about delivering more at a time I can be home

3) they have this so-called “track my package” phone app which doesn't work (I've waited hours beyond the time they predicted my package would arrive).  Just don't set up an app if you can't get it right.

I would far rather deal with Canada Post (Xpress or Registered) even though they may not be as sophisticated as FedEx.  I even sent my banknotes to PMG (Florida) with tracking/insurance for about 66% of what FedEx had quoted me before they included insurance.  I believe with insurance FedEx would have been double my Canada Post parcel cost. Canada post usually leave my notes in my mailbox but if they're registered they notify me & I will pick them up.  FedEx threaten to return my item (if I don't pick it up within a certain time frame) but I've never had that with Canada Post.  I've always had more FedEx items flagged at Canada Customs (+ duty levied) rather than any other national postal service. 

UPS has a package tracking program too. They show where their truck is on a little map though.

All these courier companies are a rippoff: besides extremely high shipping costs, at the end point they charge you extras (release from customs, one of them) that almost double the initial price. 

Besides, their price-list inevitably caused the national postal services to increase their prices as well! 

In short, in this era of globalization, our countries seem to ever get more isolated and further away than ever. 

I find DHL and DPD to be consistently reliable and very satisfactory to use, both in receiving and sending items. Both can be pricey though.