Summary: We can't provide cheaper shipping options than DHL Express.
Occasionally, we receive requests for a less expensive shipping method than DHL, particularly for smaller items. The suggestion often is to simply place these parts in an envelope for more cost-effective postage. Unfortunately, the solution isn't that straightforward.
We are committed to our customers' satisfaction and have thoroughly investigated alternative shipping solutions. To ensure full transparency, I'd like to share our findings with you.
We've sought quotes from other delivery services, including UPS and FedEx. However, DHL's offer remains the most competitive, and their service has been consistently reliable. The Hungarian post office emerges as the only other affordable alternative.
Our experience with the Hungarian post office, based on five test shipments, has been less than ideal:
- We encountered an overwhelming amount of paperwork, particularly for customs processes, which proved to be a significant drain on our time.
- There was a complete lack of communication regarding delivery times, with no notifications via email, phone, or SMS.
- Once packages depart Hungary, tracking information becomes inaccessible.
- They offer no compensation for packages that are lost in transit.
- In one instance, a customer was not home to receive the delivery and subsequently never received their package.
Furthermore, the Hungarian post office's online system appears rudimentary and outdated, which does not inspire confidence in their IT capabilities or the reliability of their service. Integrating their API into our webshop and order fulfillment system would be a major undertaking, and frankly, we have reservations about their system's availability.
Lastly, we asked DHL whether they could offer economy shipping instead of express, and they told us they couldn't.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. However, in light of these challenges, we have decided not to offer alternative shipping options in the foreseeable future.