Royal mail strike

theladyknows

That's it then. Royal mail are on strike for 5 days now. We post 50-80 parcels a day and growing. Just wandered if anyone can recommend a cheap reliable alternative. Have looked at some of the big names but does seem costly and complicated to work out carriage.

osmonddiva

I only found out about this 5 day strike today. Am worried now cos my daughters 16th birthday presents will likely not arrive in time :mad:

shelovestobuystuff

I am dreading this strike,my business was terribly affected by the last one and I am not looking forward to all the customer complaints I am sure to get about delivery times again.
Before the last strike I tried desperately to find another postal service but none compared even closely on price,the cheapest I found would have meant doubling my U.K. postage at least and I would have had to get the parcels to the closest depo myself which was 40 miles from my home.
The best I can do this time round is to recommend to my customers that they select my next day delivery option as this is prioritised by Royal Mail during strikes and is probably the only post that will move at all.I will keep them informed according to the info I can get about delays in different areas of the country and just hope they are patient.
The effects of the last strike were compounded by the dreadful floods in middle England so hopefully we will not see 1st class recorded items taking over 3 weeks to arrive this time.
I would suggest using Royal Mail special delivery for all your items during the strike and also for a while after as the backlog will last a couple of weeks at least.The Next Day pre 1pm option is affordable and still cheaper than any of the competition.
You can pick up as many FREE special delivery postal bags(nice big strong silver bags) as you need at your local post office.That may help save you some cash on packaging at least if you are having to cover the extra postage costs yourself.
Good Luck.

windswept

The £4.99 2 day courier service with dhl via payperdrop on ebay is a much better alternative than SD, as no guarantees are being given with SD for the duration of the strikes.
I normally use the £6.99 next day service for customers who choose the courier option but I thought that I would try the £4.99 service on Monday, one item got delivered within 24 hours, the other which went to Scotland got there today.

fguk

Try http://www.fastwaycouriers.co.uk/

Very good/cheap for local services, and not too bad for uk wide.

The local franchise to us has expanded rapidly and works very well for some of my customers (so I have heard).

Lifeisbutadream

My business was also affected by the last strike. Out of 16 quotes sent out, only 6 arrived. I had no idea and it wasnt until one customer rang and asked for the quote 2 weeks later that I realised - after ringing the other customers I found out that 10 had not reached their destinations! most of those people had already made alternative arrangements before I had time to send out another copy.

monkeysavers

The strike was scheduled to begin today but I have had people tell me that they sent items out at the end of the week (presumably, possibly only being processed at the beginning of the week) which still have not arrived in which case the Royal Mail may have begun their strike actually earlier in practice. Has anyone else noticed anything similar?
Why can't the posties picket in front of Whitehall instead of making everyone suffer? Do they think causing delays, losses and inconvenience for the public will increase sympathy for their cause?

aaroncaz

I've just missed 2 parcels today, says pick them up in 48 hours, will the collection depots be open? going to be so mad if i have to wait till wensday!

monkeysavers

aaroncaz wrote: »

I've just missed 2 parcels today, says pick them up in 48 hours, will the collection depots be open? going to be so mad if i have to wait till wensday!

Another reason to go with DHL and similar non-Royal Mail Group services for now. Supposedly ParcelForce is not part of this strike and the strike isn't supposed to affect them but they are closely affiliated with RoyalMail so there may be some knock-on effect where they cross paths, although there isn't supposed to be. Also, local post offices will be open so maybe you can ask the depot to bring it to the local post office.

custardy

monkeysavers wrote: »

Another reason to go with DHL and similar non-Royal Mail Group services for now. Supposedly ParcelForce is not part of this strike and the strike isn't supposed to affect them but they are closely affiliated with RoyalMail so there may be some knock-on effect where they cross paths, although there isn't supposed to be. Also, local post offices will be open so maybe you can ask the depot to bring it to the local post office.

parcelforce is seperate,the only cross over is PF sending out cards via p[ost which i assume they wont do in this period

aaroncaz wrote: »

I've just missed 2 parcels today, says pick them up in 48 hours, will the collection depots be open? going to be so mad if i have to wait till wensday!

the office should still be open for collections

monkeysavers wrote: »

The strike was scheduled to begin today but I have had people tell me that they sent items out at the end of the week (presumably, possibly only being processed at the beginning of the week) which still have not arrived in which case the Royal Mail may have begun their strike actually earlier in practice. Has anyone else noticed anything similar?
Why can't the posties picket in front of Whitehall instead of making everyone suffer? Do they think causing delays, losses and inconvenience for the public will increase sympathy for their cause?

the strike starts at the time its intended to start.no earlier,no later.
the government is aware of this and the whole situation(not just the stuff deemed newsworthy)and the dispute is between RM and its workers.
its a complicated issue,dont believe its about the 6% pay rise we are supposdly disputing

aaroncaz

Have rung the number on the card, they NEVER answer!!! and a recorded message says they may be open!! blinking hope so, cant wait till next week!!:rotfl: