Does anyone still write “P” on the letter or turn over letter to remember parcels for that house ?

[Custard Jelly]

When I started 10-15 years ago. I got trained to write “p” on letter for parcels. I remember I used write “p” in a small size. One work colleague saw me write “p” in small size one day. He then came over to me said put in a big size “p”. He gave me a example. He wrote a massive “p” on the letter lol.

If that parcel didn’t have a letter. I wrote on the letter nearest to that parcel. For example “P 22”

I done this for the next few years.

After few years. I stopped using the “p” trick.

Now I remember which houses have parcels without the “p”

Nowadays it will be hard to hold pda/pen in the same hand lol

[Aardvark]

These days i write L on the packet in case I forget they have mail.

[Mr Rush]

Yes, I was trained to flip the letter and write '(P)'. I mostly just turn the letter now unless there's a large gap of numbers as I have a tendency to unflip it to check the address and then completely forget. Time was you just shoved paper through doors for three hours - I get into a rhythm.

Some of the Tuesdays this summer I've resorted to placing multiple P739 cards into the frame because there's only one letter every 15 doors but four packets in between. Otherwise the back of someone's letter gets covered in "(P)19,25,27,33" - we're permitted to deface letters but it should be kept to a minimum.

[manboss]

If an address has a packet, i just turn the letter for that address but if there is no post, then i turn the next letter after that address and write P and the number. Although, for my own loops that i prep, i just turn the letter.

[menditsa]

On my first stint back in the early 90's there was no need for it, was grumpy if got more than 2 to Be Signed's for from the PHG office.

I have blocks of flats that I tray up on their own and the long roads I have I drive down with the larger than letterbox parcels and get rid of those with mail, then drive back up to the middle and do the 2 split loops I bundle up.

I'm not breaking my back like some with 20kg+ pouches.

[SMS1969]

Most of the ‘experienced’ Posties that I’ve shared a duty with don’t want this, they just want the packets placed in order in the bag. I also just place them in the bag in order when I’m on my own and keep checking the bag as I do the loop. Works fine for me, but if you work in a certain way and turn or write then as long as it works for you then it’s all good.

[Custard Jelly]

Yes, I was trained to flip the letter and write '(P)'. I mostly just turn the letter now unless there's a large gap of numbers as I have a tendency to unflip it to check the address and then completely forget. Time was you just shoved paper through doors for three hours - I get into a rhythm.

Some of the Tuesdays this summer I've resorted to placing multiple P739 cards into the frame because there's only one letter every 15 doors but four packets in between. Otherwise the back of someone's letter gets covered in "(P)19,25,27,33" - we're permitted to deface letters but it should be kept to a minimum.

I totally forgot to mention the 739 cards. I’ve seen some work colleagues use 739s.

The only down side is what if u accidentally put a empty 739 through someone’s door lol. It does happen lol.

[Acca Dacca]

Whats the point in writing P on the letter rather than just turning it?

[Custard Jelly]

Whats the point in writing P on the letter rather than just turning it?

To remember there’s a parcel for that house. Some turn letters. Some use 739s. Some write P. Some dont do anything to the letters.

[crazyshrew]

I just keep them in order as much as possible,
On a HCT I pack them in with the corresponding bundle of mail. I pull out the bundle and check the next packet, when I go in for that packet I check the next packet.

With everything getting scanned to core route in the morning, they are almost they are all on the PDA, so can always check that if in any doubt about what's coming up.

With the amount of mail being left behind, or simply taken for a jolly only to be put back in the frame, any of the traditional methods strike me as a bit of a wasted effort now as the marked letter or placed 739 will probably never be seen until several days after the parcel has been delivered.

[Mr Rush]

Some dont do anything to the letters.

Always great to be tossed on a duty you don't know to discover your partner expects you to be psychic. You spend the whole first loop trying not to get lost only to reach the van and realise you've still got five Tracked in the bag. Doing the three-legged race with someone who doesn't give a s**t is one of the things that irritates me about P&L.

With the amount of mail being left behind, or simply taken for a jolly only to be put back in the frame, any of the traditional methods strike me as a bit of a wasted effort now as the marked letter or placed 739 will probably never be seen until several days after the parcel has been delivered.

I don't see it as wasted effort, despite management cracking the whip in times of pressure. I believe in doing the prep in the office because that's where it's meant to be done for a bloody good reason. A stairwell is not a replacement for an RM2000 frame. The time saved in the office rushing out the door is just going to be used up fixing what should have been done right the first time. It's a complete false economy.

If the decision has been made to leave (a) loop(s) once the packets have been prepped I always undo that because it can get very confusing the next day. Especially if it's your loop off the other frame - you end up rummaging through the bag for a packet you don't have or you miss one by second guessing. That's where time is really lost.

[pinstripe]

Whats the point in writing P on the letter rather than just turning it?

Back when I started, we’d turn the letter, mark with a P for packet, R for recorded delivery and SP for Special Delivery. That was when you had to keep Specials separate and not every item in the bundle, was a packet.

We also had a lot less packets but much more mail so you could easily miss a packet.

Now it’s almost the opposite. 20+ years ago you could have 3/4 bags of letters and 1 of packets, now you can get the letters for an entire walk in 1 bag* but the packets take at least 8.

* If you have one days mail on the walk

[LouBarlow]

I turn letters out of pure courtesy for my van-share partner, who will not know otherwise where they have parcels for. I don’t want them to waste time looking through each bag whereas turning letters allows them to pick up and go straight away. I have no idea why you wouldn’t really. It takes seconds to do.

[ebbzie]

Always have written a p , always will

[Basildon Bond]

I don't think it's as simple as "turn"; "write P"; or pack the pouch right.

Real world you may have something like this:

what-to-turn.jpg

And this isn't even all that complex.

How do you communicate the packets based on the available letters? I bet we all differ slightly.

I think we have to get that biro out and start writing numbers on the letters and include quantities if we want to be clear.