Royal Mail discussion

[Trainbike46]

It hasn't been necessary to go to the post office to buy stamps in your entire life! There are numerous parcel companies available, many of which don't pick up at post offices, and some of them pick up from your home or place of work.

Supermarkets don't sell stamps for international post. Post offices do, and as far as I'm aware nowhere else does.

To me dropping off at a post office is easier for small parcels, simply because I can do it when suits me, whereas I tend to get a multiple hour (or sometimes even an all day slot) for collection at home - I don't want to have to stay in.

My nearest post office is nearby, about 5 minutes walk away. My nearest Amazon locker is twice as far away but it is actually more convenient. It is open all the time, I don't have to queue and it is at the railway station. Going to the post office wouldn't be the end of the world, but that's not the point.

Then why not pick up parcels there? your point makes even less sense now.

 

[GusB]

It hasn't been necessary to go to the post office to buy stamps in your entire life!

Yes it has. For a time, the post office was the only place in the village where stamps could be bought. I can buy a book of stamps from other shops now, but this was not always the case.

 

[johncrossley]

Supermarkets don't sell stamps for international post. Post offices do, and as far as I'm aware nowhere else does.

You can buy postage online. You can use domestic stamps bought from the supermarket for international use, although you might be overpaying.

Then why not pick up parcels there? your point makes even less sense now.

Can't you see why I would find an Amazon locker more convenient? The Co-op next to the post office also accepts Amazon deliveries, but I still prefer the locker.

 

[Trainbike46]

You can buy postage online. You can use domestic stamps bought from the supermarket for international use, although you might be overpaying.

You'd be overpaying quite significantly if using domestic stamps, so less than ideal. Easier to just pop into the post office on the way to work.

Can't you see why I would find an Amazon locker more convenient? The Co-op next to the post office also accepts Amazon deliveries, but I still prefer the locker.

No, I really don't get it. But whatever works for you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2022 ==

Isn't royal mail group (so royal mail and parcelforce) the biggest delivery service for parcels in the UK? I'm sure they could do better, but it's hardly like they are an insignificant player

 

[johncrossley]

You'd be overpaying quite significantly if using domestic stamps, so less than ideal. Easier to just pop into the post office on the way to work.

Even easier to buy your postage online.

No, I really don't get it. But whatever works for you!

I'm actually at the railway station on a regular basis so I don't actually need to make a special trip.

 

[david1212]

Apparently Royal Mail has now asked the Government if they can scrap (the somewhat pointless in my view) Saturday deliveries:

Royal Mail asks to stop Saturday letter deliveries

It comes as the business seeks to revive its fortunes after slumping to a half-year loss.

www.bbc.co.uk

They certainly are not pointless. For households where nobody is at home daytime Monday - Friday it is the only day when Signed For, Special Delivery or items that will not fit through the letter box.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They certainly are not pointless. For households where nobody is at home daytime Monday - Friday it is the only day when Signed For, Special Delivery or items that will not fit through the letter box.

Signed For is rapidly being replaced with Tracked 24/48 and a photo of the door it was put through, which is more secure.

Special Delivery on Saturday (which costs more) isn't proposed to stop, nor is parcel post, which covers most things that don't fit the letterbox unless yours is tiny.

Doesn't strike me as a massive issue. Indeed until it came up I thought they already had.

 

[david1212]

Most post offices in the UK are actually just counters in convenience stores now, and they're open long hours including Sundays. Things have moved on. You can grab your stuff when you go for bread and milk.

While indeed across the country the majority of Post Office counters may well be in ' 7 - 11 ' convenience store it does not necessarily follow that Post Office service is available all hours the store is open. At least in my area many have cut back to 9:00 - 17:00 Monday - Friday and 9:00 - 12:30 Saturday. Only a guess but it reduces the number of Post Office trained staff they require.

Many Delivery Offices are only open for collections a few hours too, not say 7:00 - 18:00 Monday - Friday and to 20:00 one evening plus 07:00 - 14:00 Saturday as three years ago.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2022 ==

Signed For is rapidly being replaced with Tracked 24/48 and a photo of the door it was put through, which is more secure.

Special Delivery on Saturday (which costs more) isn't proposed to stop, nor is parcel post, which covers most things that don't fit the letterbox unless yours is tiny.

Doesn't strike me as a massive issue. Indeed until it came up I thought they already had.

Tracked 24/48 is only available to business not Joe & Joanne Public. Signed For is the service available to the public. Even if bought online the package still has to be handed over at a Post Office.

My letter box actually is larger than average but still only about 22cm width and 35mm depth.

 

[zero]

Tracked 24/48 is only available to business not Joe & Joanne Public. Signed For is the service available to the public. Even if bought online the package still has to be handed over at a Post Office.

My letter box actually is larger than average but still only about 22cm width and 35mm depth.

I think it's possible for anyone to buy tracked 24/48 now.

You don't have to post signed for items at a post office - they can go into a postbox, but you won't get the full compensation if it's lost between the postbox and the mail sorting centre. They do get scanned during the journey but the tracking info doesn't get shown.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think it's possible for anyone to buy tracked 24/48 now.

