Are post offices obliged to ask what is in a parcel, or is it just nosiness?

vacheron

A curiosity query for the knowledgeable post office posters here.

I post probably 2-3 eBay RM small parcels per week via my "primary" post office counter located in a convenience store but sometimes post at one of two "secondary" post offices depending on where I am passing. One is another counter, and the other a fully blown post office.

For months each time I dropped off a parcel at my primary counter I was asked by the lady (who knows very well that I am fully aware of all the rules and regulations as to what can and can't be sent) "what was in the packages". The two secondary post offices never asked what was inside.

About 2 months ago that lady at my primary post office disappeared, and since then no-one at the primary post office has EVER asked me what is in the parcels.

However, last week I went into one the more rarely used secondary post offices only to find the lady who used to work at the primary post office sitting behind the desk, and after saying hello, fancy meeting you here, etc, I was again asked "what is in the parcels?".

My wife experiences the same thing whereby the only time she ever gets asked what is in the parcels at the completely different post office she normally uses is when one particular "old and bossy" teller is working the counter. None of the other 2 staff ever asks.

So is it policy, optional, recommended, courtesy or just pure nosiness.

GabbaGabbaHey

I don't know why they do it, but my standard response to the question is "there is nothing on the prohibited list in my parcel". I have never been questioned further.

System

I suspect it's partly to make sure that the contents of the parcel are permitted by law, and partly so they can ask you whether you want to spend more money insuring the parcel / getting it tracked / signed for, etc.

I have always been asked about contents of fat envelopes and parcels at various post offices (we don't actually have a post office where we live, so I use whichever one I am passing). I don't find being asked about the contents to be an issue at all.

[Deleted User]

Mine varies week to week, and staff member to staff member, I use the same PO and if I get served by a staff member either at the counter or they are manning the self serve and they are one of the staff members that know me well now they don't bother but if its someone new or someone I haven't had much dealing with they will ask.

I answer honestly as I know what I can and cant send and don't mind letting them know, there's no upsell opportunities for them as I know exactly what service I want depending on the item im sending so I know full well what im going in for.

foxy-stoat

They say "for health and safety reasons"....LOL....whos health and safety the post person delivering the parcel? I doubt they even know the difference between "Heath" and "Safety".

mgdavid

GabbaGabbaHey wrote: »

I don't know why they do it, but my standard response to the question is "there is nothing on the prohibited list in my parcel". I have never been questioned further.

My response too, with the addition 'it's low value so I don't need extra insurance'

vacheron

Thanks everyone for your responses.

It's never been used to up-sell insurance to me as I've never been asked the value.

For example, if I said "It's a bicycle chainset" this could be anything from £5 to £1,500 but the value is never asked.

I don't have any problem with telling them the contents. it's just the inconsistency which got me wondering.

Hasbeen

vacheron wrote: »

A curiosity query for the knowledgeable post office posters here.

I post probably 2-3 eBay RM small parcels per week via my "primary" post office counter located in a convenience store but sometimes post at one of two "secondary" post offices depending on where I am passing. One is another counter, and the other a fully blown post office.

For months each time I dropped off a parcel at my primary counter I was asked by the lady (who knows very well that I am fully aware of all the rules and regulations as to what can and can't be sent) "what was in the packages". The two secondary post offices never asked what was inside.

About 2 months ago that lady at my primary post office disappeared, and since then no-one at the primary post office has EVER asked me what is in the parcels.

However, last week I went into one the more rarely used secondary post offices only to find the lady who used to work at the primary post office sitting behind the desk, and after saying hello, fancy meeting you here, etc, I was again asked "what is in the parcels?".

My wife experiences the same thing whereby the only time she ever gets asked what is in the parcels at the completely different post office she normally uses is when one particular "old and bossy" teller is working the counter. None of the other 2 staff ever asks.

So is it policy, optional, recommended, courtesy or just pure nosiness.

it is the law: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/uk-what-can-i-send

dontone

I think it depends on the branch.

If I go to the small P/O in our village, I never get asked what is in the parcel.
If I go into Town to the main one, unless I use the self serve machine (which always asks for a value and brings the list of prohibited items) then the people serving always ask what's in my parcel.
I think that part of it is to do with these 'mystery shopper' schemes they have too. So I don't think it's a case of being nosy, they are just treating every customer as that mystery shopper and making sure they ask all the questions that they are supposed to.

zerog

I just make something up. Because I usually send things which don't qualify for compensation if lost. But not needed to claim for any of these yet (in 7+ years).

StumpyPumpy

I was once behind a man who answered the question honestly and told them that the parcel was a gift pack of 3 whiskey miniatures and was told he couldn't send it. It was Christmas and they were going to a UK address but the rules are only 2 bottles of spirits up to 1 litre per package, so 3 bottles of 2cl each were verboten.

Henceforth I decided that whenever I sent a parcel if it's hard it's Lego, if it's soft it's a sweater. It always satisfies them and it isn't as if they ever take notes of what you've said.

SP