Royal Mail - utter to**sers
28 October 2003, 01:45 PM
#1
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I just need to vent my anger somewhere about the idiots who make decisions at post office depots.
Basically I had two parcels delivered today, so I popped back at lunch becuase I knew they would be waiting, so picked up the cards to go to the sorting office and pick up my parcels. Got there to find the opening hours are 6.45 am to 1pm.
Is it me or is that totally stupid, ie I cant get my parcels today because it was closed. I mean what about us people that do 9 - 5 ?
Surely they should stay open till 7 pm to give normal people a chance to get their stuff before they shut for the day. I mean how many people would be able to collect the same day.
The real laugh was that one parcel said to wait 4 hours before collecting and it was delivered at 9.20 so how can I collect that the same day ?
Basically these idiots need a good kick up the **** IMHO. Role on deregulation, then they work shy gits are in for a shock.
It comes down to dabs and crucual providing a very very prompt service and let down by Royal Mail - suprise suprise.
Rant over
Basically I had two parcels delivered today, so I popped back at lunch becuase I knew they would be waiting, so picked up the cards to go to the sorting office and pick up my parcels. Got there to find the opening hours are 6.45 am to 1pm.
Is it me or is that totally stupid, ie I cant get my parcels today because it was closed. I mean what about us people that do 9 - 5 ?
Surely they should stay open till 7 pm to give normal people a chance to get their stuff before they shut for the day. I mean how many people would be able to collect the same day.
The real laugh was that one parcel said to wait 4 hours before collecting and it was delivered at 9.20 so how can I collect that the same day ?
Basically these idiots need a good kick up the **** IMHO. Role on deregulation, then they work shy gits are in for a shock.
It comes down to dabs and crucual providing a very very prompt service and let down by Royal Mail - suprise suprise.
Rant over
28 October 2003, 01:52 PM
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I know what you mean Stu. Very frustrating.
Just a thought but in the future ask them to deliver to your work address maybe? Cuts out the hassle.
I know some places will only deliver to the card holders address but it may be worth asking.
[Edited by rogp - 10/28/2003 1:53:16 PM]
Just a thought but in the future ask them to deliver to your work address maybe? Cuts out the hassle.
I know some places will only deliver to the card holders address but it may be worth asking.
[Edited by rogp - 10/28/2003 1:53:16 PM]
28 October 2003, 02:12 PM
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I know what you mean
.... and i work for royal mail
Last year i ordered a new mobile phone by mail order.
I was told by the supplier that i would have to sign on delivery.
They could not deliver to my home address as i would be at work.
They could not drop it at my neighbour's because of the signature.
They did not want to deliver it to my works address as the office
employs over 1000 people and it would cause a delay if i had to be called to sign for it
.In the end, a friend who works for "goods inward" agreed to sign on my behalf.
So much for policy
28 October 2003, 02:38 PM
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Our local PO depot opens 7:30am to 6:30pm m-f and 7:30 to 1pm saturday, always been very happy with that.
Less happy with our moron of a postman though who seems incapable of judging what will and won't fit through the letterbox, he usually stuffs the big packages through and takes the smaller stuff back to the office
Less happy with our moron of a postman though who seems incapable of judging what will and won't fit through the letterbox, he usually stuffs the big packages through and takes the smaller stuff back to the office
28 October 2003, 04:41 PM
#6
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You lot are lucky. The b@5t@rds just knick my parcels. Currently running at a 40% failure rate to my address for anything other than letters.
28 October 2003, 04:46 PM
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They shut at 1pm here too. A fat lot of good when they try to deliver at 10.30am and 'please leave 3 hours' before collecting'.
Used to open til 3pm, so at least I could pop in at lunchtime.
When I do eventually get in there, what do I find ? Some old git of an 'employee' moping around with a *** in his mouth, office full of smoke and not so much as a please or thank you. Winkers [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]
Used to open til 3pm, so at least I could pop in at lunchtime.
When I do eventually get in there, what do I find ? Some old git of an 'employee' moping around with a *** in his mouth, office full of smoke and not so much as a please or thank you. Winkers [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]
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28 October 2003, 04:55 PM
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28 October 2003, 07:51 PM
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My local office is equally crap with opening hours. But they are not the worse, oh no.
