Royal Mail discussion

[tigerroar]

Rules are no doorstepping. Try a neighbour if possible. I think it's such an easy job to get right.

 

[Trainbike46]

Rules are no doorstepping. Try a neighbour if possible. I think it's such an easy job to get right.

Does it matter whether it is signed for or not? Signed for parcel are a pain as they don't get left in the stairwell of our flat building, so we ususally end up collecting them from the delivery office (or rearranging delivery to a saturday). But the regular parcels just get left in the stairwell (which is locked from the outside), and is much easier

 

[Typhoon]

Rules are no doorstepping. Try a neighbour if possible. I think it's such an easy job to get right.

Thanks for that.
You are so right. Where I lived before, I had some important (but valueless) documents and marked as such (important, not valueless. I was upstairs, by the time I got downstairs and opened the door, someone had made off with them (it was that sort of neighbourhood). Fortunately, it was a (major) problem for the sender.

Shame couriers don't have to do the same.

 

[tigerroar]

Does it matter whether it is signed for or not? Signed for parcel are a pain as they don't get left in the stairwell of our flat building, so we ususally end up collecting them from the delivery office (or rearranging delivery to a saturday). But the regular parcels just get left in the stairwell (which is locked from the outside), and is much easier

Yes. The sender has requested that the recipient signs for it to prove that it's been delivered. During the pandemic we were advised to sign for items on behalf of the recipient with them witnessing the signature. Sadly, many colleagues took this to mean just sign for it and post it through the door, or even leave it somewhere. Quite why they think this is acceptable puzzles me.

 

[Butts]

Is Royal Mail still the biggest user of Air Freight at night within the UK ?

 

[gswindale]

Yes. The sender has requested that the recipient signs for it to prove that it's been delivered. During the pandemic we were advised to sign for items on behalf of the recipient with them witnessing the signature. Sadly, many colleagues took this to mean just sign for it and post it through the door, or even leave it somewhere. Quite why they think this is acceptable puzzles me.

That is what our rather brilliant postie did. Was much appreciated - particularly with a little one who normally napped around the time the post was delivered.

If he could tell we were potentially not in (no car on drive), then it would be taken away and redelivered.

I'm slightly puzzled as to why my postie doing what he did was unacceptable as it seemed like a brilliant idea to us and I'd quite like it to continue!

 

[GusB]

It's rare for me to have an undelivered package, but the postie takes them to the village post office rather than back to the delivery office. The post office is open 8am until 8pm and I avoid having to take a bus into town, so it's far more convenient. Having said that, the last time it happened, the package was a covid test kit and I was unable to collect it due to being in self-isolation! Fortunately, one of the staff was kind enough to drop it off on her way home.

 

[tigerroar]

That is what our rather brilliant postie did. Was much appreciated - particularly with a little one who normally napped around the time the post was delivered.

If he could tell we were potentially not in (no car on drive), then it would be taken away and redelivered.

I'm slightly puzzled as to why my postie doing what he did was unacceptable as it seemed like a brilliant idea to us and I'd quite like it to continue!

He wasn't doing it to help you out, he was doing it because he wasn't a brilliant postie. Isn't it funny how your perception of good is actually very bad. He could easily lose his job for doing what he's done there. You have to remember that the sender has asked for proof of delivery, you have every right to look at the signature obtained and say it's not your signature.

As ever with these things, everything is fantastic until something goes wrong.

Now more than ever when everything is timed by GPS, quite why someone would want to do their walk quicker than necessary puzzles me. They end up having to do extra work. It's not job and knock anymore!

It's rare for me to have an undelivered package, but the postie takes them to the village post office rather than back to the delivery office. The post office is open 8am until 8pm and I avoid having to take a bus into town, so it's far more convenient. Having said that, the last time it happened, the package was a covid test kit and I was unable to collect it due to being in self-isolation! Fortunately, one of the staff was kind enough to drop it off on her way home.

Some rurals have different rules. It used to be that they'd drive out of the office in their vans then all stop at the newsagents around the corner and get papers and deliver them too. They used to take their christmas tips home in a wheelbarrow

 

[gswindale]

He wasn't doing it to help you out, he was doing it because he wasn't a brilliant postie. Isn't it funny how your perception of good is actually very bad. He could easily lose his job for doing what he's done there. You have to remember that the sender has asked for proof of delivery, you have every right to look at the signature obtained and say it's not your signature.

As ever with these things, everything is fantastic until something goes wrong.

Now more than ever when everything is timed by GPS, quite why someone would want to do their walk quicker than necessary puzzles me. They end up having to do extra work. It's not job and knock anymore!


Some rurals have different rules. It used to be that they'd drive out of the office in their vans then all stop at the newsagents around the corner and get papers and deliver them too. They used to take their christmas tips home in a wheelbarrow

99% of the time we were in, but simply unable to get to the door quick enough, although thinking back, we did have a note on the door asking any deliveries to be left there, but on the rare occasions we weren't around after the 1st lockdown was lifted, he would take stuff back to the sorting office if he had reason to believe we were away.