It is indeed. Curiously, though, at last count it could not be bought or posted at a Post Office Counter, though, which is a bit odd. You can buy it online and drop off at a parcel postbox (or a normal one if it fits) or RM depot.

Allegedly this was because it didn't form part of the contract, which says to me the contract is a bit too tight.

You don't have to post signed for items at a post office - they can go into a postbox, but you won't get the full compensation if it's lost between the postbox and the mail sorting centre. They do get scanned during the journey but the tracking info doesn't get shown.

Yes, this is a bit of a risk.

 

[gswindale]

I personally wouldn't bother sending anything tracked 24/48 after having to do several PCR tests and using a "priority" postbox. Some of those took a week to get to the lab!

I have found the collect from the door service a bit more useful than going to the local post office - last time I had to return something via Royal Mail and go to the counter, I tried to do so on my way to the office, but was told that the computer wouldn't work until 9am, so that was a wasted trip.

 

[Typhoon]

I personally wouldn't bother sending anything tracked 24/48 after having to do several PCR tests and using a "priority" postbox. Some of those took a week to get to the lab!

I can endorse that. Just over a year ago I had some medical tests to conduct, did so overnight; told to use a priority postbox to return them (tracked but can't remember which) so took them to the (priority) postbox outside the sorting office. A couple of weeks later, received a letter reminding me to do the tests. Phoned up, they had received the tests in the last couple of days, no use so they had sent the tests out again. Fortunately, the results this time proved negative.
Like many things, there appears to be a problem with managing their mail. We, at least, do get a regular delivery and at a fairly regular time. I know people who live not too far from me (closer to the sorting office), slightly more rural but on a main road with houses along it, whose post is delivered spasmodically. They got an item, sent out as a mass mailing, same time, two weeks after I got it.

 

[DelayRepay]

I've just received a pair of glasses through Royal Mail.

Late Wednesday, got an email from the supplier saying they were being dispatched.
Yesterday, got an email from Royal Mail confirming they'd be delivered today, with a link to re-arrange delivery if I was going to be out
This morning at about 10am the very cheerful postman rang my doorbell, handed me the package along with a couple of other letters, and wished me a nice day.

Compare that to the Amazon man, who leaves parcels on the doorstep in the rain without checking if anyone's in. Or the Hermes person, who decided to hide a parcel containing a mobile phone in the top of the food waste recycling bin on bin day(!). I certainly cannot fault Royal Mail's service compared to the others!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Compare that to the Amazon man, who leaves parcels on the doorstep in the rain without checking if anyone's in. Or the Hermes person, who decided to hide a parcel containing a mobile phone in the top of the food waste recycling bin on bin day(!). I certainly cannot fault Royal Mail's service compared to the others!

Indeed. I think Tracked 24 and 48 are absolutely excellent products. GPS tracking the postie so you know exactly when they will arrive is about the only real improvement I can think of.

 

[DelayRepay]

Indeed. I think Tracked 24 and 48 are absolutely excellent products. GPS tracking the postie so you know exactly when they will arrive is about the only real improvement I can think of.

One thing I have noticed. In the past when I've missed deliveries the package has gone back to the sorting office, which has meant driving to some industrial estate somewhere during their limited opening hours to collect it.

Where I live now the default seems to be to drop things at the local Post Office rather than taking them back to the sorting office. Not sure if that's something that happens everywhere of if it happens here because of the distance of the sorting office (which, if you relied on public transport would need two buses and take an hour each way!)

 

[johncrossley]

I've just received a pair of glasses through Royal Mail.

Late Wednesday, got an email from the supplier saying they were being dispatched.
Yesterday, got an email from Royal Mail confirming they'd be delivered today, with a link to re-arrange delivery if I was going to be out
This morning at about 10am the very cheerful postman rang my doorbell, handed me the package along with a couple of other letters, and wished me a nice day.

Compare that to the Amazon man, who leaves parcels on the doorstep in the rain without checking if anyone's in. Or the Hermes person, who decided to hide a parcel containing a mobile phone in the top of the food waste recycling bin on bin day(!). I certainly cannot fault Royal Mail's service compared to the others!

Certainly, Royal Mail are better at actually delivering to the door. My partner is still happy with having stuff left outside the door from Amazon. Amazon ring the doorbell then run away. Admittedly, nothing has been stolen yet as it is relatively low risk as it is an internal door within a block of flats. But I always get stuff sent to the locker even if I'm in. Locker delivery is also cheaper as they don't charge the delivery fee even if you don't have Prime. London councils also urge their residents to choose locker or other type of remote delivery for the sake of the environment and reduced congestion.

 

[Bletchleyite]

One thing I have noticed. In the past when I've missed deliveries the package has gone back to the sorting office, which has meant driving to some industrial estate somewhere during their limited opening hours to collect it.

Where I live now the default seems to be to drop things at the local Post Office rather than taking them back to the sorting office. Not sure if that's something that happens everywhere of if it happens here because of the distance of the sorting office (which, if you relied on public transport would need two buses and take an hour each way!)

In my experience Parcelforce do this and RM to the depot. It would be good to be able to set up an account and indicate a preference (Hermes does this, one upside of it!)