Citilink (bless em) refused to give my neighbour a parcel even though I had left a note on the door to do so, and informed my neighbour. Phoning them up when I got home revealed I cannot even change the address it is to be delivered to, the sender had to do this. Had it not been for someone being able to stay in I either would have had to travel about 60 miles to collect or take a day off work, friggin w4nkoooNeoNs.
I like any parcel company that accepts a note on the door asking them to leave the goods in the porch, or with a neighbour. Those that do not do this can kiss my *** cos they won't get my business. I choose courier as an option for most of my post now and also put in additional comments DONT USE CITILINK!!!
Citilink (bless em) refused to give my neighbour a parcel even though I had left a note on the door to do so, and informed my neighbour. Phoning them up when I got home revealed I cannot even change the address it is to be delivered to, the sender had to do this. Had it not been for someone being able to stay in I either would have had to travel about 60 miles to collect or take a day off work, friggin w4nkoooNeoNs.
I like any parcel company that accepts a note on the door asking them to leave the goods in the porch, or with a neighbour. Those that do not do this can kiss my *** cos they won't get my business. I choose courier as an option for most of my post now and also put in additional comments DONT USE CITILINK!!!
28 October 2003, 08:34 PM
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A lot of the problems lie with the companies people order their goods off.They specify the delivery terms,not you.They are the P.O's customer,not you.If they've specified that only you can sign for it,should they break company policy?
Do you really think the postman/woman wants to lump parcels around all day and then take them back again?#
As for opening until 7pm to allow "normal people" to collect parcels they should have been in to receive anyway-I can't see them paying another wage at every depot in the company when they are already pleading poverty.
The "don't collect for x hours" bit I would imagine is to allow the postman/woman to complete their delivery.You'd be more pi**ed off if you went to collect it and they hadn't returned to the depot.
When I order stuff,I have it delivered to work and have no hassle.
[Edited by skiddus_markus - 10/28/2003 8:37:46 PM]
Do you really think the postman/woman wants to lump parcels around all day and then take them back again?#
As for opening until 7pm to allow "normal people" to collect parcels they should have been in to receive anyway-I can't see them paying another wage at every depot in the company when they are already pleading poverty.
The "don't collect for x hours" bit I would imagine is to allow the postman/woman to complete their delivery.You'd be more pi**ed off if you went to collect it and they hadn't returned to the depot.
When I order stuff,I have it delivered to work and have no hassle.
[Edited by skiddus_markus - 10/28/2003 8:37:46 PM]
28 October 2003, 09:24 PM
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there's been a few threads on s'net relating to this.
my postman posts the 'we tried to deliver' card without even bringing the parcel with him. we live in an apartment block and we can't see the front door and he doesn't ring the buzzer.
that's if we actually get the parcel which is about 60% success rate. we don't get letters with credit card shaped bits of plastic in them either.
my postman posts the 'we tried to deliver' card without even bringing the parcel with him. we live in an apartment block and we can't see the front door and he doesn't ring the buzzer.
that's if we actually get the parcel which is about 60% success rate. we don't get letters with credit card shaped bits of plastic in them either.
28 October 2003, 09:25 PM
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don't see a problem myself.
If you work 9-5 then go first thing in the morning the next day. If you must have it the same day you should have told the merchant to either deliver it to your work or use a courier that could hold it for you.
It really ain't rocket science.
If you work 9-5 then go first thing in the morning the next day. If you must have it the same day you should have told the merchant to either deliver it to your work or use a courier that could hold it for you.
It really ain't rocket science.
29 October 2003, 07:32 AM
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When I order groceries online, I get to specify a two hour time slot during which they are to be delivered. These time slots include 8-10pm, so I'm guaranteed to be available. to take the delivery.
Why exactly can't couriers do the same? [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]
Why exactly can't couriers do the same? [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]
29 October 2003, 08:18 AM
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Best one I had wasn't the PO but the gas board. Gave me a choice of 'am' or 'pm' for them to turn up. I said am so took half day off work but HAD to leave just after 12. You've guessed it - no gas man. I had already rung several times to check where they were. Then they told me that 'am' meant any time up until 2 o'clock .... WTF!!!!!?????
Dave
29 October 2003, 09:30 AM
#19
Andy
Of course couriers can - its just that the public do not wish to pay for this service, expecting deliveries *to their timescales and convenience* for the price of a stamp
You get what you pay for.
