More Royal Mail f*ckwittery
Discussion
Chaps,
OK, after my previous grumbles about Royal Mail on PH, I had to send a parcel to Milton Keynes (from East London) last Thursday.
Like the stupid, stupid arse that I am, I sent it "First Class Recorded", meaning it goes with normal First Class post but a signature is requested when it is delivered. Contents of the parcel were two car parts, ordered for when I did some work on my 944 recently but not used. (Spare parts, bought so that if the existing parts were worn out they could be changed, but not actually used as the existing parts were fine.) Parts were being returned for refund, and worth about £300.
Posted on Thursday. First Class Recorded (so should be delivered the following day, but I should wait up to five working days for them to arrive.)
It's now Monday. Royal Mail site tells me "We have your item! Item ABC123 was posted at 603 Roman Road E3 2RN on 23/09/10 and is being progressed through our network for delivery."
What are the odds of my parts disappearing without trace, never to be seen again, leaving me £300 out of pocket? Damned high, I guess. *
Oli.
OK, after my previous grumbles about Royal Mail on PH, I had to send a parcel to Milton Keynes (from East London) last Thursday.
Like the stupid, stupid arse that I am, I sent it "First Class Recorded", meaning it goes with normal First Class post but a signature is requested when it is delivered. Contents of the parcel were two car parts, ordered for when I did some work on my 944 recently but not used. (Spare parts, bought so that if the existing parts were worn out they could be changed, but not actually used as the existing parts were fine.) Parts were being returned for refund, and worth about £300.
Posted on Thursday. First Class Recorded (so should be delivered the following day, but I should wait up to five working days for them to arrive.)
It's now Monday. Royal Mail site tells me "We have your item! Item ABC123 was posted at 603 Roman Road E3 2RN on 23/09/10 and is being progressed through our network for delivery."
What are the odds of my parts disappearing without trace, never to be seen again, leaving me £300 out of pocket? Damned high, I guess. *
Oli.
-*- I am guessing that the fact the parcel was marked "Promax Motorsport" wouldn't have helped. Just asking for some light-fingered 'gent' somewhere along the line to wonder what is in it, and 'accidentally' slip it into the bag he takes home each evening, rather than into the bag for onward delivery ...
zcacogp said:
Chaps,
OK, after my previous grumbles about Royal Mail on PH, I had to send a parcel to Milton Keynes (from East London) last Thursday.
Like the stupid, stupid arse that I am, I sent it "First Class Recorded", meaning it goes with normal First Class post but a signature is requested when it is delivered. Contents of the parcel were two car parts, ordered for when I did some work on my 944 recently but not used. (Spare parts, bought so that if the existing parts were worn out they could be changed, but not actually used as the existing parts were fine.) Parts were being returned for refund, and worth about £300.
Posted on Thursday. First Class Recorded (so should be delivered the following day, but I should wait up to five working days for them to arrive.)
It's now Monday. Royal Mail site tells me "We have your item! Item ABC123 was posted at 603 Roman Road E3 2RN on 23/09/10 and is being progressed through our network for delivery."
What are the odds of my parts disappearing without trace, never to be seen again, leaving me £300 out of pocket? Damned high, I guess. *
Oli.
Without sounding rude, you sent £300 worth of stuff without insurance thru a system where you know full well there is a possibility it will go missingOK, after my previous grumbles about Royal Mail on PH, I had to send a parcel to Milton Keynes (from East London) last Thursday.
Like the stupid, stupid arse that I am, I sent it "First Class Recorded", meaning it goes with normal First Class post but a signature is requested when it is delivered. Contents of the parcel were two car parts, ordered for when I did some work on my 944 recently but not used. (Spare parts, bought so that if the existing parts were worn out they could be changed, but not actually used as the existing parts were fine.) Parts were being returned for refund, and worth about £300.
Posted on Thursday. First Class Recorded (so should be delivered the following day, but I should wait up to five working days for them to arrive.)
It's now Monday. Royal Mail site tells me "We have your item! Item ABC123 was posted at 603 Roman Road E3 2RN on 23/09/10 and is being progressed through our network for delivery."
