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“This is pure exploitation”“Team Wallraff” revelations at DPD – these are your opinions!
“Bone job”!
This is how undercover reporter Alex Römer summarizes his work as a parcel delivery person for a DPD subcontractor. The Wallraff team uncovered exploitation, work pressure and, in some cases, massive security deficiencies. The shipping quality also left a lot to be desired in our own package test: 44 percent had broken pieces. Many people are venting their anger on social media – but also their solidarity with the delivery people!
Sharp criticism of DPD shipping
For the shipping test, the Wallraff team sent 50 packages with cups, wine glasses and wine bottles across Germany with DPD for five weeksall carefully packed and padded. The result: 44 percent breakage rate. Several users on Instagram and Facebook also complain that they lose too much when shipping with DPD:
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“I have never had such a bad experience with a parcel service as with DPD. Parcels that are for us always arrive somehow deformed, with broken packaging or subsequently sealed.”
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“DPD… such a joke. We've been living in the same place for twelve years. But we can't be found. Our package was wandering around for two weeks until it suddenly said the recipient is on vacation.”
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“I work in a business where I have seen something like this several times and with a wide variety of delivery companies, it is nothing new for me, I am surprised that not every second package arrives at the customer broken.”
But there are also voices from satisfied customers:
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“Personally, I can't confirm that at all, maybe because we live in the country?! 🤷♀️There are almost always the same drivers here.”
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“Hmmm… where I live, DPD is the best delivery service, short delivery times, absolutely reliable and friendly driver and nothing has ever arrived damaged.”
DPD does not comment in detail on Team Wallraff's research results and writes: “The satisfaction of our customers is the basis of our business model. We therefore naturally investigate any indications of possible quality defects.”
“You can really feel sorry for them”: Many people feel for them
Some users seem to have more understanding of the delivery workers' situation after the report:
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“I'm often annoyed – especially about the DPD suppliers, but when I think about the report, the exploitation just makes me sad and angry. But what can the customer do specifically to change these conditions? Changing the shipping service provider would probably just cost the already exploited employees their jobs…”
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“And I always get upset when the DPD drivers just leave the package in front of the door without ringing the bell. I don't do that anymore. I now know why. You can really feel sorry for them.”
Reading tip: Work pressure, exploitation, unpaid hours? DPD drivers do more than “hard physical work”
Many express their solidarity:
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“I was really speechless… how can you treat the drivers like that, we can be happy that they bring us the packages and they should be paid reasonably for that.”
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“I really feel sorry for these people who have to work until they drop because they have to earn money and then don't even get what was promised to them, and then there's the health aspect, only reported as low earners, the rest is paid out in the black if they get it at all. Something finally has to be done!”
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“I certainly understand that people need jobs. But I wouldn't even move my little toe out of bed for something like that. That's pure exploitation.”
DPD responds to Team Wallraff's specific information with a short, general statement, which reads in part: “All of DPD's contractual partner companies must undertake to comply with all legal requirements, in particular the minimum wage, the legal requirements for working hours and fair working conditions. We use a mandatory qualification process in advance.”
Recommendations from our partners
What can WE change? “Everyone wants fast and cheap!”
Striking: Users on Facebook and Instagram repeatedly comment that we should also take a look at our own noses if the situation of DPD employees and their subcontractors is to improve.
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“Time is money. Ultimately, the consumer would pay higher personnel costs, but they don't want to.”
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“A bit hypocritical! Everyone wants quick and cheap! How is this supposed to work together?”
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“The only thing that needs to change fundamentally is the purchasing behavior of us consumers. Or at least our excessive expectations when it comes to deliveries. We don't always want to have everything immediately or tomorrow. Then it has to be enough if the things don't arrive until three or four days later. And we don't always order everything online either. That's why there's less and less going on in our city centers. Because there are hardly any shops left because of us.”
Reading tip: Was Günter Wallraff is now demanding from the parcel services – and from all of us
Video playlist for Team Wallraff
“Team Wallraff – Reporters undercover” on RTL+
The whole You can now stream the report from “Team Wallraff – Reporter undercover” on RTL+.
Sources used: Facebook, Instagram
