Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Note: this involves COVID related issues but I'm making a wider point, so I've put it in General Discussion. Mods, feel free to move to the COVID forum if you believe that's a better fit.
The problem with RM (including ParcelFarce) for the future is that they are, generally speaking, an absolutely awful parcel courier, but their heavy Unionisation and archaic working practices prevent the reform that is needed. I think the Government sold them off because over time they are going to become an utter money pit. My prediction is that they will collapse within 5-10 years and the Government will issue a much reduced letter post contract to another firm, perhaps for deliveries twice a week to each home, and people wanting more than that will just use their preferred courier, most of which (Hermes and Yodel excepted) offer a vastly better service - even Amazon Logistics is now much better, with full tracking available.
I say this sitting in waiting for a RM so-called tracked parcel which I have no idea if it's going to arrive today or not. Every single other courier would tell me when it's out for delivery - even Hermes, which is considered to be pretty poor by most.
ps Royal Mail (ParcelForce) has indeed benefited from more online retailing but CV19 has exacerbated the decline in letters and business post and that is where most of their cost and infrastructure sits.
The problem with RM (including ParcelFarce) for the future is that they are, generally speaking, an absolutely awful parcel courier, but their heavy Unionisation and archaic working practices prevent the reform that is needed. I think the Government sold them off because over time they are going to become an utter money pit. My prediction is that they will collapse within 5-10 years and the Government will issue a much reduced letter post contract to another firm, perhaps for deliveries twice a week to each home, and people wanting more than that will just use their preferred courier, most of which (Hermes and Yodel excepted) offer a vastly better service - even Amazon Logistics is now much better, with full tracking available.
I say this sitting in waiting for a RM so-called tracked parcel which I have no idea if it's going to arrive today or not. Every single other courier would tell me when it's out for delivery - even Hermes, which is considered to be pretty poor by most.