Postman delivering parcels vent

Jen_Jen1985

ok, 99% of the time I dont have any problems with my postal deliveries but lately Im finding an increasing problem with items that dont fit through the letter box. (apologies if this is a bit long)

At least once a month I receive a "sorry you were out" card, despite the fact I have been home all day and no one has pressed my buzzer.
A couple months ago I wrote an email to RM complaining about this, I received a reply basically saying sorry this has happened its not something that happens very often.

3 weeks ago it happened again so this time I tried to phone my sorting office but got no answer so went down there and complained.

Just as I walked outside my flat today I saw the postman coming. I stood and watched him and thought that if he pushed a buzzer I would go back and ask if it was for me. He made no attempt to press a buzzer and I didn't even see him write a card, he just placed post in the letter boxes.
I had to collect my DD from nursery so thought Id get the post when I got home, when I got home I find a "sorry you were out" card.
Now whilst technically I was out, I was only outside the front door and the was no attempt made to delived the parcel.
To me it looked like he must have had the card already written out so had no intention of trying to deliver it.

I always try to make sure im going to be home when parcels are due as I cant always get down the sorting office and the guy in the van who does the redeliveries always seems to turn up when Ive had to go out.

Pennywise

Yep, a common problem that often gets a mention on these forums.

It's very annoying, especially when I know something urgent was posted the day before and I make sure I stay in to wait for it to arrive, but all I get is a red card which means having to wait in again the next day for the so-called re-delivery attempt!

In my case, I work in a small office where the front door opens right into the office, i.e. no hallway etc. I can literally sit at my desk and watch the door which is about 8 feet in front of my desk.

I've lost count of the times when I've actually watched the postman push the post through the door, without making any attempt to knock or ring the bell, only to find the dreaded red card in the pile of post when I pick it up. Complaining to RM or the local sorting office fell on deaf ears.

Now I go and pick up the mail straight away and chase after the postman if there's a red card. Quite a few times, they've been clearly embarrassed when they have to admit they don't have it. Sometimes, they walk back to the van to get it but other times they admit it's still in the sorting office. Once they know I'm on to them, the same postie doesn't try it on again, but they change so often it's not long before a new postie is on my round and it happens again.

sarlyka

I complained to Royal Mail because the postman was not knocking on the door to see if I was at home. He either just put a card through telling me to collect stuff from the local office (5 miles away), or he left parcels on the ground outside the front door. I complained 3 times in as many weeks. The final result of their investigations said that the postman did knock (wrong) and then left the parcels outside because they saw me walking towards the door. They also said it was a relief postwoman. However, it was my regular postMAN and he couldn't have seen me walking towards the door because I didn't go anywhere near the door until I'd heard his van drive off. This response was from the manager at the local office. I'm sure they must have a record of who is delivering to which houses each day so I can only assume this manager has decided to 'lie'.
It's really damaged my trust in Royal Mail. All I wanted was an apology and a 'sorry it won't happen again'. Instead, they have gone out of their way to claim they weren't at fault. Of course, it's my word against his (the postman) and I can't prove he didn't knock on the door.

Now, they are planning to leave parcels with neighbours. Well, we don't have any obvious neighbours to leave parcels with and it will take much longer to go round knocking on neighbours doors than it would to just knock on my door. I'd be interested to see what my postman plans to do about this. I can't say I feel inclined to 'help' by taking in parcels for anyone else.

NBLondon

I had one the other Saturday morning. I heard the front gate click and since I was expecting something Special Delivery I headed for the door and saw the card lying on the mat. I opened the door just in time to see the van accelerating away... No knock - nothing. I suppose I could be generous and think that the postie saw the curtains were still closed, wrote the card sitting in the van and just shoved it through.

Double pain since the day before we'd missed ParcelForce so I had to collect that from a not-very-local PostOffice and then off to the depot to get my SD stuff.

sarlyka

One time, I even left a light on in the window near the letter box - so it was really obvious someone was at home. Postman still didn't knock - just left the parcel on the wet ground outside the front door. Good thing I checked, cos it poured with rain all day.

lovinituk

Too much post and not enough postmen/women unfortunately. Its not unheard of for them to pre-write the calling cards and deliver them anyway. That way they don't have to carry the packages and waste time knocking and waiting to see if anyone is in. Its pretty crap but many DO's are under a lot of strain and there is little chance it will change. You think its bad now... just wait until its privatised!!!

sarlyka

I appreciate the difficulties they have and I know they're under pressure to meet targets and deadlines. I think you're right about the pre-written cards. The problem is, with the rise in postage and the poor service, people simply aren't going to bother if there is an alternative. A lot of people are now choosing to send stuff electronically because it's free (ish), more reliable and quicker.

lovinituk

sarlyka wrote: »

A lot of people are now choosing to send stuff electronically because it's free (ish), more reliable and quicker.

That always makes me smile Royal Mail send far more than just letters. There may well be a reduction in the number of snail mail letters sent but there has been a massive boom in the sending of items, a lot due the likes of people selling on ebay. Try sending the stuff you sold on ebay via email!!! For smaller/lighter items, there are no cost effective alternatives for retail customers and very few for businesses.

techspec

This morning i was waiting to go out - but decided to hang on for an item i had bought off Ebay, which i expected would arrive today.

I saw the postman walk up the path, i heared the letterbox, and saw him leave. I assumed the parcel was not here yet.

A few minutes later i went to leave - and among my post was a 'while you were out card'.

I caught him on the next street and he swore blind he had knocked. I saw him arrive - and have perfect hearing.:mad:

But why do they do it - they only have to carry it back?

lovinituk

techspec wrote: »

But why do they do it - they only have to carry it back?

To save time. See my post above - a lot of the time the parcels don't even come out on the delivery.

PasturesNew

I was transcribing audio tapes, with a strict 48 hour turnaround time from my client to their client, so if it was done on a Monday, their client had to have it back by Wednesday. They post it to me, it'd arrive Tuesday, I'd type/email the transcription Tuesday and they could forward it to their client on Wednesday having printed it out and signed it.

I had NO idea ever if/when they would randomly arrive... I just knew the morning the packet arrived I had to type it up immediately and email it so they had time to print/sign and get it to their client.

Trouble was.... postman started not bothering to even bring the (very small) packet with him - instead he'd have a card. Postman would arrive about 12ish. Office was only open until 12 to collect, meaning that even if I caught the postman there was no tape.... and no office open until the next day. And that was a capital city, not a backwater.