I recently ordered some Christmas presents from an online retailer who was using Initial City-Link to deliver them. This made me quite happy as I see them on average once a week at least for all sorts of deliveries so they usually don’t get the address wrong.

The package was scheduled to arrive on a morning delivery (pre 12:00) one day and I had to go out that afternoon. I was “carded” (they couldn’t deliver it and left a card saying “We called whilst you were away) at around 13:50 that afternoon, so I called the supplier who confirmed it was supposed to come that morning. They arranged for it to be re-delivered the next day although they didn’t promise it would be done that morning, but they said they would try.

The following day the morning and afternoon passed so I called the supplier after I could not reach City-Link myself other than an automated line which said they had tried to deliver it twice.. Their website still said it was in the van.. They had similar problems getting through to City-Link but I was lucky as they had one person on the phone with them and the rep who was helping me sent her colleague an Instant Message (IM) with my delivery reference and they confirmed it would be going back to the depot and I could collect it that evening.
So I went to the depot to collect it and sure enough they found the package. I mentioned they had never called that day and they first said it wasn’t on the van, then they checked their computer and said it had been on the van and they did try to deliver it.. I asked what time this was considering I was home all day and never heard a knock or had a card through the letterbox at which point she duly informed me “Well maybe they never got around to you..”

I wasn’t aware City-Link’s definition of a “delivery” is “trying to get around to you” but there we go.

Here’s a story I heard today:

A man walks to check-in for a flight, and the clerk asks him some questions..

Check-in Clerk: “Do you have any bags to check in?”
Traveller: “No”

Check-in Clerk: “Any hand luggage?”
Traveller: “No”

She then proceeds with the usual security questions..

Check-in Clerk: “Did anyone give you anything to carry on board with you?”
Traveller: “No”

Check-in Clark: “Did you pack your bags yourself?”
Traveller: “No”

The check-in clerk looks up as it wasn’t the answer she was expecting.. After thinking for a few seconds, she smiled and proceeded to hand him his boarding card and wish him a pleasant flight.