Having worked with a number of different colleagues, across a couple of different walks, I've noticed a varied opinion on using wheelie bins as unofficial safe places for packages & parcels. Some will quite happily use an accessible wheelie bin, whilst others completely rebuff the idea.
I'm curious to know what the general consensus is on here?
It's out of sight and undercover. Where as a porch it is visible to parcel thieves. But for RM porch is ok and bin is not. Then they are pushing first time delivery on the doorstep app. So yes, bins are fine as long as a card goes in so they retrieve it.
Bins are never an acceptable safe place to leave anything according to Royal Mail. It’s all over the website, app and workplace not to do it. Having said that most people in our office regularly do it and the managers turn a blind eye. I think it is definitely something Royal Mail need to change though, customers don’t mind and I would guess 99% of the time they retrieve the parcel out of the recycling bin later that day. Plus every other courier does it and since it’s royal mails dream to become just another parcel courier then we should follow suit.
It's out of sight and undercover. Where as a porch it is visible to parcel thieves. But for RM porch is ok and bin is not. Then they are pushing first time delivery on the doorstep app. So yes, bins are fine as long as a card goes in so they retrieve it.
If you can gain access to the bin to place a parcel in the bin, then thieves can gain access to the bin to steal the parcel from the bin
It's out of sight and undercover. Where as a porch it is visible to parcel thieves. But for RM porch is ok and bin is not. Then they are pushing first time delivery on the doorstep app. So yes, bins are fine as long as a card goes in so they retrieve it.
If you can gain access to the bin to place a parcel in the bin, then thieves can gain access to the bin to steal the parcel from the bin
Yes you're correct. The difference is that there's no visibility in the bin, obviously unless you're seen doing it. The problem is that there aren't really any places that are safe. If we can get access to deliver a thief can get access to steal. So RM needs to either get rid of safe places or accept that a certain percentage will get stolen. They're the ones that are wiping out collection at the office and pushing staff to get rid of stuff first time.
When we had the callers office and no automatic redelivery I took more stuff back to the office but times have changed and if I take something back there’s no guarantee it gets attempted again the next day at this time of year.
I suppose it’s the same with storage boxes, people are happy enough for you to leave them there and if we can access them so can thief’s, people even put notes on their door to leave in the storage box.
When I was on delivery, lucky enough to hold a duty, you tend to build a mutual respect with the people who are customers , many times a customer will arrange with you a place where you may leave their parcel, I.e. through the side gate to back garden area , and into a garden shed,or hut. many other places were agreed upon with customers, most of the time its a common sense decision, managers usually know this procedure will occur during delivery, a grey area! I retired in April 2024, take care out there people x
Not regularly. I will only do it if explicitly asked and if I deem both the location of the bin and the parcel itself safe enough. I have one customer who keeps an unused wheelie bin in his back garden (open back gate) who likes all packets to go in there, and for me that is safe enough for an Asos or similar package. My assessment of safeplace always has regard to both the suggested location and also as to how valuable(or not) I think the package contents might be. Anything I’m not sure about I will either deliver to a neighbour or bring back.
