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Any German speakers out there? Help!

(30 Posts)
Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 13:34:07

I'm expecting a chest of drawers to be delivered today so went on the 'tracking' option to see how close it is to being delivered.

It said

"Der Empfänger wollte das Produkt nicht und verweigerte die Annahme. / Das Paket wird an den Absender zurückgesandt.
Alternative Kontrollnummer"

Help! What does it mean hmm

Lillie Wed 03-Feb-16 13:40:46

It says .... "The recipient didn't want the product and refused delivery. The parcel will be returned to the sender."

Hope that is not bad news for you!

PS I'm a German teacher, so pretty sure that's correct!

imagran Wed 03-Feb-16 13:43:17

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Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 13:43:22

That is bad news. Better get onto the firm.

Thanks

Lillie Wed 03-Feb-16 13:47:54

No, Imagran, those translation sites are so poor you could start world war 3 with a misunderstanding!

imagran Wed 03-Feb-16 13:49:24

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Alea Wed 03-Feb-16 13:55:20

I wonder if they delivered it (or tried to deliver it) to the wrong person?

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 13:59:08

Lillie thank you for your translation. I'm on to the firm (on hold now) while they try to track it down. It came from Denmark via Germany!!

OlderNoWiser Wed 03-Feb-16 14:01:34

Correct, Lillie, and the last line says "alternative control number", whatever that means ... I would not recommend Google Translate for the simple reason that if it was that good I (a professional freelance translator of German) would have been unemployed a long time ago grin

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 14:03:21

It's apparently on its way back to Denmark hmm It seems that UPS have changed their policy and will not leave items with neighbours any more!!!

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 14:05:09

I didn't use a translate programme as I knew that there would be someone on GN who'd translate it ....and in fact Lillie responded in 6 minutes smile

TriciaF Wed 03-Feb-16 14:05:33

Some delivery companies use that phrase in english regularly and all it means is they couldn't be bothered to find your address.
We've had it several times (when we've been in and waiting.)

OlderNoWiser Wed 03-Feb-16 14:09:24

Sorry I did not respond in 6 minutes .... I was busy translating lol

Lillie Wed 03-Feb-16 14:10:08

That's annoying Anya because it actually translates as "the addressee didn't want the product." If your name was the one on the parcel then strictly speaking you haven't personally declined it!!

Ha Ha, OlderNoWiser you can always spot those who've used Google Translate . My students are masters at trying to trick me!

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 14:10:56

Well at least I got to speak to a lovely Irish man (the firm is based in Ireland) and their customer service was excellent. They are going to reorder it and get it to us ASAP.

Ain't GN wonderful for problems like this grin

Lillie Wed 03-Feb-16 14:14:22

ASAP = baldmöglichst ..... in case you need it *Anya" !!!

OlderNoWiser Wed 03-Feb-16 14:30:23

I can well imagine that Lillie ... Google Translate is the bane of my life. And don't even get me started on CAT tools like Trados and the like ... slow you down like anything and then clients ask for a price reduction, because they provided you with a TM (Translation Memory), which is usually worse than useless and slows you down even more ..... angry

Oh well, calm down now, not good for the blood pressure ... back to work for me.

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 14:44:05

Thanks Lillie - I might be asking for something a bit stronger if I meet that delivery driver wink

Badenkate Wed 03-Feb-16 15:35:46

'Kontroll' actually means 'check' in German, it's what is known as a 'false friend' - a word that looks like an English word but doesn't mean the same. It doesn't make too much difference here, but some can be quite embarrassing.: 'das Gift' is 'poison'; 'die Fabrik' is a factory; 'brav' is well-behaved.

OlderNoWiser Wed 03-Feb-16 16:38:11

I think it actually refers to quality control / delivery control here Badenkate and in connection with Nummer, i.e. Kontrollnummer, is control number, not "check(ing) number".

Alea Wed 03-Feb-16 16:50:43

Miserable neighbours who declined to take it in for you?

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 22:42:37

No Alea lovely neighbours who take things in all the time and vice versa.

It's UPS's policy not to leave items with neighbours now. See my post of 14.03.21

Alea Wed 03-Feb-16 22:46:40

So the statement that the recipient had declined delivery was totally untrue? I had extrapolated from the message that they had been unable to deliver the item.
Apologies, Anya's neighbours -BOTH SIDES!

Anya Wed 03-Feb-16 22:53:47

Exactly Alea in fact almost anyone (except possibly her at No. 3) will take in anything for anybody - even stray school kids who have lost their keys and are temporarily homeless until their parents arrive.

Anya Mon 15-Feb-16 16:05:54

The replacement for my wandering chest of drawers eventually arrived today....with only three feet!!