Using the Postal System
As of 2008, the market for postal services in Germany has been totally deregulated, meaning that private companies are now allowed to deliver both letters and packages. For private individuals sending a normal letter, the German postal service however remains the best option. The rates are not cheap (55 cents for a 20 gram letter), but the system is quick and efficient.
Mail in Germany is delivered early in the day, usually before 10 a.m. Sometimes letter carriers will leave packages with neighbors, but there's no guarantee. If you get a package and aren’t home to receive it, you’ll receive a form that tells you where and when to collect it. When you go to pick it up, don't forget to bring identification with you (passport or EU driver’s license).
For packages weighing more than two kilos, you should definitely consider using one of the private competitors which often have better rates than the Deutsche Post. The major private postal companies are TNT Post (www.tnt-post.de), Hermes (www.hermes-logistik-gruppe.de) and GLS (www.gls-germany.com). In particular, Hermes has a good network of dropoff points for packages, such as supermarkets, news agents, dry cleaners, etc...which are often more convenient than the post office.
If you want to compare postal prices from several different suppliers, a helpful website is www.posttip.de
For express mail services within Germany, the postal system is as good as any other private company. Actually, Deutsche Post purchased DHL several years ago and it is competing in the private market place. Many letters arrive usually overnight in Germany without an extra charge (part of standard delivery). If you’ve got to be sure, send it express and your mail will definitely arrive the next day. FedEx, TNT and UPS also operate in Germany and can help with express mail outside Germany. Most post offices are well-equipped with supplies so that you can buy a box to hold what you want to mail, wrap it and send it off all directly from the post office.
Comments (2)
On December 21, 2009, I sent a very secure small package from zip code 48433 in the United States to 55278 Mommenheim, Germany by 1st Class mail. (Which is suppose to take 7-10 business days.) As of January 21, 2010, my pack- age which included 6 children's paperback books, family photos, a holiday card and a personal letter - still has NOT arrived! I've been corresponding with my half sister (residing in Mommenheim, Germany) since 2005. We have been exchanging letter, packages & family photographs. I haven't had any problems with the German Postal system up until now! So I called the "German Embassy" in Washington D.C. hoping they could tell me something about the current situation with the German Postal System. The woman whom I spoke to said the last three packages she had mailed by priority mail (to Germany) had taken between 6-8 weeks to arrive, and a parcel she received from Germany, had taken just as long to arrive (with some of the contents missing!). Could someone explain to me why the current mail delivery service between the United States and Germany, has been so poor lately?!
Yours Respectfully,
Linda Adair
Posted by Linda Adair
| January 21, 2010 8:41 PM
Hi Linda,
The German postal system is usually quite reliable and efficient, but there could have been a problem in the pre-Christmas rush. You should have a tracing number and a receipt to track your package. Calling the embassy in Washington will certainly not help to expedite your package.
David
Posted by david
| January 25, 2010 9:37 AM