The Post Office Lost Mail Rant

[Rob Miller]

In the last month I have lost a parcel going out and another coming in, I have always believed in keeping postage costs down and I seem to have gotten away with it, are things getting worse or has my luck just run out?

Rob

[Phil2M]

A postman I met whilst I was on my deliveries, he seemed to feel some comradery with me, told me that RM are being told to start using their 'leave safe' options. So if a delivery is missing check your bushes, shed, side gate etc. it maybe tucked away.

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Phil2M

A postman I met whilst I was on my deliveries, he seemed to feel some comradery with me, told me that RM are being told to start using their 'leave safe' options. So if a delivery is missing check your bushes, shed, side gate etc. it maybe tucked away.

I bought a stealth bomber... Royal Mail claimed they delivered it using their ‘leave safe’ protocol. Do you think I can find it?

[Rob Miller]

A couple of years ago I received an empty ripped open jiffy bag through the door, it should have contained a wartime pair of Newey cobblers pliers I had bought on ebay, the next day I met our then post lady riding her horse up the lane where I live and I told her of my disappointment, when I described the missing item she said she had seen it fall from the bottom of a postal sack and she delivered it to me the next day.

An anecdote with a happy ending which probably makes it sound like its still the 19th century in this bit of rural Devon, maybe it is?

But anyway is this problem getting worse?

Rob

[Frank Kelley]

You bought a stealth bomber?

Originally Posted by Jelly Terror

I bought a stealth bomber... Royal Mail claimed they delivered it using their ‘leave safe’ protocol. Do you think I can find it?

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

You bought a stealth bomber?

Shhhh!

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Jelly Terror

Shhhh!

Please... stealth bombers... like they even exist! I’ve never seen one.

[Phil2M]

Originally Posted by Jelly Terror

I bought a stealth bomber... Royal Mail claimed they delivered it using their ‘leave safe’ protocol. Do you think I can find it?

Look for the wheel dents in your lawn?

[Frank Kelley]

To be quite honest, although, I don't like additional costs that is always incurred when something is posted, I always look at the cost of the alternative, certainly actually collecting the item in person would normally be far more expensive.

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

In the last month I have lost a parcel going out and another coming in, I have always believed in keeping postage costs down and I seem to have gotten away with it, are things getting worse or has my luck just run out?

Rob

[Rob Miller]

Most of my collecting interests are at the lower end financially, with items worth only a few pounds, so having them sent by an expensive tracked service is not really an option. For me its probably cheaper in the long run to accept a few losses than continually pay for insurance you don't use.

But no one else seems to have noticed the post office getting worse, maybe its just chance that of late I have had a few issues all at once?

Rob

[altcar73]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

Most of my collecting interests are at the lower end financially, with items worth only a few pounds, so having them sent by an expensive tracked service is not really an option. For me its probably cheaper in the long run to accept a few losses than continually pay for insurance you don't use.

But no one else seems to have noticed the post office getting worse, maybe its just chance that of late I have had a few issues all at once?

Rob

Not wanting to split hairs, but the Post Office does not deliver mail, Royal Mail does. They are two separate entities and have been so for many years.


To be fair, I think the quality of service you receive, depends, to a great extent on where you live. This coupled with other factors impacts upon the quality of service you get.


From a personal point of view, my experience of sending and receiving mail has, in recent years seen an improvement in the service Royal Mail provide. When I say "improvement", I'm talking about the number of items they "loose". Three or four years ago, I was having to make four or so claims a year in respect of items that did not reach their destination. For the last couple of years I've not needed to make any. To my mind that's an improvement. So, if you have a problem then its clearly not a country wide one.


An interesting side issue which I should mention. How many of you mark packages "Fragile"? I was once told by a postman that this is one of the worst things you can do. On seeing this some of their staff will throw it, drop it on the floor, or "accidentally" tread on it. Similarly with envelopes marked "Do not bend". I've followed his advice ever since!


Dave.

[Phil2M]

Originally Posted by altcar73

An interesting side issue which I should mention. How many of you mark packages "Fragile"? I was once told by a postman that this is one of the worst things you can do. On seeing this some of their staff will throw it, drop it on the floor, or "accidentally" tread on it. Similarly with envelopes marked "Do not bend". I've followed his advice ever since!

Dave.

My mum worked in a sorting office several years ago, she said the same thing to me. If its marked fragile it will most likely get kicked about or used as a catch ball.