When I order groceries online, I get to specify a two hour time slot during which they are to be delivered. These time slots include 8-10pm, so I'm guaranteed to be available. to take the delivery.
Why exactly can't couriers do the same
Why exactly can't couriers do the same
You get what you pay for.
29 October 2003, 10:05 AM
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Hmmm, I ordered a widescreen TV a few weeks ago and I paid a delivery charge I wouldn't describe as small. I was told the TV would have to be ordered, but I'd get a call in 7-10 days to arrange delivery.
A week or so later I got a call on Friday afternoon telling me they wanted to deliver my TV on Monday and asking if I'd be available. No, I said, I'd be at work, could they give me a time slot with a few days notice, so I could arrange with work to have the day off? This appeared to confuse the woman who called me, who asked if I live near work as the driver could call me an hour before he was due to arrive. I explained that I can't just vanish on no notice at all from work during the middle of the day. I asked her if her employer would accept that and she said no, of course not. And again I asked if we could arrange a delivery day in a few days time, or next week, so I could take the day off work. She said if I couldn't be in to accept the TV on Monday, the delivery would have to be cancelled and they'd call again the next week to arrange delivery. That's fine, I said, as long as I get a couple of days notice so I can arrange to be there.
They called the next week and wanted to delivery the next day. So, we went through it all again.
As things stand, I ordered the TV nearly a month ago and I still don't have the damned thing. The situation is now in the hands of the customer service team who have been told if they can't resolve this within the course of the next week, I'll be cancelling the order and buying from somewhere that can make delivery appointments with more than 15 or 20 hours notice.
A week or so later I got a call on Friday afternoon telling me they wanted to deliver my TV on Monday and asking if I'd be available. No, I said, I'd be at work, could they give me a time slot with a few days notice, so I could arrange with work to have the day off? This appeared to confuse the woman who called me, who asked if I live near work as the driver could call me an hour before he was due to arrive. I explained that I can't just vanish on no notice at all from work during the middle of the day. I asked her if her employer would accept that and she said no, of course not. And again I asked if we could arrange a delivery day in a few days time, or next week, so I could take the day off work. She said if I couldn't be in to accept the TV on Monday, the delivery would have to be cancelled and they'd call again the next week to arrange delivery. That's fine, I said, as long as I get a couple of days notice so I can arrange to be there.
They called the next week and wanted to delivery the next day.
So, we went through it all again.As things stand, I ordered the TV nearly a month ago and I still don't have the damned thing. The situation is now in the hands of the customer service team who have been told if they can't resolve this within the course of the next week, I'll be cancelling the order and buying from somewhere that can make delivery appointments with more than 15 or 20 hours notice.
29 October 2003, 02:52 PM
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Why exactly can't couriers do the same?
Couriers can,delivery firms usually can't.There's a big difference.A courier is a much more flexible(hence expensive)service.I used to be a self employed courier and you could have things delivered at specific times(traffic permitting)but you paid a premium.For example,a typical Sheffield to London run would cost you approx £100(this was over 5 years ago so add inflation) and if you wanted to send something back,then it would cost you half as much again.
In a lot of cases the courier will only have your parcel to deliver so doesn't have other customers to worry about
A delivery firm will probably charge you less than a tenner for the same and the service you get reflects this cheaper price.
A delivery driver will have often in excess of 100 items to deliver,with every one wanting them at a specific time.As omniprescence isn't in the job description,it's better to do it how will best suit the majority of customers and be quickest all round.It's not possible to please everyone.
[Edited by skiddus_markus - 10/29/2003 2:53:36 PM]
29 October 2003, 03:03 PM
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No, but some do take the whatsit. Surely it's not too much to expect a delivery company to be able to specify a delivery for a particular day, (not time, you'll note), more than 20 hours in advance?
[Edited by TurboKitty - 10/29/2003 3:03:45 PM]
[Edited by TurboKitty - 10/29/2003 3:03:45 PM]
29 October 2003, 03:20 PM
#23
I don't know the outfit to whom you are refering but it might appear in this case that the delivery company are only in your area one day a week.
That might certainly be the case for a national chainstore's delivery company, which might be a smaller operation depending upon requirements.
It doesn't do them any favours being unable to deliver to you - large piece of kit taking up space in their warehouse/vehicle and a rising cost of delivery.
