About DHL...I work for a large "document" corporation, we'll call brand "X". We use(d) AirborneExpress, which was mergered into and/or aquired by DHL. A lot of our parts come from Europe and sometimes things show up in great shape and sometimes, well... Ever since the merger, the guys in the bright yellow shirts seem to be getting later and later. We used to see our shipments between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM, now 10:30 AM is the norm and 11:00 AM isn't uncommon. I don't know if they are overworked or what, but I personally don't expect gentle handling from employee's who seem to be running behind. UPS? yeah, there's issues there, too. Most of my ground shipments come from them. Best we can figure is they hire college football players during the off season to work in their warehouse. The one overlooked service I like to use for smallish things is the good 'ol USPS. They even deliver on Saturdays at no extra charge! I often get the feeling with the shipping companies that even if they have the ability to move your package quicker, they will let it sit in a warehouse for a couple of days because you paid for three day service. I would like so see it as you paid for a MAXIMUM of three days,and if we can get it there quicker, we will. I've ordered a number of things over the years and admit to getting a little frustrated to "see" my package sitting in a sorting facility in Kentucky for two days. At least it's been my experience with the postal service that it's garbage in, garbage out. FedEx has been pretty good to me over the years, too.
Of course, you've heard Federal Express and UPS are merging...the new company will be called Fed-Up!