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Rude customers

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
chickenwittle
Posts: 2092
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Rude customers

Post by chickenwittle »

Is it just me or are the public more rude and unappreciative than ever ?We have worked non stop through a pandemic for 2 years yet a thank you for delivering a parcel is to much to ask for from a lot of customers.When I knock on someones door , I often say morning, parcel for you and am often met with a blank stare and silence and their front door quickly closing . I often make a point now of sarcasticly saying thank you postman as they close their door .I know it’s probably a little thing to most but it has really started to annoy me more and more the longer I do the job .
donein
Posts: 136
Joined: 10 Sep 2007, 10:53
Location: north devon

Re: Rude customers

Post by donein »

to be honest cannot say i blame them the service has declined rapidly in the last six moths due to penny pinching frames being left untouched for days pkts take priority over letters which have been paid for up front total disregard for customers just my opinion you understand shame such a good service when i first started only 17 years ago taken in the office if a letter was left in frame sigh :arrrghhh
chickenwittle
Posts: 2092
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by chickenwittle »

donein wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 14:42
to be honest cannot say i blame them the service has declined rapidly in the last six moths due to penny pinching frames being left untouched for days pkts take priority over letters which have been paid for up front total disregard for customers just my opinion you understand shame such a good service when i first started only 17 years ago taken in the office if a letter was left in frame sigh :arrrghhh
I take your point about the service but I don’t honestly think that’s got anything to do with it , I think it’s just bad manners and no self awareness .
yellowbelly
Posts: 3715
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 15:51
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by yellowbelly »

chickenwittle wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 15:29
donein wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 14:42
to be honest cannot say i blame them the service has declined rapidly in the last six moths due to penny pinching frames being left untouched for days pkts take priority over letters which have been paid for up front total disregard for customers just my opinion you understand shame such a good service when i first started only 17 years ago taken in the office if a letter was left in frame sigh :arrrghhh
I take your point about the service but I don’t honestly think that’s got anything to do with it , I think it’s just bad manners and no self awareness .
I find that those of a certain age who remember two deliveries a day and still say 'Morning Postie' when you're
delivering at 1530 who are most appreciative.

Those who just want their 'stuff' don't care who delivers it - you're just another courier to them and to them it's your job, get
on with it, don't expect any thanks, they've got to get back to their phone to buy more 'essential' stuff!! Still - keeps us in
a job I suppose.......
chickenwittle
Posts: 2092
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by chickenwittle »

yellowbelly wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 15:43
chickenwittle wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 15:29
donein wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 14:42
to be honest cannot say i blame them the service has declined rapidly in the last six moths due to penny pinching frames being left untouched for days pkts take priority over letters which have been paid for up front total disregard for customers just my opinion you understand shame such a good service when i first started only 17 years ago taken in the office if a letter was left in frame sigh :arrrghhh
I take your point about the service but I don’t honestly think that’s got anything to do with it , I think it’s just bad manners and no self awareness .
I find that those of a certain age who remember two deliveries a day and still say 'Morning Postie' when you're
delivering at 1530 who are most appreciative.

Those who just want their 'stuff' don't care who delivers it - you're just another courier to them and to them it's your job, get
on with it, don't expect any thanks, they've got to get back to their phone to buy more 'essential' stuff!! Still - keeps us in
a job I suppose.......
Yes I think that’s more accurate, still bad manners not to at least say thank you but maybe I’m old school or was just raised properly.
Kenfandango
Posts: 694
Joined: 19 Oct 2021, 16:40
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by Kenfandango »

I've had a few really appreciative people but largely they take the packet and go. That's not rude to me, the ones who march up to you on a different loop demanding to know where their packets are, those are the rude ones. Or opening the door and saying "you took your time, I saw you down the road hours ago." Yeah then I had to drive to another loop to deliver a 1pm special to someone who wasn't even in, and decided I may as well deliver that loop while I'm there
no1postie
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 129
Joined: 16 Jan 2011, 14:48
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by no1postie »

we all come across rude customers from time to time. we never forget them years on !
it feels like we live in a different time zone, as we rush from start to finish, when the old boy is pottering out back and says "morning postie" and you have to wait for him to get to you (obliged not to stuff it in box and go) same when old lady comes to door, looks startled and takes forever to hold her hand out and you want to drop it on the mat, but good manners are hard wired into us. thanks for reading my mini rant, i could go on!
Last edited by no1postie on 10 Jan 2022, 10:12, edited 1 time in total.
rambo1
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 3266
Joined: 12 Jun 2013, 20:00
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by rambo1 »