Personally what makes a good postman is one who knows what his/her customers want and provides it rather than simply blindly following their "script". It is the same in all industries where providing a better than required service shows that people actually care about the service they are providing.

 

[tigerroar]

The customers are the ones who are paying

 

[gswindale]

The customers are the ones who are paying

Precisely.

If you were my postie and took my post back to the sorting office like you say they should, I would be avoiding using Royal Mail and would purchase from companies who would use a higher quality of courier.

 

[Trackman]

Rules are no doorstepping. Try a neighbour if possible. I think it's such an easy job to get right.

RM did it with me once a while back, not sure if it was 'signed for'.
About 6 weeks later I received a letter from RM asking me if I had received the package as the sender hadn't received confirmation that the parcel had been delivered.
Thinking back, I reckon it was a Christmas temp. 'I'll just leave this here mate!' - it was on the pavement!
---
On a side note, Amazon seem to be finding obvious hiding places even though I tell them in delivery preferences where to to go etc..
Don't know where you stand legally on this if some runs off with parcel ... maybe a discussion on a new thread.

 

[tigerroar]

higher quality of courier.

That's an absolute contradiction though. A lower quality of courier would leave your items unattended for anyone and his dog to steal. A higher quality one, me, would ensure that it's kept safe whether it's delivered or not. We don't get paid to deliver things like couriers, who don't get paid if they don't deliver them (one way or another), we are the best option

Don't know where you stand legally on this if some runs off with parcel ... maybe a discussion on a new thread.

Dans la merde.

Like I might've alluded to previously, it's mine until it's yours. If I no longer have it and you don't either then I still have responsibility for it. If I've given it to a neighbour of yours I will have written a note and put it through your door. If I haven't I'd write a different note and take it back. Taking it back is no skin off of my nose, I'm going back so it can come back with me, then you can choose to collect it, having redelivered or have it delivered to a local post office for a small fee.

If you know you're not going to be home when you order something then don't order it

 

[Trainbike46]

If you know you're not going to be home when you order something then don't order it

Unfortunately, it can be rather hard to divine when something will be delivered, because of varying processing times at the sender, and because of variable delivery speed by royal mail (this is probably in part related to me living in NI, where many things take a bit longer). I can try to order at such a time that it should arrive on Saturday, when I'm usually in, but if things are faster or slower it may very well show up on Friday or Monday, when I'll be at work. I'm sure other people have the same problem.

Fortunately, our local royal mail delivers items to the (locked, secure) hallway of the flat building I live in, unless the item is signed for

That's an absolute contradiction though. A lower quality of courier would leave your items unattended for anyone and his dog to steal. A higher quality one, me, would ensure that it's kept safe whether it's delivered or not. We don't get paid to deliver things like couriers, who don't get paid if they don't deliver them (one way or another), we are the best option

In my experience, the main thing other couriers do is deliver to random houses on different streets, or charge somewhat extortionate extra fees for delivering in NI.

I think the main strong point of royal mail is that the posties get to know the area where they deliver, so there's fewer chances for things to go wrong. Other delivery companies tend to have different people every time

 

[Dai Corner]

Unfortunately, it can be rather hard to divine when something will be delivered,

You can pay many couriers for a more precisely timed delivery, but few domestic customers do.

 

[Trainbike46]

You can pay many couriers for a more precisely timed delivery, but few domestic customers do.

very few webshops allow you to select that option in my experience. And even if they do, it tends not to be available for NI (or the Scottish Higlands and Islands, for that matter)

 

[Dai Corner]

very few webshops allow you to select that option in my experience. And even if they do, it tends not to be available for NI (or the Scottish Higlands and Islands, for that matter)

Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and ASOS offer at least a next/nominated day, for example.

On the industrial/commercial side, the suppliers I used to use would offer pre- 9am, pre-noon and pre-2pm delivery (at a cost). It was worth it if you'd otherwise have people standing around waiting for materials.

 

[tigerroar]

Unfortunately, it can be rather hard to divine when something will be delivered, because of varying processing times at the sender, and because of variable delivery speed by royal mail (this is probably in part related to me living in NI, where many things take a bit longer). I can try to order at such a time that it should arrive on Saturday, when I'm usually in, but if things are faster or slower it may very well show up on Friday or Monday, when I'll be at work. I'm sure other people have the same problem.

Fortunately, our local royal mail delivers items to the (locked, secure) hallway of the flat building I live in, unless the item is signed for

There was a smiley for the first bit BTW

How is the hallway locked and secure? How do non-residents get in? If it's via a trades button then anyone can get in and it's not locked and secure.

