Safe place is confusing

[In The Know]

Normal tracked you can leave in a safe place ie neighbour, in a cubby hole etc. Signed for tracked you have no option but to click delivered even if you've left it with a neighbour. It hasn't technically been delivered to the recipient has it? Ok, you leave a card at the recipient's house to tell them where the item is, but, they get an email/text telling them that their item has been delivered and signed for by Joe Bloggs. RM need to address this.

[korky]

its fine to leave tracked signed for or normal recorded with neighbours unless they have a faded "do not deliver to neighbours" sticker
i usually add #22 or whatever number house took it to the pda.

internationals inc the 99p plugs from china and specials cant be though

[Surreypostie]

Signed for tracked can also be delivered and signed for by a neighbour. You just fill in the 739 to notify them that you have left it there. As far as safeplaces go, I had one that said leave on a step, no way. If I can plonk it on a step, anyone can come along and pick it up. Not happening.

[dave72]

I never leave to sign for letters with a neighbour, you never know if they actually do want it (debt chasing letter etc)

I only leave Tracked signed for if the neighbour comes out and says they will take it, never go and ask. Some people are nervous signing for other peoples stuff

The rest, what ever it says on the parcel or with a neighbour

[motherhubbard]

Signed for tracked you have no option but to click delivered even if you've left it with a neighbour.

You have the option of "Safeplace"

[dave72]

Signed for tracked you have no option but to click delivered even if you've left it with a neighbour.

You have the option of "Safeplace"

Doesn't allow it on signed for stuff

[Hez]

The Safeplace parcel delivery procedure is totally unclear as to what's specifically accepted as such. You get parcels saying only the word SAFEPLACE without any usable designated location (e.g- put in shed then snap padlock). ~The P739 has a tick box for it. If it's not lockable/secure, it gives access to other couriers ( or thieves) to take the item you've left. Competitors do loads of collections/returns anyway, so it wouldn't look suspicious to neighbours.So are you expected to decide for yourself where the customer or e-commerce firm is talking about ?? Out of sight; in wooden box;behind plant; in cupboard should all be ignored, even if there's a tip promised. You're possibly open to an accusation of having "lost"an item-could be big implications for your postal career !! Is there a system where customers have declared an official Safeplace to us ?? Don't think so ! Needs clarification from on high ! Very grey area.

[Postie45]

spot on Hez, in the end its up to the Postie, if items do go missing it is YOUR responsibility, so if things do go missing its your fault

[bostaph]

Agree with the 2 posts above.
Royal Mail and our customers want us to take the risks. It's our job that's at stake. I work in a D.O where the management team would go out of their way to 'do' an employee.
Customers are only concerned that they have to travel to pick up from enquiry office. They would be straight on the phone to RM complaining if their item went missing.

[Postie45]

Agree with the 2 posts above.
Royal Mail and our customers want us to take the risks. It's our job that's at stake. I work in a D.O where the management team would go out of their way to 'do' an employee.
Customers are only concerned that they have to travel to pick up from enquiry office. They would be straight on the phone to RM complaining if their item went missing.

and some customers see things being left in a "safe place" as a chance to claim they didnt receive the item and get a freebie

[bogstandard]

end state, item goes missing or is stolen.
clearly then not left in a "safeplace".
your decision making abilities are now called into question at the very least, at the worst your honesty and integrity.
I have to agree with previous posting there really does need to be some clarity on this. Either a designated safeplace request form or the like which would be visually confirmed and photographs taken by RM on acceptance that the safeplace is actually safe or is out of sight of the passing public or other such wording, also the new PDA's camera facility utilised by postie every time safeplace is used to show maintainance or deterioration. This would ensure homeowner maintains the safeplace, if they fail RM would have photographic evidence and would need to review the site of the safeplace with the customer as a matter of urgency. Until this was resolved the safeplace could no longer be used.

just a thought, any other ideas????

[TrueBlueTerrier]

SAFEPLACE without any usable designated location

Sorry, but I don't find it confusing:

If there is no designated safe place, or the box is blank, then I don't leave it in a safe place. I try neighbours or form leave it.

[In The Know]

How about recorded deliveries? Neighbour signs for recorded parcel, recipient checks on-line to see where it is and it's been delivered and Joe Bloggs has signed for it. Although it's in a safe place there is no option to tell the person it is in a safe place, but that it has been delivered!

Also, people are getting sick of taking in parcels for neighbours now. Not again is the usual reply and leaving you feeling slightly embarrassed.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

How about recorded deliveries? Neighbour signs for recorded parcel, recipient checks on-line to see where it is and it's been delivered and Joe Bloggs has signed for it. Although it's in a safe place there is no option to tell the person it is in a safe place, but that it has been delivered!

if you mean as you scan it - I agree RMs system are very outdated and even some of the tracking status that do appear are confusing for us, never mind Joe Public. But when they get home they will get the form left that tells them where, pity we can't do it as a tracking statues though.

Also, people are getting sick of taking in parcels for neighbours now. Not again is the usual reply and leaving you feeling slightly embarrassed.

yes.

[masterblaster]

end state, item goes missing or is stolen.
clearly then not left in a "safeplace".
your decision making abilities are now called into question at the very least, at the worst your honesty and integrity.
I have to agree with previous posting there really does need to be some clarity on this. Either a designated safeplace request form or the like which would be visually confirmed and photographs taken by RM on acceptance that the safeplace is actually safe or is out of sight of the passing public or other such wording, also the new PDA's camera facility utilised by postie every time safeplace is used to show maintainance or deterioration. This would ensure homeowner maintains the safeplace, if they fail RM would have photographic evidence and would need to review the site of the safeplace with the customer as a matter of urgency. Until this was resolved the safeplace could no longer be used.

just a thought, any other ideas????

Nowhere is a place unless you can drop a Yale type latch and lock it. Even taking a picture is totally pointless, the accusation could be you took the photo, then took the parcel away.