Royal Mail Arghhhhhhh Useless!

[raptorrex]

I'm surprised you folks don't have a reliable delivery option that doesn't break the bank. USPS here is cheaper than a parcel outfit, UPS or FedEx are a bit more expensive, but a lot more reliable.

truth is, we do. Its the Royal Mail.

true it has problems. like posties having 12 hours work to do, in 8, comparatively, low wage don't draw quality people. but its main problem is all the profitable sections have been sold to private companies. now all the RM is left with, for the most part, is the door to door section. yet this has to be run on a "commercial" basis. something those posting here have seen. things , occasionally, go awry. now i know that sound political (well it would, its a government owned company). but, just, how do you run an, inherently, unprofitable business, along commercial lines? real answer is, you cant. if you try, you get what we have now. a business wilting under, unreasonable pressure.

I have noticed our postie is not always seen everyday. however, all parcels and letters sent to me, from October to now, have arrived on time. many before i expected them. i have, however, noticed several posted after i expected them to be. oddly these arrived, just about on time. some businesses are using Royal Mails reputation. claiming l;ate arrivals are caused by RM, yet posting later than they should.

that said, i come across al lot of "DIM" posties, now. but, as i said before, Low wages, draw low quality people!

 

[FreedomFighter]

My posty is really good, shockingly enough.

he's on time or early 95% of the time, and he always waits a decent time when knocking. Always pleasant.

I think this probably has something to do with the fact that this town has so many unemployed people that he knows if he cocks up he'll be instantly replaced

 

[Mogs26]

I don't expect it to run without problems, but letters arrived the day before yesterday postmarked 17 Dec -these were Christmas cards. I know that someone on this forum posted me a package containing plants, first class on Monday, and it still hasn't arrived. At least I will be able to test the theory that they are indestructible Meanwhile, we have just had a hike in stamp costs, and are due another in April I believe. Several local posties have told me that they don't sort 1st/2nd class mail anymore, so that I am wasting my money putting first class on it, so I only do it to prove to the recipient that I tried to get it there as quickly as possible lol!

My posty is really good, shockingly enough.

he's on time or early 95% of the time, and he always waits a decent time when knocking. Always pleasant.

I think this probably has something to do with the fact that this town has so many unemployed people that he knows if he cocks up he'll be instantly replaced

Lol! You are lucky. Ours arrives some time between 9 and 4 if you're lucky, or not at all

 

[raptorrex]

Lol! You are lucky. Ours arrives some time between 9 and 4 if you're lucky, or not at all

lol, i hear that.

 

[Uriel]

Simonas I really feel for your here as i have had a very similar experience yesterday. I ordered some fish over the internet which thankfully arrived unharmed.

I got up at 7am just incase the package came early and spent the day in my kitchen watching films on my laptop so that i was right next to the door. Time started passing and eventually 1 oclock rolled round still no package on a Before 1 oclock delivery.

So I'm about to ring the sender when, they very kindly rang me. They had tracked the package and apparently the postman had attempted to deliver the package and had failed, due to me not being in. Not possible i politely replied as i had been in all morning just to wait for the package. Well apparently my package was now in the depo so being live fish i started to rush around to sort things out to go pick it up. While sorting things out I was delayed slightly as i rang my neighbour to ask if they could check there door to make sure the card that had apparently been left in my door.(We live on a farm and the next door neighbour has a very similar address) had been accidently left there. Having checked no sign of the card.

So i'm just leaving my house to go into town when my postman rolls up. With believe it or not my package. So I question him as politely as i am able to muster as to the fact that my package has been listed as unable to be delivered and try to explain to him how he has basically voided the insurance on the package as the company will only cover it if, rightly so you are there to pickup your live stock when it arrives. He gets very shirty with me bordering on abusive and starts shouting at me about how he got stuck behind a tanker and what was he supposed to do. and starts saying i'm accusing him of being a liar. Through this i'm trying to explain that i'm not accusing him of lieing about the tanker and that my main concern is for the safety of the livestock and also that if there are any problems I now have no comeback as as far as the company i dealt with is concerned I couldn't be bothered to be in to get the package. Needless to say i ended up walking back into my house less than impressed.

I rang the company that sent me the fish and they where very understanding when i explained what had happened, and fortunately after acclimizing them all my fish seem happy and healthy. But i can't help but be left with a bad taste in my mouth from the entire experience.

Also for all those saying use other couriers I'm pretty sure there are only 2 courier services in Britain with licenses to move livestock.

 

[OTIS]

Sounds like the postman I had this morning. Banged on the door really loud, I answered and he shoved a parcel in my hand, he was busily yapping on the phone in a foreign language and muttered at me to sign. I looked at the parcel and said no. He frowned and me and said "sign" shoving the pad & pen at me. I tried to give him back the parcel and tell him it was the wrong address by about 3 streets, but he was so engrosed in his phone call he just kept saying sign. It took me nearly 10 minutes to get through to him he was at the wrong address!!


I hope that the fish are ok and you get them in the end.

Lol I love ignorance don't you? And when they are in a place that although doesn't demand a lot, has a lot of responsibility. Amazing.

But yes this has always been my fear of ordering off-line, that and the $35 next-day air

-OTIS

 

[bonzo]

same everywhere

 

[Danbarb]

I hear what everyone is saying, but for me I've had deliveries of computer components, and aquarium items, and various other items via all the couriers. By far the worst postal experience has been Royal Mail for me. I actually was quite excited when I heard that Germans might be setting up their postal service in competition with Royal Mail last year, didn't happen unfortunately.

Numerous times I've been in waiting for a parcel from RM, and they've just posted a card with letters and haven't rung the doorbell. - I also had an item marked fragile thrown over our back fence - which is not our "designated safe place". Unacceptable IMHO.

I don't want to slate them, because there are posties who work really hard, and do their job correct. Just, I happen to have gotten the short straw with my postman.

Oh well, such is life I suppose. I now use Citylink, and DHL if possible. They're great for me.