Specials back to 1pm and 9am from Monday 9th

[Blaine]

Great when I’m covering a rural that covers nearly 70 miles and the people at the start and finish receive loads of them

Yes you can always rely on royal mail to provide a service for what the customers actually want, oh hang on no we don't actually have products that are fit for purpose these days, come on how long will it be before we catch up and take photo evidence of delivery rather than say "it's supposed to be to sign for mate but I'm still taking care of that on your behalf"

Think October is when we have to take photos. Apparently it's a condition of continued business for some customers which is why PDAs are being rolled out faster now.

I don't know why we just don't make 1pm specials next day guaranteed and keep 9am as they are?

[ssdd]

Has someone in RM actually calculated the cost of time in cut-offs that are needed to achieve the 1pm deadline? Over thousands of duties this must add up to a few pennies a week.

[Numberone63]

We’ve been back to 1pm from Monday 2nd. Had to cut off on two days so far. Such fun!!

[SpacePhoenix]

Has someone in RM actually calculated the cost of time in cut-offs that are needed to achieve the 1pm deadline? Over thousands of duties this must add up to a few pennies a week.

In the long run it'd be cheaper for RM to send a van out with all the specials and any other mail available at the time for each dp that's got a special (might not be viable if there's a lot of rural walks at a DO)

[ted_e_bear]

[I don't know why we just don't make 1pm specials next day guaranteed and keep 9am as they are?
[/quote]

Exactly, that's what I thought.

[yellowbelly]

Has someone in RM actually calculated the cost of time in cut-offs that are needed to achieve the 1pm deadline? Over thousands of duties this must add up to a few pennies a week.

In the long run it'd be cheaper for RM to send a van out with all the specials and any other mail available at the time for each dp that's got a special (might not be viable if there's a lot of rural walks at a DO)

OFCOM were asking about the requirement/suitability of SD 1PM as part of the recent OFCOM consultation:

Our Review of User Needs found that neither of these services were used frequently by
participants, but when they are required they were seen as essential. Special Delivery was used
when participants needed to guarantee next day delivery and/or were sending items of high value
(e.g. parcels/passports). However, many were unclear about all of the service’s features, typically
using it for the guarantee of next day delivery, rather than the 1pm delivery deadline, insurance or
tracking components of the service

As we found that some of the key features of these services were not well understood by users, we
welcome stakeholders’ views on whether the features of Special Delivery and Signed For services
(beyond the minimum requirement for a registered items service and an insured items service) set
in the DUSP condition remain appropriate

Question 5.4: Do you consider Ofcom’s approach to regulating USO services, including access
requirements, Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm, Signed For and Meter mail will remain
appropriate going forward? If not, please explain what changes you think should be made, with
supporting evidence.

[ssdd]

As I see it, the 1pm deadline comes from a time when most deliveries would be finished by then. Today, with posties out later, it doesn't really make sense anymore. Just my opinion. Still, there should be an option such as the 9am for time-sensitive next day deliveries at a premium.

[SpacePhoenix]

As I see it, the 1pm deadline comes from a time when most deliveries would be finished by then. Today, with posties out later, it doesn't really make sense anymore. Just my opinion. Still, there should be an option such as the 9am for time-sensitive next day deliveries at a premium.

probably most firms will be shut when a 9am special is attempted

[barcajr]

Most people who receive specials don't care if they're delivered after 1pm

[SpacePhoenix]

Most people who receive specials don't care if they're delivered after 1pm

I wouldn't be surprised if a good few who use SDs only do so because they don't have access to using Tracked

[Dorset Plodder]

I've got a van it doesn't really effect me IF I have to drive to the end of my delivery for a Special, and then drive back. I understand it's more of a problem if you're on foot with a HCT. It was a pain in the ass when we had the bikes!

I believe most Specials nowadays are simply people, or busineses, that want to ensure the letter/packet actually gets there the NEXT day ..... instead of being missorted or streamed out of the "Normal" mail. Gone are the days when Specials were Pasports, Money or something important.

We've still going wingers who spend 15 mins complaining to the DOM that they'll not be able to make it in time. Then Surprise Surprise manage to get back to the Office all done & dusted for 1320!

[ScousePostie]

We were told to start delivering by 1pm again from July 19th, but then we had the 'pingdemic' and DOM said deliver by 1pm if you can.

Obviously not a business wide decision as the Royal Mail website still states that 9am to be delivered by 1pm and 1pm by 4pm.

[Ad_bee]

Maybe someone can politely enquire of Mngmnt why they need to go against RM's stated policy of "by 4PM"?

Maybe there's bonuses involved or something.

I had a our Mngmt try it on a few months ago and gently directed their attention to the actual RM plicy, and another visting manager a few weeks ago who said his office were delivering by an hour earlier than the stated policy which must have added a ton of unecessary stress to his already beleagered workforce.

It would be helpful to understand why they need to 'try it on'....in the middle of a global pandemic FFS.


https://www.royalmail.com/termschanges

Changes to service
Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am

From Thursday 24 December we will reinstate our temporary timed guarantee for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am as follows.

For items posted from Thursday 24 December we will guarantee deliveries by 11.00am* the next working day. As a result, from that date we will not consider a claim for delay or consequential loss as a result of delay for items posted using the Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9.00am service that are delivered between 9.00am and 11.00am the next working day. This includes items where a Saturday guarantee has been purchased.

*existing postcode exceptions apply

Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm

From Thursday 24 December we will reinstate our temporary timed guarantee for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm as follows.

For items posted from Thursday 24 December 2020 onwards we will guarantee deliveries by 4.00pm* the next working day. As a result, from that date we will not consider a claim for delay or consequential loss as a result of delay for items posted using the Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1.00pm service that are delivered between 1.00pm and 4.00pm the next working day. This includes items where a Saturday guarantee has been purchased.

*existing postcode exceptions apply

[Ad_bee]

Just to add, I've heard nothing about this re: my office but if I do, I'll enquire of the greivance dept on the HR service since they were very helpful last time.

[Woody Guthrie]

Nationally nothing has changed yet but apparently it's imminent.

Local managers are talking s**t but what's new?