 

[Trainbike46]

There was a smiley for the first bit BTW

How is the hallway locked and secure? How do non-residents get in? If it's via a trades button then anyone can get in and it's not locked and secure.

There is no trades button, fortunately. I know those are a massive security risk!

Deliveries other than royal mail get let in by one of the other residents (or occasionally by me). I believe royal mail have a key to the hallway. It's obviously not fully secure, as a parcel could be taken by any of the other resident, but it's no less safe than delivering to a neighbour

 

[tigerroar]

I disagree with that last statement, with a neighbour it's been handed over to a human being, the other way it's just been left. I'm not deliberately out looking for an argument, or arguing the toss, I just don't get why people encourage and accept mediocrity when it's such an easy job to get right.

 

[Grumbler]

Why not use one of these schemes whereby you are notified by text that your parcel has been delivered to a local shop?

Also I agree with the idea of reducing the frequency of delivery rounds, at least to residential areas, as most addresses do not receive any items most days. So do each round on alternate days, saving time and shoe leather - for most people an extra day makes no difference as nearly everyone can be contacted electronically.

 

[tigerroar]

The CWU would rightly fight against that because it would lead to lots of job losses. Then any money saved from it would go right into the pockets of the shareholders. Please don't tell me that that's a good thing.

 

[Grumbler]

The CWU would rightly fight against that because it would lead to lots of job losses. Then any money saved from it would go right into the pockets of the shareholders. Please don't tell me that that's a good thing.

What was the scale of job losses following the scrapping of the 2nd delivery decades ago?

 

[Dai Corner]

The CWU would rightly fight against that because it would lead to lots of job losses. Then any money saved from it would go right into the pockets of the shareholders. Please don't tell me that that's a good thing.

Some to the shareholders, sure, but also towards wages and targeted price cuts to generate more business. Surely the best way to avoid job losses and the scope for pay rises is to ensure everyone's busy doing profit-generating work as far as possible?

 

[Senex]

What was the scale of job losses following the scrapping of the 2nd delivery decades ago?

For most private houses it seemed to be the 1st delivery that was scrapped and everything switched to what had been the 2nd, with post no longer coming at 7 or 8 in the morning but instead round about noon (or later).

 

[tigerroar]

Some to the shareholders, sure, but also towards wages and targeted price cuts to generate more business. Surely the best way to avoid job losses and the scope for pay rises is to ensure everyone's busy doing profit-generating work as far as possible?

Haven't you taken any notice about what this dispute is about? Something like £700M profit, £400M to the shareholders, directors helping themselves to a few million and a 2% payrise to the workforce!

For most private houses it seemed to be the 1st delivery that was scrapped and everything switched to what had been the 2nd, with post no longer coming at 7 or 8 in the morning but instead round about noon (or later).

And now they want us to start at 10am. Won't be out on delivery until noon.

 

[Butts]

Haven't you taken any notice about what this dispute is about? Something like £700M profit, £400M to the shareholders, directors helping themselves to a few million and a 2% payrise to the workforce!


And now they want us to start at 10am. Won't be out on delivery until noon.

Most of the profit comes from GLS which operates abroad. Royal Mail Letters loses money, the parcels prop it up.

Don't forget a lot of ordinary Posties are shareholders (like my Son).

As I stated earlier it's not all bad as there are still a plethora of "Spanish Customs" operating within Royal Mail which benefit the workforce.

For example how many organisations of it's size still run a weekly payroll ?

 

[GusB]

Most of the profit comes from GLS which operates abroad. Royal Mail Letters loses money, the parcels prop it up.

Don't forget a lot of ordinary Posties are shareholders (like my Son).

As I stated earlier it's not all bad as there are still a plethora of "Spanish Customs" operating within Royal Mail which benefit the workforce.

For example how many organisations of it's size still run a weekly payroll ?

What exactly are these so-called "Spanish customs" that you keep referring to?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

And now they want us to start at 10am. Won't be out on delivery until noon.

I've noticed this with Amazon. They allow late into the evening ordering with a promise of 'next day Prime delivery' but then give themselves more time the morning after to get stuff to the local warehouse, sorted, loaded onto the delivery vans and set out. My 'out for delivery' email from Amazon is usually late morning before it arrives with a delivery potentially as late at 2200.

Royal Mail however are going the other way, with a last collection time from the post box at 0900* and, as you say delivery from say 1000 or noon (not sure if you're allowing for sorting then leaving the delivery office).

*Yes, that is the last guaranteed emptying of the box and something posted later in the day may still get collected that day.

 

[Butts]

What exactly are these so-called "Spanish customs" that you keep referring to?

Finishing early and getting paid for it, "working over" and getting paid overtime. (not officially sanctioned but regularly occurs due to lack of effective supervision)

The biggest problem according to my son is poor management. They announce they have cut numbers when effectively they are just moved from one job to another title.

It needs a shake up and I can't believe all the managers are poor.