What are the odds of my parts disappearing without trace, never to be seen again, leaving me £300 out of pocket? Damned high, I guess. *
Oli.
-*- I am guessing that the fact the parcel was marked "Promax Motorsport" wouldn't have helped. Just asking for some light-fingered 'gent' somewhere along the line to wonder what is in it, and 'accidentally' slip it into the bag he takes home each evening, rather than into the bag for onward delivery ...
Nickyboy - Yes, as I said, not the cleverest of things to do, perhaps. But, why should I not trust the Royal Mail with things? Are they untrustworthy, such that I need to insure against their mistakes?
CW7 - thanks. Maybe I am expecting too much that it should be delivered by today. I do wonder how a 40x30x30cm box weighing over 3kgs can be 'lost'; maybe I should just assume it takes a while and not get too upset too soon.
Oli.
CW7 - thanks. Maybe I am expecting too much that it should be delivered by today. I do wonder how a 40x30x30cm box weighing over 3kgs can be 'lost'; maybe I should just assume it takes a while and not get too upset too soon.
Oli.
zcacogp said:
CW7 - thanks. Maybe I am expecting too much that it should be delivered by today. I do wonder how a 40x30x30cm box weighing over 3kgs can be 'lost'; maybe I should just assume it takes a while and not get too upset too soon.
We all know that "First Class Recorded" should mean that the item is delivered the very next day, on a velvet cushion stuffed with swan feathers. By the Head Postman, wearing all his medals.At the same time though, we all know that Royal Mail are a bit crap.
I'm just saying that this is the leastest point at which I would be getting worried.
Don't wind me up about the Royal Mail. Got home one day, note on the doormat, "Couldn't deliver etc etc, phone this number"
I phoned, it rang and rang and rang, and dialled out, same thing 3 times.
So I drive to the post office, and get in the queu waiting to pick up my parcel, thought I will phone the number from my mobile, and see if I can hear a phone ringine, the phone next to the guy handing out packages start to ring.
It kept ringing, as I got closer to the front of the queu. As I got to the front, I closed my mobile, and enquired if the number on the note was the phone on the counter.
He confirmed it was, so I asked "Why doesn't someone answer it?", he said "We havn't got the staff", I could have put that phone when the sun didn't shine.
I phoned, it rang and rang and rang, and dialled out, same thing 3 times.
So I drive to the post office, and get in the queu waiting to pick up my parcel, thought I will phone the number from my mobile, and see if I can hear a phone ringine, the phone next to the guy handing out packages start to ring.
It kept ringing, as I got closer to the front of the queu. As I got to the front, I closed my mobile, and enquired if the number on the note was the phone on the counter.
He confirmed it was, so I asked "Why doesn't someone answer it?", he said "We havn't got the staff", I could have put that phone when the sun didn't shine.
zcacogp said:
Nickyboy - Yes, as I said, not the cleverest of things to do, perhaps. But, why should I not trust the Royal Mail with things? Are they untrustworthy, such that I need to insure against their mistakes?
Yes they are, from memory they only provide cover up to 100x the price of a fist class stamp for standard mail. So that's £35ish nowadays? If the stuff is worth more than that then you have to use their special delivery service which is insured.I used to work for Royal Mail complaints department, quite an amusing amount of stuff does go missing!
king massive detailed post just to say that something you posted is a day late.
In that caseIn the last 6 years I've sent somewhere in the region of 34,000 items out by RM 1st class, and had a total of 27 "go missing" - although I suspect at least 10 of these are scammers who realised their item was not sent with any from of tracking.
I know it is not infallible, but my loss rates are not even significant enough to register on my annual accounts.
I know it is not infallible, but my loss rates are not even significant enough to register on my annual accounts.
They've definitely changed speed on 1st Class post in my area in the last year.
Stuff I've sent recently has taken on average 5-6 working days wheras it used to be there next day or day after at the latest.
Can't complain too much but some ebay buyers have no patience at all when it comes to delivery times
Stuff I've sent recently has taken on average 5-6 working days wheras it used to be there next day or day after at the latest.
Can't complain too much but some ebay buyers have no patience at all when it comes to delivery times
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