The Local Germany

'A new generation of stamps': Deutsche Post rolls out QR-style tracking codes

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 17:32:00 +0100

German stamps will soon be kitted out with individual matrix codes to help stop letters getting lost in the mail, national postal company Deutsche Post said Tuesday.

The dates you should know for sending post in Germany before Christmas

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 17:35:39 +0100

This year more than ever we all want to keep in touch with our loved ones. So if you're sending a letter or parcel from Germany, keep these dates in mind.

German postage costs may increase by 'up to 30 percent'

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 15:31:23 +0200

A government meeting in May is set to determine whether the humble postage stamp will increase from the current 70 to 90 cents.

Deutsche Post: Postage costs to increase by ‘up to 400 percent’

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 12:10:51 +0100

Small goods, such as CDs and DVDs, can no longer be sent as ordinary mail - while standard costs for cards, letters and postcards are expected to rise by five to ten cents on April 1st.

Complaints against Deutsche Post soar, as customers seethe at late deliveries

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:23:32 +0100

Over 6,000 complaints were registered against the German postal service in 2017, an increase of 50 percent on the previous year, the Saarbrücker Zeitung reported on Thursday.

The postman only rings twice: Why your mail might soon be slower

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 15:02:56 +0100

Germans are still guaranteed to get a visit from the postman every day of the week. But Deutsche Post is considering following the example of Denmark, where the postman only comes round twice a week.

Granny's ashes lost in mail en route from Germany to Sweden

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:17:15 +0200

The woman's ashes were sent from Hanover to Sweden after she died in June, but have since disappeared in the Swedish post.

Berlin postcard finally arrives at destination - 53 years later

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 11:18:43 +0200

If you've ever complained about old-fashioned snail mail, this story may just give you another reason to stick to more modern communication methods.

German post service tests out new deliveries by 'cargo bike'

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 09:58:06 +0100

Apparently German postmen got bored of the traditional mail truck.

How to unleash your anger over poor German package delivery

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:12:18 +0100

Left seething by an important package that went undelivered despite you staying home? You're far from the only one, but help is at hand.

Mail service stops some deliveries to 'risky' Berlin area

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 14:54:21 +0100

German mail service DHL said that it had not made certain personal deliveries through its express service to the Berlin district of Wedding due to fraud and attacks on their carriers, but tamped down reports of "no-go" areas.

Post strike ends Monday as agreement reached

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:45:51 +0200

Public sector union Verdi has reached a final agreement with Deutsche Post after a strike that lasted four weeks, meaning postal service should return to normal starting on Tuesday.

Mailman keeps tallest flats in Germany posted

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:48:00 +0200

In the era of tweets and Facebook messages, the contribution of postal workers is often overlooked. But one postman in Cologne faces a particular challenge - delivering the mail to Germany's tallest residential building.

Christmas post offices swamped with letters to Santa - from adults

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:11:00 +0100

More and more adults in Germany are writing to Santa – and the official Christmas post offices that deal with the mail are not amused.

New internet 'hybrid mail' service to compete with Deutsche Post

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:36:00 +0200

German publisher Georg von Holtzbrinck has teamed up with private logistics companies to create a 'hybrid mail' service using the internet for quicker delivery at a lower cost, according to weekly news magazine WirtschaftsWoche.

Deutsche Post slacking off, customers complain

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:09:00 +0200

Germany’s main mail carrier Deutsche Post has its customers hot under the collar this summer as it uses the seasonal slowdown to cut back on their letter delivery service.

Cat shipped across Germany in box survives

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:49:00 +0200

A house cat that climbed unnoticed into an open box took a trip he wasn’t expecting. He was shipped 700 kilometers in the parcel across Germany but emerged from the journey unscathed.

Postal workers strike in seven German states

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:06:00 +0200

Mailboxes in seven German states will remain empty on Saturday as postal workers striking for job protection and shorter hours refuse to deliver their routes.