Royal Mail Strike

Steel_2

whypayhighfees wrote: »

Then perhaps you and I are reading posts and understanding them in different ways.

I read all the posts on here as outbursts of frustration (which I have also been guilty of if my long posts are anything to go by)

I didn't see Wullies comment of:

"Fine if you live in a big city, but once you've destroyed Royal Mail..."

as relating specifically to one or a group of people intent on the downfall of Royal Mail. I read the word "you've" as having a general meaning that includes everyone.

As for my comments, I've meant them to be taken as general statements, not accusations or assertions of blame. Every business has to be profitable and has to find the most effective ways to do so. If it doesn't it's not a business. Although RM is in the unfortunate position of being a Government led Public Service and a business at the same time, which makes it doubly difficult.

If I was CEO of Amazon, I'd have jumped ship a long time ago to another downstream processor.

If I was CEO of Royal Mail I'd be yelling from the rooftops about unfair treatment.

As a small business I'm annoyed about why I'm paying so much for a service that's going on strike and delaying customer mail payments to me.

As a domestic customer I'm cheesed off that my mail takes five days to arrive and is occassionally hidden in my greenhouse and under a hedge. I'm also cheesed off that my gorgeous, hardworking postie husband is being treated like !!!!.

aeuerby

I would happily pay more for my post if I got the service that I pay for.
By that I mean, post that doesn't go missing - how the heck does it go missing anyway?
It gets put in a post bag when collected, put in a van, taken to a sorting office and sorted either by hand or machine. How can it disappear?

Also post that is delivered when they say it will be delivered.
Cards left when items can't be delivered.
Packages not left on a doorstep or in a bin.

But I would also like to see a reduction in the "admin charge" when importing goods.
I think £8 (minimum) for someone to put the item in a pigeon hole and send a card out with postie is extortion, or is there more to that one?

frivolous_fay

Sorry to hijack, but there seem to be a lot of post-knowledgable people here and I have a question!

I was gutted to hear last night that my dad sent me a birthday present. (oh, alright, 30, if you must know ) Gutted, because it never turned up! (I thought he'd just not got around to it)

This was some time in May, probably early May. It was sent standard 1st, although the PO did insist he put a return address on it. The present was bought in Goa so is hard to replace

My plan is:

- Trudge up to the delivery office and ask about it. (will there be any point after all this time?)
- Ask the neighbours (and they're a real bunch of charmers :rolleyes:) - I live in a flat and occasionally stuff is put through the wrong door.

All I know is that it was in a jiffy bag, Dad doesn't know if it would have been too big for the postbox.

Any more suggestions?

soolin

Oh dear Fay, how irritating.

I'd do everything you have already thought of, plus I would be sending strongly worded letters of complaint to the various RM complaints departments.

wileycat

aeuerby wrote: »

But I would also like to see a reduction in the "admin charge" when importing goods.
I think £8 (minimum) for someone to put the item in a pigeon hole and send a card out with postie is extortion, or is there more to that one?

£8 is a customs/RM charge, its involves customs opening you're item, assessing its value and charging you the appropiate vat and tax you owe to the revenue.
You could of course have paid this in advance...

wileycat

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Sorry to hijack, but there seem to be a lot of post-knowledgable people here and I have a question!

I was gutted to hear last night that my dad sent me a birthday present. (oh, alright, 30, if you must know ) Gutted, because it never turned up! (I thought he'd just not got around to it)

This was some time in May, probably early May. It was sent standard 1st, although the PO did insist he put a return address on it. The present was bought in Goa so is hard to replace

My plan is:

- Trudge up to the delivery office and ask about it. (will there be any point after all this time?)
- Ask the neighbours (and they're a real bunch of charmers :rolleyes:) - I live in a flat and occasionally stuff is put through the wrong door.

All I know is that it was in a jiffy bag, Dad doesn't know if it would have been too big for the postbox.

Any more suggestions?

You want to try the delivery office, but I doubt it will still be there. You could also try the lost/damaged items department in you're/senders local mail centre. Otherwise you'll have to log the missing item form with customer services, with any luck its escaped its jiffy bag and waiting for someone to say they've lost a rare goa'an item!

wileycat

Steel wrote: »

Because of the length of time they have to wait if they are dropped off in vans. Have a look at my post above about the time it can take some van drivers to drop off mail and pick up posties.

Some sorting offices are more stringent than others about it, but basically you are not allowed to use your own car unless it has business insurance so if you have an accident RM are covered. RM have told hubbie his sick pay will be 'reconsidered' if he has an accident in his own car while out on RM business and has to be off sick, so now he goes by van.

Different delivery offices have different ways of doing it, the one mentioned above where they text the van driver is starburst, where all the mail stays on one van and is picked up by posties as needed.
We all use pouch and bag drop points on our walks, and all deliveries are cycle deliveries with no van drop off's.
The cars is a contentious issue, most managers will ignore it if they can't see it, although its advisable never to leave mail in the car even if its hidden.

frivolous_fay

wileycat wrote: »

You could also try the lost/damaged items department in you're/senders local mail centre.

Would the local delivery office give me details of such a place? I'll have to go up there either way, as they don't publicise their phone number anymore :rolleyes:

aeuerby

wileycat wrote: »

£8 is a customs/RM charge, its involves customs opening you're item, assessing its value and charging you the appropiate vat and tax you owe to the revenue.
You could of course have paid this in advance...

It wasn't opened, I was charged VAT based on the value (which was correct) that was put on th CN22.

Even if it was opened as it was a jiffy bag I'm fairly sure it doesn't cost £8 in someones time to open a small bag, and get out a calculator.

How do you pay it in advance anyway? Just curious.

wileycat

aeuerby wrote: »

It wasn't opened, I was charged VAT based on the value (which was correct) that was put on th CN22.

Even if it was opened as it was a jiffy bag I'm fairly sure it doesn't cost £8 in someones time to open a small bag, and get out a calculator.

How do you pay it in advance anyway? Just curious.

I think its UPS off a service, I know there was one. As you declare a value knowing its over the limits you can pay the appropiate tax and vat so its clears customs immediately without delay.
I'll try and dig out the info.