OK, what is everyone's experience with DHL? I ordered replacement media from Toshiba last week, it went out the same day....on DHL. I just checked the status and I find it hasn't hardly moved in the last three days. WTF? I mean, yea, it's Christmas time and shipping companies are working overtime, but crap, the Pony Express would have been here by now.

You know what's worse? I just went back to check things....these guys are going to hand off the package to USPS??????? WTF is that about? Almost makes me think that DHL and USPS are one in the same. The speed at which they work is near enough to bring that to conjecture.

Didn't DHL go out of business (in the US). They might still operate in a few area's. Sometimes the items aren't scanned when leaving, so they look like they are sitting.

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That is what I remember as well. They shut down all US operations and hand over any US deliveries to someone else once they get it to the US. Seems like a lousy way to do business.

My experience with shipping firms:

Unless you order express shipping, they sit. And sit. And sit.

I HATE ground shipping. It takes forever, really, for no good reason other than cost.

USPS is very good. I use them pretty much exclusively for domestic mailing. The Flat Rate boxes ROCK.

For International, FedEx or UPS. The thing there is cost vs speed. FedEx and UPS are both slow, but to go fast costs bucks. The update is their system is globally integrated and does not depend on local postal systems.

If you send USPS overseas, the tracking data stops as soon as the local postal system takes over. This means there is no way of knowing it was delivered.

As for DHL, they are still in the states, but no where near the presense they had a few years ago. They swapped focus here from competing directly with UPS/FedEx/USPS to going strictly business-to-business, IIRC.

I am not surprised that DHL handed the package off to the USPS for delivery. USPS and FedEx have agreements regarding overnight delivery services, too.

I had something for the C2 shipped from Florida to here USPS. On the same day a friend in shipped me a package UPS.

From Florida, USPS - 3 days
From Pa., UPS - 8 days

And pound for pound, the USPS package was cheaper, I bet.

When it comes right down it us, the USPS is a world class postal system. Up there with the best in the world; no question.

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Yep, probably 30%.

Well, thanks for the feedback....all I can say is, When I click the link from Toshiba to check on the shipping status, the DHL site comes up and the info therein. The media is coming from here in the US, back east somewhere, PA maybe, it appears that the package sat in KY for a couple days, then finally got to STL.

Have to admit, the USPS flat-rate boxes are pretty competitively priced.

USPS flat rates kick ASS dude... nothing wishy-washy like "pretty competitive". These are the bargin of the 21st century.

If it fits, it ships... that means upto 72 lbs in one of those boxes. I shipped magazines for $10.70; that would have cost 2-times that using a regular box for the same class of shipment. I would hate to think what UPS or FedEx would have charged for their 2 day air service.

I have great luck with UPS ground. For 2 day, Priority from USPS is the best deal. No major issue with Fed Ex ground either. Stuff just has to be packed well or the bowling balls and dumb bell sets they are shipped with will beat em up no matter who you use. Course I prefer you use USPS. They pay my retirement.

I've had only one experience with DHL, it was an option, slightly cheaper than UUPS or Fedup-ex, and they destroyed it.

It can happen to any body, i just picked up a model of a 1991 vette i got on ebay. it was shipped the 6th priority mail and today is the 20th. not even a pick up notice. i had to call them and go there to pick it up.