Overnight companies typically are "overnight" so stuff collected on one day is delivered the next (working) day. After that you're carded and the stuff returns to depot for a set period of time, before being returned to sender. You are normally able to re-arrange delivery to suit (both parties) or collect from the depot.
Thinking a bit more about it TK, yours is deffo a specialist delivery company contracted to the store as the weight/size of your tv is greater than most o/n companies wish to take. So a smaller company - hence less flexible.
That might certainly be the case for a national chainstore's delivery company, which might be a smaller operation depending upon requirements.
It doesn't do them any favours being unable to deliver to you - large piece of kit taking up space in their warehouse/vehicle and a rising cost of delivery.
Overnight companies typically are "overnight" so stuff collected on one day is delivered the next (working) day. After that you're carded and the stuff returns to depot for a set period of time, before being returned to sender. You are normally able to re-arrange delivery to suit (both parties) or collect from the depot.
Thinking a bit more about it TK, yours is deffo a specialist delivery company contracted to the store as the weight/size of your tv is greater than most o/n companies wish to take. So a smaller company - hence less flexible.
29 October 2003, 03:46 PM
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I don't know which delivery comapny it is, but it is definitely a specialist company. I'd agree it sounds like they're only in my area one day a week, but I'd still expect them to know which day that will be more than an afternoon in advance! Or am I being unreasonable?
I fail to see how they manage with their current system, as I'm sure a lot of people would not be able to take a day off with only a few hours notice.
As far as I can see, the only way to get my TV delivered at the moment is to take an entire week off work, which is not only daft, but also not possible, given my remaining holiday entitlement.
I fail to see how they manage with their current system, as I'm sure a lot of people would not be able to take a day off with only a few hours notice.
As far as I can see, the only way to get my TV delivered at the moment is to take an entire week off work, which is not only daft, but also not possible, given my remaining holiday entitlement.
31 October 2003, 08:17 AM
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It's nothing to do with price, IMHO.
For the price of a stamp, I can only arrange the delivery of something that's small enough to fit through my letterbox anyway. No problem there.
It's the larger items that are the problem. Grocery deliveries are £5, much less than it costs to have a TV or washing machine delivered - yet the driver is able to make it from the store to my house at a date and time specified by me.
What makes bringing a dozen bags of groceries from a supermarket so different from bringing a big cardboard box from a depot? The driver still has other customers to visit.
For that matter, which joker thinks it's reasonable to expect me to take a whole day off work just to sit around and wait for a delivery that will probably arrive at some unspecified time on that day? For how many working people is this somehow 'OK'?
A.
For the price of a stamp, I can only arrange the delivery of something that's small enough to fit through my letterbox anyway. No problem there.
It's the larger items that are the problem. Grocery deliveries are £5, much less than it costs to have a TV or washing machine delivered - yet the driver is able to make it from the store to my house at a date and time specified by me.
What makes bringing a dozen bags of groceries from a supermarket so different from bringing a big cardboard box from a depot? The driver still has other customers to visit.
For that matter, which joker thinks it's reasonable to expect me to take a whole day off work just to sit around and wait for a delivery that will probably arrive at some unspecified time on that day? For how many working people is this somehow 'OK'?
A.
31 October 2003, 08:32 AM
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Our postie has come out as doesn't want to cross the picket lines....so he is doing cash in hand jobs working for another business......
From a business point of view though its not ideal as I'm owed money & the cheques in the post........
But for how long I want it in my account......
From a business point of view though its not ideal as I'm owed money & the cheques in the post........
But for how long I want it in my account......
31 October 2003, 09:27 AM
#28
Andy
Supermarkets...
The idea behind the supermarket "subsidised" service is that it is more cost-efficient for them to NOT have punters walking round their store buying goods. Less people, less check-out staff, less pressure etc.
If you think about the £5 cost. You pay the driver £200 per week (generous I bet). Van costs you £250 all in (diesel, insurance inc), so total £450 per week. You only then need to make 90 deliveries in a week or 15 per day (6 day week), which is roughly just over 1 per hour & all that in a radius of 10-15 miles from the store (assuming non-major connurbation). That is not hard logistics, which is why you are able to book your time-slot. Note that when your slot is gone, you have to arrange a mutually convenient other time-slot. Also, the end customer is the one doing the arranging of the delivery, as opposed to a store doing it for you, so of course you can arrange it to suit.
