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Parcel collections never ready

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
twoloops
Posts: 2028
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by twoloops »

yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 09:23

Yep, not available, leave labels all the time.
Not sure if you have ever been out on delivery?

From RM site If your Royal Mail collection is unavailable your postage labels will be cancelled, the collection is automatically cancelled
TopperGas
Posts: 3452
Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 22:46
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by TopperGas »

derekm wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 22:25
Went to a door for a collection and got handed a Tesco carrier bag. Not sealed up just the bag with the stuff inside. Said sorry can’t except that and she couldn’t understand what the issue was .
I've delivered items just in a Lidl etc bag, just take the item stick the label on it so it holds the bag closed and scan it, that's far easier than trying to explain to the customer why you can't take it?
TopperGas
Posts: 3452
Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 22:46
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by TopperGas »

I had a good one this week, a customer handed me a Sky router and the wires claiming Sky told him we'd bring a box!! He then spent 5 mins trying to find a box when I refused to take it.
sindba
Posts: 1451
Joined: 05 Feb 2012, 20:27
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by sindba »

abuch1980 wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 20:39
I wish Amszon would pick up their own collections, 2 parcels going to 2 different Amazon Warehouses - customer doesn't have a scooby so unless u can tell by the weight then nobody knows ! Waste of time too.
I've had similar.

2 plain boxes, 2 labels with different addresses.

"I thought you would know which was which?"

How rhe hell would I know!!
Custard Jelly
Posts: 46
Joined: 17 Jul 2024, 19:07
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by Custard Jelly »

WalkerX wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 18:45
steve1873 wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 18:00
Custard Jelly wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 17:45
Parcel collections never ready

Hi everybody.

There’s this one house they have over 10 collections everyday. They never have the parcels ready. Once I hand over the labels. They start packing up the parcels which don’t make sense to me. I am thinking once they put the order in for collection. Shouldn’t they start packing up the parcels and put like a note on it. post code and name for easier labelling. and get the parcels ready for the postie the next day ?

This usually takes from 10-30 mins. Luckily it’s a massive road. There loop is first.

Usually when I go to other houses. There parcels are ready to put a label on it.

Am I being to picky or shall I let them carry on what there doing ?

They are nice people. They let me use toilet when I need to lol 😂

I did explain to them. Once you put the order in for collection. Start packing up the parcels and get all parcels ready for next day for the postie. But this never happens 😞
Inform them again that the items must be ready for collection when you chap the door or unfortunately they will need to re-book them again for collection. Not having them ready once is ok I suppose, sometimes things get in the way. Every single time is a piss take, especially as you have already said to them.
We`ve all got them. I lost my rag with a regular a while back and politely explained that we don`t have time anymore to wait and that I`d have to leave it if it wasn`t ready. They`ve made sure it`s ready ever since.
U had a go at em for not having parcels ready lol.
It’s annoying ain’t it.

But yh. Common sense once u book a collection. Get the parcels ready for the postie
qwerty2
Posts: 2072
Joined: 30 Jun 2009, 00:42
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by qwerty2 »

sindba wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 11:19
abuch1980 wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 20:39
I wish Amszon would pick up their own collections, 2 parcels going to 2 different Amazon Warehouses - customer doesn't have a scooby so unless u can tell by the weight then nobody knows ! Waste of time too.
I've had similar.

2 plain boxes, 2 labels with different addresses.

"I thought you would know which was which?"

How rhe hell would I know!!
Only If one's heavier - the weight is on the pda
steve1873
Posts: 800
Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 13:55

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by steve1873 »

yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 09:23
twoloops wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 08:45
yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 08:23
Custard Jelly wrote:
22 Aug 2026, 17:45
if they've got parcels everyday give them the labels and pick them up the next day as additionals.
And what would you click to clear them off the PDA? Not available? We were originally told not to leave or post the labels.
Yep, not available, leave labels all the time.
Not allowed to leave or post labels. I mean you can give them the labels to apply if you are returning later in the day, but otherwise no. They are to be returned to office and disposed of with confidential waste.
steve1873
Posts: 800
Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 13:55

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by steve1873 »

TopperGas wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 11:11
I had a good one this week, a customer handed me a Sky router and the wires claiming Sky told him we'd bring a box!! He then spent 5 mins trying to find a box when I refused to take it.
We do deliver return boxes, flat packed. The issue is the collection is often set up prior to the box having even been sent out. Had this one time and woman was adamant I needed to take it as she was moving out that day. I simply told her well looks like you have an extra item to pack :D
Mr Rush
Posts: 3284
Joined: 05 Aug 2011, 14:27
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by Mr Rush »

I've explained to people before that I can't leave the labels with them as I cannot guarantee the postage will still be valid the next day. And if they don't have a pickup the next day there's no way to ad hoc one, is there? Never had anyone bothered about that when booking was free.

