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B2Swedish·30 cards

Deliveries: the system and the complaints

The vocabulary of Swedish parcel logistics — carriers, delivery options, the address that must be exactly right, customs on non-EU orders, and the national sport of complaining about PostNord.

A delivery man looking at his smartphone while holding packages, outdoors.
Photo: Kindel Media on Pexels
  1. 1

    transportören

    the carrier

    Tip: PostNord, DHL, Bring, Schenker, Budbee, Instabox, Airmee.

  2. 2

    att välja leveranssätt i kassan

    to choose a delivery option at checkout

    Tip: 'leveranssätt' = delivery method.

  3. 3

    leverans till ombud

    delivery to an agent

    Tip: The default and cheapest.

  4. 4

    leverans till paketbox

    delivery to a parcel locker

    Tip: Open 24/7 with the app.

  5. 5

    hemleverans på kvällen

    evening home delivery

    Tip: Budbee's niche.

  6. 6

    att ställa det utanför dörren

    to leave it outside the door

    Tip: 'ställa' = put (standing); the 'leave outside' option.

  7. 7

    budet kom inte in

    the courier couldn't get in

    Tip: Because the door code was missing.

  8. 8

    att lägga till portkoden i leveransinstruktionerna

    to add the door code to the delivery notes

    Tip: Do it every time.

  9. 9

    namnet måste stå på dörren

    the name must be on the door

    Tip: Sweden delivers to the name, not just the flat number.

  10. 10

    c/o-raden

    the c/o line

    Tip: 'c/o Andersson' when you live at someone else's address.

  11. 11

    adressen är ofullständig

    the address is incomplete

    Tip: 'ofullständig' = incomplete; the reason for a return-to-sender.

  12. 12

    returnerat till avsändaren

    returned to sender

    Tip: After 7 (or 14) uncollected days.

  13. 13

    paketet har omdirigerats

    the parcel has been redirected

    Tip: 'omdirigera' = redirect; to another ombud.

  14. 14

    att spåra paketet

    to track the parcel

    Tip: 'spårning' = tracking.

  15. 15

    statusen har inte uppdaterats på en vecka

    the status hasn't updated in a week

    Tip: 'på en vecka' = for a week.

  16. 16

    det har fastnat på terminalen

    it's stuck at the terminal

    Tip: 'fastna' = get stuck; the Rosersberg terminal is famous.

  17. 17

    att reklamera ett försvunnet paket

    to file a claim for a lost parcel

    Tip: 'reklamera' = make a claim; the seller does it, not you, in most cases.

  18. 18

    säljaren ansvarar tills det är levererat

    the seller is responsible until it's delivered

    Tip: Consumer law — argue with the shop, not the carrier.

  19. 19

    att få en ersättningsvara

    to get a replacement

    Tip: 'ersättningsvara' = replacement item.

  20. 20

    importmomsen och hanteringsavgiften

    the import VAT and handling fee

    Tip: On every non-EU parcel; the fee is what people resent.

  21. 21

    att beställa utanför EU

    to order from outside the EU

    Tip: China, UK, US — expect the customs SMS.

  22. 22

    en tulldeklaration

    a customs declaration

    Tip: Needed when you send a parcel outside the EU.

  23. 23

    att skicka rekommenderat

    to send by registered mail

    Tip: 'rek' for short; signed for.

  24. 24

    ett spårbart brev

    a letter with tracking

    Tip: 'spårbar' = trackable.

  25. 25

    portokoden

    the postage code (digital stamp)

    Tip: Buy by SMS, write the code on the envelope.

  26. 26

    posten delas ut varannan dag

    mail is delivered every other day

    Tip: 'varannan' = every other; the 2024 change.

  27. 27

    brevbäraren

    the postman

    Tip: lit. 'letter carrier'.

  28. 28

    postrummet

    the mail room

    Tip: In newer apartment blocks.

  29. 29

    de ställer det i trapphuset

    they leave it in the stairwell

    Tip: 'trapphus' = stairwell; common and unofficial.

  30. 30

    PostNord är ett nationellt skämt

    PostNord is a national joke

    Tip: Every Swede has a story; smile and agree.