yellowbelly wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 15:43
chickenwittle wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 15:29
donein wrote:
09 Jan 2022, 14:42
to be honest cannot say i blame them the service has declined rapidly in the last six moths due to penny pinching frames being left untouched for days pkts take priority over letters which have been paid for up front total disregard for customers just my opinion you understand shame such a good service when i first started only 17 years ago taken in the office if a letter was left in frame sigh :arrrghhh
I take your point about the service but I don’t honestly think that’s got anything to do with it , I think it’s just bad manners and no self awareness .
I find that those of a certain age who remember two deliveries a day and still say 'Morning Postie' when you're
delivering at 1530 who are most appreciative.

Those who just want their 'stuff' don't care who delivers it - you're just another courier to them and to them it's your job, get
on with it, don't expect any thanks, they've got to get back to their phone to buy more 'essential' stuff!! Still - keeps us in
a job I suppose.......
rambo1
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 3266
Joined: 12 Jun 2013, 20:00
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by rambo1 »

It's probably the same rude people who would give a tip at a restaurant to keep their ego intact amongst their friends. Yet they can't even raise a smile or a thanks when they snatch the parcel off you.
Norfolk 'N' Chance
Posts: 231
Joined: 25 Aug 2021, 18:15
Gender: Male
Location: In the Stix

Re: Rude customers

Post by Norfolk 'N' Chance »

A few times when Ive been out with the Foxes and Vampires in that post 9pm twilight zone, doing rurals by torchlight Ive had a few moans from grumpy customers. Some beamoaning the time... fair enough but if Route Optimisation had their delivery at 98 and its 9.15pm then I cant do much about it tbh.

Others have moaned about the torchlight im shining in an effort to read the often non existent/overgrown, or so worn out house number/name that its ilegible. When they shout and moan, I chuckle as it reminds me of Bill Pertwee (Hodges) from Dads Army "Put that light out" - Im sure some of them think we do this for fun!
Regal
Posts: 132
Joined: 03 Nov 2007, 13:34
Gender: Male
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Rude customers

Post by Regal »

They have lost their Humanity, im sure of it! Lot if odd balls out there :chuckle :chuckle
Prefer rurals as people are generally more friendly
Tomorrow Never Knows
Foxel
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 514
Joined: 04 Oct 2021, 21:20
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by Foxel »

Recently I've found old people, young adults and children saying please and thank you. But there have been a fair few middle-aged people giving no verbal signal at all. Just take it and close the door. I always say "You're welcome".
I'm turning purple!
twoloops
Posts: 2031
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

Re: Rude customers

Post by twoloops »

I no longer have much interaction with customers, the parcel is left @ the door, loud bash with PDA & I’m halfway up the drive or moving to the next house when I hear the door open, if I don’t hear the door, I’m back with my 739, if they answer while I’m writing it, I have the odd time used “Thank you for opening your door” they most likely think because we are posties, we are a bit simple or thick, which in most cases they are probably right :crazy:
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12152
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: Rude customers

Post by SpacePhoenix »

twoloops wrote:
10 Jan 2022, 04:48
I no longer have much interaction with customers, the parcel is left @ the door, loud bash with PDA & I’m halfway up the drive or moving to the next house when I hear the door open, if I don’t hear the door, I’m back with my 739, if they answer while I’m writing it, I have the odd time used “Thank you for opening your door” they most likely think because we are posties, we are a bit simple or thick, which in most cases they are probably right :crazy:
Probably a bad idea. The DOMs, LM and IB are bound to do random checks, if they see you doing that they might do you for doorstepping mail
NWpostie
Posts: 3615
Joined: 04 Aug 2007, 17:32
Gender: Male
Location: Sector 001 Borg Collective, 6 o f 9

Re: Rude customers

Post by NWpostie »

It's a generational thing, smartphones have detached them from normal social manners, the times I've tried talking to people only to find them half listening while looking at their phones, I tend to just stop talking until they take notice of me and I would point out how rude and disrespectful it is.


Just give them the parcel or leave a 739, just don't do any favours as you won't get any thanks for it, life is too short, I'm just a wage slave and I'm only here for the pay cheque until I retire.
Six of Nine loves Seven of Nine, together in Electric Dreams.