Safe place

Surreypostie · Post by **Surreypostie** » 03 Aug 2016, 15:54

We were told, if a Tracked item has a safeplace specified on it we are to leave it there. The reason is, if they deny receiving it or it gets knicked, the fact they have deemed that place as safe absolves Royal Mail of paying compensation. The sender would also likely refuse to supply a replacement. This only applies to tracked items though. Just a normal packet, if out leave on step, no chance.

Decky Boy · Post by **Decky Boy** » 10 Aug 2016, 19:05

Surreypostie wrote:We were told, if a Tracked item has a safeplace specified on it we are to leave it there. The reason is, if they deny receiving it or it gets knicked, the fact they have deemed that place as safe absolves Royal Mail of paying compensation. The sender would also likely refuse to supply a replacement. This only applies to tracked items though. Just a normal packet, if out leave on step, no chance.

That's my take on things too

ScousePostie · Post by **ScousePostie** » 11 Aug 2016, 14:37

Earlier this year in our office DOM wasn't happy with complaints arising from specified 'safe place'. He decided even if the packet specifies a 'safe place' such as 'in blue bin' or 'side of house' we're not to do this. If a delivery to a neighbour is not an option then it should be 739d. Needless to say first time delivery was down over the following weeks. Impossible to win with Royal Mail.

As far I'm concerned if the customer has specified a 'safe place' and postman puts it at the specified 'safe place' then postie shouldn't be punished when the customer complains. If DOM wants us to ignore safe places then I will do just that. If delivery to neighbour isn't an option, 739 it.

Hez · Post by **Hez** » 20 Mar 2017, 16:59

Safeplace is fraught with problems. The current RM customer website page in the "sending & receiving" section shows a postman placing presumably a Tracked item in a log store. Was it lockable, or was there just a lid to close it? Merely being weather protected or out of sight means absolutely nothing. For me, it's all about whether or not it's lockable. The text alongside the log store pic. mentions "a SECURE place of their choice".
Parcel delivery boxes attached to walls are Safeplace compliant in my personal view, but I don't think RM themselves actually have a clear cut definition as to what precisely they mean by "secure".
Check out RMTV 6th March on myroyalmail about 3.50 into it on the subject of customer complaints. A guy says words to the effect of "if not in a shelter, don't leave it", and at 4.05 is film of a parcel (and mail) being left in an enclosed porch. If the postie can enter it, he probably can't lock it on exit, leaving it insecure. "If not in a shelter" implies you could leave it in a shelter ! Not me!
The first thing your best ever, nicest, biggest tipping customer is going to do when their precious item goes missing is not ask you about it, but they go crazy and contact customer services, not giving a fig about where that puts you.
These days you're risking suspension under suspicion of possibly having misappropriated the item. There are that many self employed couriers, many not even wearing a vest, they can just lift your Safplaced item as though it's a return parcel-no questions asked.They need to rebrand it Secureplace.
A secure delivery box (if the tracked item fits) saves you time and hassle by not having to attempt DTN, which can take five minutes or more to knock at half a dozen adjacent detached houses.
Just because the customer or telecom router sender states a location in no way absolves you from investigation.
I don't want to see an innocent colleague sacked.
Safeplaces in my view: parcel delivery box;shed with padlock shackle open ready to use;log store the same; outside cupboard door with padlock shackle open for use with hasp and staple, where you open, place item/s, close and snap padlock.

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 11 Jul 2017, 16:22

We've had a load of issues of denial of receipt lately and in response were told they isn't such a thing as a safe place. I very rarely used to leave stuff anyway despite the instruction, how the f**k is a front porch 'secure' if we're required to open the door to put the thing in there?! The only exception being flowers; they're probably going to die if end up taking 'em back anyway so I'll always try and leave 'em.

tone123 · Post by **tone123** » 11 Jul 2017, 16:44

If it won't fit the letter box & they're not in, 739 it & take it back. Definitely if you are on an unfamiliar walk.
In my short time on the job I've lost count of the neighbours that have refused to accept parcels either because they don't like the person who's out or because it's become too common an occurrence. I can only see the latter problem becoming worse as so many parcels are being sent out from internet shopping.

An idea - why don't RM endorse or produce their own range of top-loading flap or 'hippo' style boxes and then send out D2Ds letting people know about them. They could even do them at cost as the saving in doorstep time would reduce overtime.
Not a solution for every property but it would go a very long way.

Fairnessforall · Post by **Fairnessforall** » 11 Jul 2017, 16:46

It is the responsibility of the postie to deem whether it is a safe place or not. If the customer states somewhere is a safe place your DOM should require it in writing from the customer to protect the postie delivering the parcels. No written consent means you are risking your job each and every time you deem somewhere a safe place without this prior consent.