PO asking what's in the parcel

campdave

Tweaker wrote: »

I know they have to do it but it does get tiresome being asked so I generally tell them something random like it is a dildo or a glass eye or whatever weird and wonderful thing pops in to my head at the time.

They must think you're a real card.

Contains_Mild_Peril

My local postmaster used to just ask me to confirm there were no restricted items in the package but, following instructions from above, he now asks what's in the parcel.
He doesn't even ask about value of contents since I'm a regular and he knows I know the values insured by different postal services, but if I go to the main PO in town, they normally ask (after asking what it is). Some just ask if it's worth over £20, some actually ask the value.
On one occasion I posted a handbag, was asked about value and admitted it was worth over £20 but said I'd take my chances with standard 2nd class, then found my POP was marked "CUSTOMER ADVISED NOT TO SEND LIKE THIS", which displeased me because I thought it might imply inadequate packaging. Luckily it arrived safely.

ballisticbrian

I did some research on RM and did get a bit of a laugh:

Balloons
Balloons filled with non-flammable gases are permitted but these must be clearly marked on the outer packaging with the words ’ BALLOONS FILLED WITH NON-FLAMMABLE GAS’.


Perhaps we should mark the outside of everything we send with the contents? vI did some research on RM and did get a bit of a laugh:

Balloons
Balloons filled with non-flammable gases are permitted but these must be clearly marked on the outer packaging with the words ’ BALLOONS FILLED WITH NON-FLAMMABLE GAS’.
Perhaps we should mark the outside of everything we send with the contents?

I would imagine the reason you need to declare this, is because the xray machine will either show inflated balloons, or possibly nothing at all (an empty box) and they then wouldn't have the means to test what gas is in the balloons unless you state it on the packaging as balloons do not have warnings printed on them.

mrcol1000

I was told that Royal Mail send mystery shoppers into Post Offices to send parcels to ensure staff are asking about contents. If they fail to ask then they can take action against the Post Office. What though, who knows?

The question is, would you be happy for your important documents to be ruined because badly packaged perfume had broken and leaked in the mail bag?

topsales

I noticed this yesterday when the lady in front of me (I was just buying stamps) was asked what was in her parcels! Red noses, was her reply. Since when has it been any business of the PO to know what is in parcels just as long as they are safe?

Collabora

topsales wrote: »

Since when has it been any business of the PO to know what is in parcels just as long as they are safe?

Since the rules changed, how would RM know what's in the parcel is safe.

System

the last parcel I sent I was made to put my return details on it incase it was a restricted item the RM would be able to find me !

ailey

CHRISSYG wrote: »

the last parcel I sent I was made to put my return details on it incase it was a restricted item the RM would be able to find me !

It's a good idea to always put a label on the back with your return details. I've had 3 parcels returned over the last 2 years because people had not collected them from their Post Office. I don't know what would have happened to them if I had not had my Sender details on the back. I just type Sender then on the next line my name with my street number after then on the next line put my postcode so they are very small and I reduce the size of font and copy it so that there is a sheet of 171 so, as you can imagine, they last a long time! Although not sticky labels I just cut them in strips and sellotape them onto the back of the parcel. Really worthwhile doing.

About the Post Office asking what is in the parcels, my husband posts most of my parcels and I said to him yesterday that the item in the parcel was a household item (which normally is fine for the staff) but the very officious male assistant wouldn't take that as an explanation and said "but what actually is it". My husband said that he didn't know as I had just told him it's a household item. He accepted it very grudgingly. Is it any wonder we pay online and use couriers now so much as the courier is never aware what is in your parcel (although you do have to say, when paying online, what the contents and value are) but face to face it's more private. It can be embarrassing face to face in the PO for customers depending what is in the parcel. My items are always clothing, household, the occasional piece of jewellery and the occasional toy so nothing embarrassing thank goodness.

foxtrotoscar_2

Collabora wrote: »

Since the rules changed, how would RM know what's in the parcel is safe.

Restrictions on what can be posted is not new.

cte1111

The Post Office do mystery shop branches to check that staff are asking what is in the parcels. They should explain that it is for the purpose of safety. It's because of restrictions on what can go on airplanes, I believe.