Overnights
If you think about the logistics of overnight stuff, it is ordered by you, it is picked by the warehouse, it is collected by the courier company, it is taken to their local depot and sorted, it is then taken to the hub and further sorted (to destination area) and again taken via van to your local hub. There it is sorted out into runs and priorities (9, 10.30, 12 & anytime. This happens at typically 5 or 6 in the morning, so the opportunity to ring you are limited. Then, unless you have specified (paid for) a timed delivery, your consignment might turn up at any time during the working day. I normally find that if I know I'm expecting something, I ring the company local depot and liase with them as to the expected ETA & sometimes (if that is not convenient) arranging then & there an alternate time/date or collect it myself.
Things like TV's & washing machines come via specialist delivery and these are more akin to light haulage companies. As you have not booked a time-slot on purchase, they have to work around everything that they have to deliver. Again, I find it is easiest and best to ring them and liase prior to their attempting delivery. Once again, things may not have actually come from the local store prior to arriving in your area and that is reflected in the cost and the (lack of) scheduling. Cost here is also more to do with bulk/weight other than say a box of PC components.
Hope that helps explain some of the logistics of delivery and couriers...
(Now I'm off to ring up Citi-Link to find out when the driver estimates he might be delivering the package that I am expecting today, bearing in mind that his depot is 50 miles away from me)
It's the larger items that are the problem. Grocery deliveries are £5, much less than it costs to have a TV or washing machine delivered - yet the driver is able to make it from the store to my house at a date and time specified by me.
What makes bringing a dozen bags of groceries from a supermarket so different from bringing a big cardboard box from a depot? The driver still has other customers to visit.
For that matter, which joker thinks it's reasonable to expect me to take a whole day off work just to sit around and wait for a delivery that will probably arrive at some unspecified time on that day? For how many working people is this somehow 'OK'?
What makes bringing a dozen bags of groceries from a supermarket so different from bringing a big cardboard box from a depot? The driver still has other customers to visit.
For that matter, which joker thinks it's reasonable to expect me to take a whole day off work just to sit around and wait for a delivery that will probably arrive at some unspecified time on that day? For how many working people is this somehow 'OK'?
The idea behind the supermarket "subsidised" service is that it is more cost-efficient for them to NOT have punters walking round their store buying goods. Less people, less check-out staff, less pressure etc.
If you think about the £5 cost. You pay the driver £200 per week (generous I bet). Van costs you £250 all in (diesel, insurance inc), so total £450 per week. You only then need to make 90 deliveries in a week or 15 per day (6 day week), which is roughly just over 1 per hour & all that in a radius of 10-15 miles from the store (assuming non-major connurbation). That is not hard logistics, which is why you are able to book your time-slot. Note that when your slot is gone, you have to arrange a mutually convenient other time-slot. Also, the end customer is the one doing the arranging of the delivery, as opposed to a store doing it for you, so of course you can arrange it to suit.
Overnights
If you think about the logistics of overnight stuff, it is ordered by you, it is picked by the warehouse, it is collected by the courier company, it is taken to their local depot and sorted, it is then taken to the hub and further sorted (to destination area) and again taken via van to your local hub. There it is sorted out into runs and priorities (9, 10.30, 12 & anytime. This happens at typically 5 or 6 in the morning, so the opportunity to ring you are limited. Then, unless you have specified (paid for) a timed delivery, your consignment might turn up at any time during the working day. I normally find that if I know I'm expecting something, I ring the company local depot and liase with them as to the expected ETA & sometimes (if that is not convenient) arranging then & there an alternate time/date or collect it myself.
Things like TV's & washing machines come via specialist delivery and these are more akin to light haulage companies. As you have not booked a time-slot on purchase, they have to work around everything that they have to deliver. Again, I find it is easiest and best to ring them and liase prior to their attempting delivery. Once again, things may not have actually come from the local store prior to arriving in your area and that is reflected in the cost and the (lack of) scheduling. Cost here is also more to do with bulk/weight other than say a box of PC components.
Hope that helps explain some of the logistics of delivery and couriers...
(Now I'm off to ring up Citi-Link to find out when the driver estimates he might be delivering the package that I am expecting today, bearing in mind that his depot is 50 miles away from me)