I had one guy hand me a laptop as he was under the impression we were providing the packaging. I gave him a few minutes to find something suitable until I eventually had to tell him we'd come back round later as the box he found was never going to fit in my bag. When we returned it was obvious there was no bubble wrap or padding of any kind - just the laptop and power brick sliding around inside a box far too big for it. I would be shocked if that thing arrived intact.
The machine stops.
guardianangel
Posts: 1825
Joined: 21 Feb 2020, 19:40
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by guardianangel »

Happens all the time ,another job the unions let them put on us with no extra time in the duty ,you can add another 20 minutes a day for this ,it pisses me off bosses always moaning your not doing enough i feel like a mobile post office ,collections ,deliveries,post boxes,scan this scan that, handbrake training,dogs,signing wtl sheets every day on things youve done a 1000 times and if i hear one more customer say "do i get a reciept for that " i wont be responsible .
yellowbelly
Posts: 3707
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 15:51
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by yellowbelly »

twoloops wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 09:55
yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 09:23

Yep, not available, leave labels all the time.
Not sure if you have ever been out on delivery?

From RM site If your Royal Mail collection is unavailable your postage labels will be cancelled, the collection is automatically cancelled
Got the link twoloops? I've had a look and can't see that wording. Am willing to be educated. However, have not had any complaints come back saying the postie left the label and now the item's been surcharged. And have done this regularly with some larger and small home businesses.

However, the T&C's for Parcel Collection do allow labels to be delivered in the specific case of 'no answer':
7.4 During your purchase journey for the postal
services using Click & Drop™, you can request
that upon Collection we deliver to you a
physical copy of the Postage Label for any Item
which is being sent using one of the Products
listed in clauses 2.2.1 – 2.2.7 (inclusive). If there
is no answer at the Collection Point, we may
at our discretion leave a physical copy of the
Postage Label at the Collection Point. If we
are unable to provide a physical copy of the
Postage Label, we will aim to provide you with
a temporary Postage Label in its place. Clause
7.2 shall apply to any physical Postage Label
which we provide to you under this clause 7.4.
and SOP D22.8 also states this:
For Bring My Label collections, if the customer isn’t at home, post
the label through the letterbox* using the posting peg
Obviously both specifically for the 'no answer' scenario. Would be interesting to find out if this is the only scenario. Of course you could explain to the customer (depends on how well you get on with them), that you're going to scan the item as 'no answer' and it's up to them to drop it off somewhere or in the case of the OP who collects 'everyday' pick it up the next day.
Mr Rush
Posts: 3284
Joined: 05 Aug 2011, 14:27
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by Mr Rush »

yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 19:42
and SOP D22.8 also states this:
For Bring My Label collections, if the customer isn’t at home, post
the label through the letterbox* using the posting peg
Never knew that nor have I ever seen or heard of anyone following that instruction, and given the complete lack of training regarding anything that's been introduced over the years is that any surprise?
The machine stops.
clashcityrocker
Posts: 16614
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 13:50
Gender: Male
Location: strummerville

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by clashcityrocker »

Mr Rush wrote:
24 Aug 2026, 15:02
yellowbelly wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 19:42
and SOP D22.8 also states this:
For Bring My Label collections, if the customer isn’t at home, post
the label through the letterbox* using the posting peg
Never knew that nor have I ever seen or heard of anyone following that instruction, and given the complete lack of training regarding anything that's been introduced over the years is that any surprise?
That was the SOP when the collection on delivery was introduced.
However, when somebody decided it might infringe someone's rights under data protection legislation, it was updated to put any unused labels in the confidential waste.
The societies of consumption and squandering of material resources are incompatible with the idea of economic growth and a clean planet.
Imcool
Posts: 7
Joined: 01 Mar 2016, 18:55
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by Imcool »

TopperGas wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 11:11
I had a good one this week, a customer handed me a Sky router and the wires claiming Sky told him we'd bring a box!! He then spent 5 mins trying to find a box when I refused to take it.

Ive had a couple of sky boxes without the box, I just stick the label on the top of it, tie the cable round it and plonk it in the van …..job done.

Ive had a collection where it was still in the Christmas wrapping paper….. i unwrapped it , as the bloke was holding a baby, stuck the label on ( henry hoover ). Straight in the van .

I don’t mind waiting. More time waiting .less time delivering :nana

Same as i tell the manager when he cant cover the sorting ……..more time indoor …..less time outdoor :left:
TopperGas
Posts: 3452
Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 22:46
Gender: Male

Re: Parcel collections never ready

Post by TopperGas »

Imcool wrote:
24 Aug 2026, 19:05
TopperGas wrote:
23 Aug 2026, 11:11
I had a good one this week, a customer handed me a Sky router and the wires claiming Sky told him we'd bring a box!! He then spent 5 mins trying to find a box when I refused to take it.

Ive had a couple of sky boxes without the box, I just stick the label on the top of it, tie the cable round it and plonk it in the van …..job done.

Ive had a collection where it was still in the Christmas wrapping paper….. i unwrapped it , as the bloke was holding a baby, stuck the label on ( henry hoover ). Straight in the van .

I don’t mind waiting. More time waiting .less time delivering :nana

Same as i tell the manager when he cant cover the sorting ……..more time indoor …..less time outdoor :left:
Pretty poor though for whoever has to handle in the network and at the other MC/DC. If you don't mind waiting just tell them to find a suitable box like I did?

I had another cracker today, a 30KG Parcel force parcel without a PF/RM sticker, the customer looked surprised when I said it needed a RM/PF sticker after he'd apparently spent £35 on postage. Unfortunately by the time I'd finished delivering on his road he'd managed to download and print a label!!

How did RM get lumbered with collecting PF parcels when they also deliver to the same area everyday?