Staggeringly Brilliant Idea from Royal Mail !

[EtchedPixels]

Nah, they've been leaving with neighbours for years around here and it hasn't been a problem.

You have better neighbours than many people.

[STEVE44]

Hi. Im a postie and i use my common sence, you can tell the ones who will try it on and say leave the packet or parcel on step then ring up the sorting office and say they have not recieved the item to the ones who are ok.Yes we have delivered those leaflets last week along side or the other junk mail. On my walk I know who to leave packets with untill Royal Mail change our way of delivering early next year. Better leave it at now before I really start moaning.

Steve.

[H]

Nah, they've been leaving with neighbours for years around here and it hasn't been a problem.

You have better neighbours than many people.

Not just my neighbours (who have changed quite a few times) but everyone on the estate, and all the poeple in the village that I talk to.

H.

[thebrighton]

I, too, am a postie and find myself having to come to RMs defence especially over the title of this thread which is, unfortunately, created through ignorance of the postal system.
Whereas a courier can leave anything anywhere RM delivers the 'Queens Mail'. By law we have to keep it safe and secure at all times. Yes we do use our initiative and leave packets with neighbours etc but every time we do it we are actually commiting a criminal offence! It is not uncommon for a customer to ring up RM to pass on their thanks to the postie for leaving their packet somewhere which then results in the postie facing a disciplinary hearing and, if not a first offence, the possibility of dismissal! I am currently working under a 2 year suspended dismissal.
Even now it is not a case of senior managers having a brilliant idea. It is because RM have wanted this flexibility for years but the regulator wouldn't allow it. We now have a new regulator that the proposal has been put to. They may still say no and posties will go on risking their job.
If it does come in though we will get no additional time to complete the delivery although we could well be knocking on significantly more doors (original door, neighbour other side then back to original with card saying where the packet is). Also RM have left it to the posties discretion so when the customer complains about the neighbour you left it with it is the posties fault not RMs.
At the end of the day it is not a brilliant idea, it is a case that RM simply are not allowed by law to leave your packets with a neighbour. Yep we do have bad eggs working for us but lets not start slagging RM off with sarcastic thread titles when you are not in possession of all the facts.
Gareth

[H]

lets not start slagging RM off with sarcastic thread titles when you are not in possession of all the facts.

Agreed. I've always had a good service from my postie.

H.

[Lawrence]

Point taken Gareth, but can we at least slag off RMs Press Office for not making the points you made so clearly, simply and succinctly 

[tim-pelican]

Agreed. I've always had a good service from my postie.

I've had great posties, shockingly bad posties, and everything in between.

I've had a real issue at a previous address with items never coming out for delivery, no card being left, but when I went to the sorting office to try and chase, mysteriously there they were on the shelf.  I was never sure who was at fault for that one.

On the whole though, better than couriers.  Especially Shitty Link, who have abandoned a computer on the doorstep and run away while I was in, left various bundles of networking gear under bushes in the rain, and brought pre-filled "sorry we missed you" cards to the door while I was because the parcel was either heavy or not on the van at all.

[Sandvika]

Just got home from holiday and found a Special Delivery item on the floor having been dropped 3 feet through the letter box!  The 'digital signature' viewable online is presumably that of a helpful ghost. I wouldn't have minded except for the fact that it was a minimally wrapped N Gauge locomotive!  It seems OK superficially, but I will have to  be exceptionally thorough in checking and testing it.   

As we're the highest numbered house in the street, we were the dumping ground for both mis-addressed (no house number or too high a number) and incorrectly sorted mail (wrong postal code in addition) and I regularly re-posted or delivered correctly items we should not have received.  However, the sullen young lad responsible for this has been replaced on our round by a cheerful Polish postie. Today I received another loco just by regular mail, where the envelope had come right open, yet the contents remained inside and clearly care had been taken to ensure they did.    

I'd not want our next door neighbour to have to sign for our mail when we're out because she's disabled and getting to the door is a real struggle for her. Opposite at number 1 would be ideal, but I doubt Royal Mail will be issuing a range of stickers suggesting where to attempt delivery. It really should be an opt-in arrangement.....

[Donkey]

I have been watching this thread with interest as I am a delivery driver and yes tim-pelican, I sometimes work for City Link as well as other well known courier services. I try my best to do a good job and am always aware that someone has spent their "hard earned" on whatever I am delivering. Please do not tar us all with the same brush! As thebrighton says we sometimes have bad eggs working with us but we are not all the same! Also people should be aware that some firms insist that if the addressee is not in and you are unable to find a neighbour to take the parcel, then you must leave the parcel safe to save them paying for another attempted delivery!
As far as the Post Office are concerned I have never had a problem with "my postie" and I have had many over the years. I have an arrangement with my regular one that my retired neighbour can sign for any of my parcels which she is only too pleased to do.
I understand some people getting upset when a "bad egg" botches a delivery but we are not all like that.

Marty

[Newportnobby]

I think we've all had our say one way or the other. As EP says, there is an opt out if we don't approve so the decision can be made by the individual.
On that basis I have locked the topic.
Thanks to all who have contributed to a lively discussion.