Has anyone used the new shipping methods?

[Shampoo]

Mandarake has recently introduced, since last
auction I won, DHL and airmail as options instead of just
SAL and EMS.
I just bought something and decided to go w/ DHL
since my new p.o. delivery guy is a total douchebag
and has been misplacing my crap.

Anyways, to make a long story short, how has the experience
been? Does it arrive as fast or well packaged as the EMS?

Mandy already slipped up and sent me an incorrect
tracking no. so already I'm feeling lke they are
only use to dealing w/ EMS andmaybe I should have
just stuck to EMS.

Please enlighten me (and quell my fears lol )

[jenn-b]

I just received my parcel today...took the weekend - left Friday and was here on Monday. I used DHL and I totally recommend it. WAAAAAYYY cheaper and it seemed faster.

[teggacat]

I've used the DHL with Mandarake already, it
was fine, packed just as safely, and very very fast.
Hope it works as well for you.

[iceman57]

One day less with DHL than EMS

[Sui Kune]

I got my package within two days with DHL, though it was completely the wrong item. =_= Doll instead of production sketches. I don't think that had anything to do with the shipping method though, just a mix-up.

[ReiTheJelly]

I've used it and, like everyone else, I only have good things to say about it. Same with Rinkya's new option of using FedEx instead of EMS.

[bulleta]

I guess I'm the only one who had trouble with DHL.

Though I think the problem lies more in the fact that I live in the boondocks than with the actual company. But this is sorta long so I apologize in advance.

I didn't even know Mandarake had shipped it DHL because this was before they had that little selection drop down menu like they do now... if I had read beforehand I would have seen they were shipping DHL something I would have told them not to do. I just assumed it would be EMS. Like it always had been.

I ended up getting a phone call from them asking for my street address. At first I was freaked out because like I said I didn't know it had even gone out that way. Anyway, I live in a very small town. My mailing address is a P.O. Box (which is what Mandarake has), we don't get home delivery - it's not an option. So I give them my convoluted street address. That was Wednesday.

Thursday, I'm tracking it online. It goes out on delivery from the nearest warehouse - 3 hours away from me. And is out all day.

So I have high hopes. ... Until it returns the warehouse again at the end of the day with a note to call them with the correct shipping address.

*sigh*

So I call them. I ask them what address they have. Whoever called on Thursday either didn't write it down, or it never got attached to the package, I don't know what went wrong. So I give it to them again. And I stress to them to FEEL FREE TO CALL FOR DIRECTIONS.

Friday it goes out. And gets returned to the warehouse again.

So I'm pissed. I call again. He tells me my address doesn't exist. I was on the phone for about 20 minutes with the guy. I had to bring up Mapquest and basically tell them step by step how to get to my house. I asked why no one ever called, he said that not all drivers have cell phones. REALLY??? And not only that, no GPS? I mean, my street address wouldn't have come up but you could have found the town at least...

At this point, I didn't get the package till Monday. Finally. They also said it was our fault because they didn't even have the right address at first. True... but you had it for 2 other attempts.

So... for me it's not an option. I have to stick to EMS. UPS/FED EX just throw packages at my house and I don't trust my neighbors. lol

So I think as long as you don't live in a town with one stop sign (so not kidding) you should be fine with DHL. I wont use them again though.

[Shampoo]

Thanks everyone for your stories/replies!
It eases my worry about the package in transit. ^_^
It looked about the same for EMS cost wise for me
but thats probably because it was multiple sketches
and weight affected it.

Sui Kune: Ooo thats never fun to deal with! >_<;;
A friend of mine had that happen w/ SMJ-- ended
up w/ someone's weird vase/urn thing LOL!

I'm sorry to hear about the mix-up. I hope at least Mandy was
fast to correct that mistake and send you your item
asap.

Bulleta: Wow! Thats insane! O_O
Ok, I think you have officially won contest for who
truly lives in the boonies! Me and JennB go back and forth
about whose locale is more boring and isolated (the amish VS monsanto's farmers). lol!


That must've been a pain in the butt to have to chase
them to give them the directions to your place! Even more
absurd, that the drivers dont have a phone or gps-- WTF?!?



I'm sorry you had to go thru all that to get your lovelies.

[Sui Kune]

Actually it's been a few days and I've yet to hear a response. How long does it usually take for Mandarake to respond to emails, I'd feel a lot better if I at least had a ballpark.

[Shampoo]

Actually it's been a few days and I've yet to hear a response. How long does it usually take for Mandarake to respond to emails, I'd feel a lot better if I at least had a ballpark.

In my experience, it would only take 1-2 business days to
hear back from them.
Heres the email address I usually use:

order-en@mandarake.co.jp

You could write ATTN to: Emiko or Kono in the subject line,
those are the 2 English-speaking employees I've had
communication with in the past. Hope you hear from them soon
Sui!

[Sui Kune]

Ohh, that may explain no response! I'll try that right now just in case. I should put more information in the email too. (I tried both international@mandarake and auction@mandarake.)

Thank you so much! I'd imagine they'd really want the doll back too since it's apparently worth a lot. XD