is it just me - Post office counter staff

Truepat

I just answer the question asked, it is no big deal.
Same as when I buy something from a shop and they ask my postcode - I tell them and do not need to make a song and dance about it.

Searcher

paulofessex wrote: »

Getting more and more frustrated when going to post a package/parcel to be greeted with the following....

"For security reasons l have to ask what's inside"
"Can l ask what's inside"
"What are you sending"

They are of course relating to the Prohibited Goods, however you find they do not make that clear, they just ask the question above.

My opinion is that they should point to the A4 poster/sign they have and ask "does your package contain any of these items"

Myself, well my response is when asked the above question without making it clear of why the need to ask is.....It contains no items on the prohibited list.

The responses and looks l get is amazing. Some staff give the glare, others threaten that a package will be destroyed if THEY feel it contains a prohibited item. Others, well their attitude clearly changes, even though l have not been rude about it. They clearly are not used to people not answering their style of questions.

I just don't think they have a right to ask what the item actually is inside. Of course they are also looking for upselling opportunities which l don't have a real problem with.

Please don't let it just be me who gets annoyed.

But surely, if they are transporting the package then they have every right to ask what's inside it?

Money-Saving-King

Searcher wrote: »

But surely, if they are transporting the package then they have every right to ask what's inside it?

That's exactly what I think. If someone I don't know asked me to look after a box for a few days I think I'd like to know what was in it!

Seeing it's not exactly unreasonable for them to ask if you don't like it drive it to the destination yourself.

DKLS

Whilst its frustrating, there is no point being rude to the poor member of staff in the PO, Bank, Supermarket or McDonalds, they will have received a diktat from upstairs telling them they have to do this and they will be monitored and there will be consequences if they don't.

hollydays

It seems to me the staff now have to ask and customers , who don't understand the recent changes think they're just being nosey. I'm sure the staff can do without the constant confrontations, and may be reacting to that.Some staff aren't coming across as being polite, which may be true or otherwise.
They do hold the ultimate card of" if you won't tell me , you can't send it" but that phrase shouldn't be thrown around lightly.
Why should I care if they ask , I'm sure asking what's in it is quicker than reeling off the exclusions, and I had been offered the leaflet countless times too.
Jeez they're having to ask this all day long-give them a break!

Bantex_2

paulofessex wrote: »

What l am attempting to achieve at this time is to obtain from Royal Mail Counters what the guidelines issued to counter staff is in relation to what they should actually be asking customers.

Fully appreciate that this may seem petty to some, but for me it's not.

Thank you all for your comments so far.

Why not just tell them what is in the package?
Life is too short to get all worked up about nothing.

molerat

I know someone who was refused a parcel because it contained perfume, the woman just snapped "that's not allowed" so there is obviously need for training so that the staff know the differences between restricted, prohibited, UK and international post.

Another person was asked, said clothing and was then asked what type of clothing, said socks and was told that socks are ok, !!!!!! !

I am still confused by the logic of the regulations. I can send a nice flammable aerosol of deodorant but cannot send a can of inert nitrogen. I can send an item with its 5kg of lithium batteries but cannot send a mobile phone battery on its own. I can send 4 150ml bottles of perfume but cannot send 1 200ml bottle. I can send a laptop international mail with the battery connected to the device (as in an old one with a possible faulty battery) but not with it out of the device (as in a brand new one).

ithinkyourcrazy

I posted a load of eBay items the other day, all clothes. I said to the lady before she asked me that they were all dresses.
Before I put a parcel on the scale the lady behind the counter said "what is in the parcel?" and I had to say SEVEN times "a dress, all my parcels' are dresses." After the 7th time it did start to grate! I have heard quite a few people get stroppy over Post Office counter staff asking what they are posting. I do wonder though-sometimes I use self service and there is nothing on there asking you what is in the parcel you are posting.

Mylo_The_Moggy

You should tell them when they next ask,
"I'm sending an Ann Summers catalogue & some kinky knickers to my girlfriend as a surprise"!!!!!!

I'm sure that would make them turn a shade of red lol. :blushing:

greybear40

Can I just say as a Post Office sales assistant we have to ask those specific questions as we are being mystery shopped by Royal Mail so we can't reword it or not ask at all or we fail. Worked in the Post Office for 7 years now and seen so many changes it's crazy what with large letter, small and medium parcel and the price of stamps rocketing (all my fault) but still love my job and wouldn't want to do anything else If an ebayer has lots of parcels I just ask what is in them at the beginning and show them the laminate to make sure nothing from there is in any of the parcels. We have special labels for perfumes/aftershaves, lithium batteries, aerosols, nail polish and other items and also these can not be sent abroad either. I remember the good old days when we used to just ask how would you like to send it!! Christmas was crazier than ever this year! The rules have been made by Royal Mail I'm afraid, we just have to take the grief for it Most customers are lovely and understand we are just doing our jobs and I am always friendly and polite to all customers even if they are abusive to me. Life's too short to take things personally