Post office staff asks too many questions...is it a right to know?

RFW

powerful_Rogue said:

You want to use the postal service, you need to follow thier rules. Does it really matter?

There's nothing that PO staff have to fill in for Royal Mail for them to need to know. One PO I used to use had a picture of prohibited items at the counter and asked if there was any of those in the package, that's all they need to know.

I'd love to have the time and effort (obviously in more normal times) to go to a dozen post offices with identical parcels and content and see the disparity in questions asked and prices charged. I know the differences would be interesting. If I go to a PO I invariably know what I should be paying and the service I'm getting. I often see people in front of me oversold something. 

twhitehousescat

I always keep a streight face and say "its my inflatable rubber doll , its got a puncture and going back to be repaired " , that usually shuts the older woman up 

custardy

soolin said:

powerful_Rogue said:

You want to use the postal service, you need to follow thier rules. Does it really matter?

Which rules though? That’s  the point of this thread, trying to find out why Post Office counters are asking these questions, they work for the post office and there doesn’t seem to be any requirement from Royal Mail for POC employees to closely question people on what’s in their parcels. A simple response ‘the package doesn’t contain anything prohibited’ should suffice. 

Its a requirement to aviation laws, due to the fact mail may travel by air.

custardy

travis-powers said:

mgdavid said:

This comes up fairly regularly; there is little that can be done through official channels to re-educate the individual member of staff apparently. The best solution, next time you are asked, is to say fairly loudly "it's a dildo being returned for repair". The usually don't ask again.

I would so do that! Surly what’s inside and what you say is inside is irrelevant unless it’s opened!

I recall threads from people who have had their items destroyed due to whats inside.
Im sure they had a similar mindset until they lost their item

powerful_Rogue

Just like when you go through security at the airport. Signs everywhere, staff saying what is and isn't allowed in hand luggage, yet you still see an awful lot of people getting pulled aside after the xray and bins full of items that are not allowed.

wishuponastar

mgdavid said:

This comes up fairly regularly; there is little that can be done through official channels to re-educate the individual member of staff apparently. The best solution, next time you are asked, is to say fairly loudly "it's a dildo being returned for repair". The usually don't ask again.

The type of person she is, i reckon she would ask a million more questions haha. I think she is about mid 20's and just wants to know everything. Maybe i should try it and report back. She'd probably ask if it is battery powered or if i've taken the batteries out as batteries are prohibited lol.

wishuponastar

custardy said:

soolin said:

powerful_Rogue said:

You want to use the postal service, you need to follow thier rules. Does it really matter?

Which rules though? That’s  the point of this thread, trying to find out why Post Office counters are asking these questions, they work for the post office and there doesn’t seem to be any requirement from Royal Mail for POC employees to closely question people on what’s in their parcels. A simple response ‘the package doesn’t contain anything prohibited’ should suffice. 

Its a requirement to aviation laws, due to the fact mail may travel by air.

Can't be that much of a requirement as it's not noted anywhere other than in her noseyness file. When i try saying something like clothes or a top, she asked ladies, mens or kids, one time she felt it and says ooh it is knitted. Or when i say it's a baby soft toy gift, she asks if there are any batteries inside (when it's clearly as light as a feather). I don't insist on making the PO staff lives hard, i do tell them well her as she is the only one but i feel that she is just being too nosey and it makes me feel weird having to explain what i'm sending just to her. Maybe i'll wait on other staff and never go to her. 

wishuponastar

Thanks all.

General_Grant

custardy said:

soolin said:

powerful_Rogue said:

You want to use the postal service, you need to follow thier rules. Does it really matter?

Which rules though? That’s  the point of this thread, trying to find out why Post Office counters are asking these questions, they work for the post office and there doesn’t seem to be any requirement from Royal Mail for POC employees to closely question people on what’s in their parcels. A simple response ‘the package doesn’t contain anything prohibited’ should suffice. 

Its a requirement to aviation laws, due to the fact mail may travel by air.

What, when it's second class and they can see the address is in the same town?

General_Grant

theoretica said:

"If you're sending your item at the Post Office®, you will be asked at the counter what the contents of your parcel are"

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/uk-what-can-i-send

I have never had a further problem with a slightly generic but truthful answer- 'plastic tat' works for an amazing number of things.

That also says, "You’re responsible for finding out if an item is prohibited or restricted." 
  So you find out and then can answer the question of what's inside with "it's nothing restricted or prohibited".