I always use Royal Mail or DPD wherever possible. All of the other couriers just seem to make it up as they go along (even outright lying about what they have done with the parcel)
DPD seem to be the only company that realise it is 2015 and email before the delivery with an hour slot and a chance to reschedule (easily online) when you know you won’t be in for first attempt.
Problem is a lot of companies care more about their cost of delivery than the buyers service not realising there is a direct link back to future purchases. If the only choices from a seller are the like of Myhermes or Yodel then I won’t buy from them as it is not worth the hassle.