Do you use wheelie bins as unofficial Safe Places?

[fadetogrey63]

If there's a sign on door saying leave it in bin then I take a pic of the sign, or if on the ring doorbell they ask me to, after all our manager keeps saying the customer is always right, so who am I to say no!

[yellowbelly]

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

The only safe place then is a storage facility which can be locked after you use it and only the recipient can open and no other miscreants. So RM need to get rid of the 'Greenhouse', 'Garage', 'Outbuilding' etc options on PDA safe place then as they can all be accessed by 'others' if they're not lockable. They're not going to do that as it would damage their first time delivery stats.

[funkflex55]

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

The only safe place then is a storage facility which can be locked after you use it and only the recipient can open and no other miscreants. So RM need to get rid of the 'Greenhouse', 'Garage', 'Outbuilding' etc options on PDA safe place then as they can all be accessed by 'others' if they're not lockable. They're not going to do that as it would damage their first time delivery stats.

Exactly. The whole concept of the safe place is bullshit. Even the lockable parcel boxes could probably be opened with a screwdriver. Basically RM has put the decision in the hands of the posties. Which is fine as long as the repercussions are minimal when things go missing. As for me personally, the first time it's mentioned every single recorded and tracked will then be going back and that'll be s**t loads. As customers like to order s**t loads and then don't answer the door.

[TopperGas]

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

That's no different to any safe place, including an enclosed porch, a greenhouse or a shed?

Personally I'd never use a wheelie bin as if the customer complains you've no defence, you can defend leaving it in an enclosed porch etc

[TopperGas]

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

That's no different to any safe place, including an enclosed porch, a greenhouse or a shed?

Personally I'd never use a wheelie bin as if the customer complains you've no defence, you can defend leaving it in an enclosed porch etc

Surprised nearly half of the users who've done the poll so far are prepared to take the risk!

[Mr Rush]

Active bins, absolutely not. Even if the safeplace request comes up the onus is on you to exercise diligence (while the bin might not get picked up for another four days, they may be on holiday and the neighbour puts it out). The garden waste bin is acceptable out of season.

I don't know if the walk logs still classify duties as such, but in areas that used to be noted as elevated risk I would be very reluctant to do anything less than hand over in person.

[postslippete]

Almost never. Is there a reason why I have rarely seen it highlighted on the PDA as a designated safe place? The only exception is if a note is left in rather big letters usually on the inside of the window or door so I can't take it down and where all and sundry can see where their parcels are usually kept, I'll leave it and take a photo - of the note.

[Dexydog]

Anyone noticed recently that when you scan an item, if the customer has actually bothered to designate safe place, it comes up on the screen as leave in shed or wherever
Then when you click safeplace that instruction isn't shown?
I always take a pic on my phone when that happens; I have dozens I can refer back to if a complaint comes in.
As above, the first time I get a complaint and any grief, everything will be coming back- I'd say on average probably 30%, maybe 50 on a Saturday.
Imagine if everyone did this- the place would collapse overnight.

[Acca Dacca]

If there's a sign on door saying leave it in bin then I take a pic of the sign, or if on the ring doorbell they ask me to, after all our manager keeps saying the customer is always right, so who am I to say no!

The customer is always right

Unfortunately Royal Mail's customer is the sender of the parcel, not the recipient

[TooManyLoops]

If there's a sign on door saying leave it in bin then I take a pic of the sign, or if on the ring doorbell they ask me to, after all our manager keeps saying the customer is always right, so who am I to say no!

Who put that note there?

Might as well just leave it on the step if the recipient is advertising to everyone where their parcel is

[Rve83ndxd]

Anyone noticed recently that when you scan an item, if the customer has actually bothered to designate safe place, it comes up on the screen as leave in shed or wherever
Then when you click safeplace that instruction isn't shown?

That's when the receipent gives a safe place for all parcels rather than that parcel only.

[Dexydog]

Anyone noticed recently that when you scan an item, if the customer has actually bothered to designate safe place, it comes up on the screen as leave in shed or wherever
Then when you click safeplace that instruction isn't shown?

That's when the receipent gives a safe place for all parcels rather than that parcel only.

Right.
So instead of that coming up on your screen you have to arse about typing in where it is.
Maybe 10% actually come up on the screen the same when you click safeplace.
It's only small, but lots of small things take time, and it's bloody annoying- this job could be made so much better if the software was user friendly on all sides.

[sfxdby]

I think there is a distinction to be made here.
I am a duty holder and I know when the bin days are.
When I am coming up to my week off, I generally stop using them.
I will check yesterday's drops.
They have always had a docket telling them where to look and 99 per cent have gone.
I would not be using wheelie bins on a duty I am doing as a day's cover.
Reliefs and duty holders are doing slightly different jobs.

[yellowbelly]

..........

I will check yesterday's drops..

So you go to a property again even if you've nothing for that address?

[sfxdby]

If it's a wheelie bin or garden waste wheelie drop then it's a house on the street. Not much garden.
Otherwise, it would have a better safeplace.
So no problem to check, I am walking past.