 

[londonbridge]

I had no delivery for a week and was expecting at least four letters, then three of them came through my letterbox last Wednesday along with several other pieces of mail. Unfortunately my new book of prepaid newspaper vouchers wasn’t among them! The old book ran out on Friday, I rang the paper who said I’m supposed to buy it and notify them when the new book arrives and they will credit my account with the cover price for the days I’ve had to buy it at full price. I still haven’t got them as they were on strike Thursday and Friday last week and I had nothing Saturday, Monday or yesterday. I’ve since discovered that they are prioritising parcels and signed for and are not bringing letters out every day. I went to the delivery office yesterday with my ID and asked if they had anything but they refused to check and said they’re not allowed to hand letters over the counter! What’s the difference between them handing over a parcel with the while you were out card and handing over a letter as long as you’ve got ID? How are you supposed to obtain urgent or time sensitive mail if they won’t deliver and won’t hand it over the counter?? They’re now on strike again for two days so the earliest I might get the vouchers is Friday IF they can be bothered to deliver them, odds are they’re there but I just can’t get access to them. Royal Mail are an absolute joke, plus I thought wilfully delaying the mail was an offence, which is surely what they’re doing by letting it sit in their office for a week before delivering it.

 

[najaB]

What’s the difference between them handing over a parcel with the while you were out card and handing over a letter as long as you’ve got ID? How are you supposed to obtain urgent or time sensitive mail if they won’t deliver and won’t hand it over the counter??

Royal Mail deliver to addresses, not to people. A "While you were out" card proves that you have access to the address, ID doesn't. Even a driving licence only proves that you claimed to live there at some point in the past.

 

[londonbridge]

ok, but the point remains, how are you supposed to get hold of your mail if they're not delivering it and wont hand it over? On the news this morning there were reports of one person ending up in court when a parking ticket didn't arrive and another who nearly lost their mortage application.

 

[tigerroar]

Don't get confused on who to blame, it's the responsibility of the management to get offices cleared.

 

[Bletchleyite]

ok, but the point remains, how are you supposed to get hold of your mail if they're not delivering it and wont hand it over? On the news this morning there were reports of one person ending up in court when a parking ticket didn't arrive and another who nearly lost their mortage application.

It's the responsibility of the people sending you these things to ensure they are properly sent. At the moment mortgage paperwork if not possible to be done online would be better sent by e.g. DX than RM, or at least by Special Delivery, or even dropped off in person by one of the staff in their private car if local.

Parking shysters are parking shysters, they're incorrigible, though I find it hard to have sympathy with people who get them as it's really easy not to - park legally and always read signs. OK, everyone makes an occasional mistake and there's the odd ANPR failure, but getting more than one or two in a lifetime just means you're being negligent.

 

[londonbridge]

It's the responsibility of the people sending you these things to ensure they are properly sent. At the moment mortgage paperwork if not possible to be done online would be better sent by e.g. DX than RM, or at least by Special Delivery, or even dropped off in person by one of the staff in their private car if local.

No, it’s the responsibility of Royal Mail to deliver items of mail that you entrust to them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, it’s the responsibility of Royal Mail to deliver items of mail that you entrust to them.

If you require a timed delivery, the Royal Mail offers a service for that - Special Delivery. They won't accept mail for that unless they know they can deliver it on the contracted timescale.

The rest of the RM service is basically offered on a best-effort, untracked basis. You know this when you contract to use it.

 

[najaB]

On the news this morning there were reports of one person ending up in court when a parking ticket didn't arrive and another who nearly lost their mortage application.

The person would didn't receive the parking ticket would have been able to make a statutory declaration that they were unaware of the ticket - this would have set aside any court action. As to the mortgage documents, I am surprised that they weren't sent recorded delivery, electronically or by a courier service.

 

[gswindale]

Don't get confused on who to blame, it's the responsibility of the management to get offices cleared.

It is the responsibility of the Royal Mail to get the post delivered.

Management are one face of Royal Mail.
The Post people are another face.

If no post is delivered due to strike action by workers, that is the Royal Mail's issue to sort out. If the post is not delivered due to the postie chucking it in the canal in Manchester, that is also the Royal Mail's issue. In both cases, I am entitled to complain to whichever face of the organisation I come face to face with.

Internal politics of an organisation are none of my business as a (potential) customer.

 

[johncrossley]

On the news this morning there were reports of one person ending up in court when a parking ticket didn't arrive and another who nearly lost their mortage application.

Anything as important as those shouldn't be sent by post at all. The DVLA should have your email address and so you could get parking tickets and any notifications that are sent by post should be sent by email. Or you could have an online account with the DVLA if extra security is required and they would send you a message that you have a secure message waiting. It should also be possible to collect passports without having to go to the passport office.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It should also be possible to collect passports without having to go to the passport office.

Passports are normally sent by courier. I believe DX Secure is a common one used.

 

[Dai Corner]

Hmmmphh my subscription copy of Private Eye is going to be late

 

[najaB]

Passports are normally sent by courier. I believe DX Secure is a common one used.

That depends on where you live. They use DX Secure in what they class as high risk areas, other standard couriers if it is low risk.