An online shopper was left outraged when a ‘lazy’ Hermes delivery driver threw her parcel over a fence and sent a ‘proof of delivery’ photo that captured the exact moment her pet bulldog ripped the package to shreds.
The package, which cost Brogan Griffiths £160 (€188), contained three dresses from Oh Polly that she spent weeks trying to find for her birthday night out.
The 29-year-old was confused when she received the message saying the parcel had been successfully delivered while she wasn't at home.
Brogan was sent a photo by the courier that showed the parcel lying on the ground in her garden while her 11-month-old British bulldog peered around the corner as he spotted his new chew toy.
Two hours later, when Brogan returned home, she found the three dresses "torn to shreds" by her dog.
She said she was “absolutely devastated” that she wouldn’t have the dresses she wanted to wear on her birthday and said she “doesn’t understand” why the courier company left her order on the ground outside.
"I was going to Manchester for a night out with my best friend for my birthday, and I'd been trying to find something to wear for ages.
"I ordered three outfit options from Oh Polly, which came to £160 for next day delivery to come four days before my birthday, so I didn't have a lot of time.
"I got an email while I was at work to say the package had been delivered, and I was confused because no one was in, and you're supposed to sign for Oh Polly packages.
"I checked the delivery photo and saw the dog's beady eyes peering round the corner at the parcel, and my heart just sank straight away. I knew it was a goner.
"I knew the delivery man must have thrown it over the gate, and the dog would just think he was playing fetch and throwing it for her.
"When I got home, all three dresses had been torn to shreds and dragged through the mud, and Cookie was still playing in the garden. She thought it was a game."
Brogan, a mother to her seven-year-old daughter, said she was given no option to change the time or date of the delivery or add alternative delivery instructions.
She said: “Hermes are apparently not allowed to just leave Oh Polly parcels outside because they’re quite expensive orders, so someone is supposed to sign for them.
“The delivery driver obviously saw the dog because you can see her in the delivery photo, so I don't understand why he’d leave it there.
“Cookies never torn any clothes up around the house. She's a really good dog, so she obviously thought the delivery man was throwing the parcel to her to play with. She didn't even realise she did anything wrong."
Brogan contacted Oh Polly for a replacement order, but unfortunately, it didn't arrive on time for her birthday celebrations.
Oh Polly promised Brogan that her delivery this time would be handled by DPD and not Hermes. However, Hermes was entrusted with the parcel and, this time left it on Brogan's front doorstep in full view of the street.
She said: "Luckily, my neighbour was home and took it in for me, otherwise anyone could have stolen it.
"By then, my birthday was long over, so I sent them back for a refund because they're occasion dresses, and I don't have anything to wear them for now."
Brogan said she wouldn't be ordering from any sites that use Hermes delivery in the future.
