Royal Mail best service in the UK

[Broxi51]

Probably worse when/if we get privatised but dont worry, you'll get the chance to pay even more for it.

I think the service just went over the cliff this Christmas. Customers who have solidly supported against privatisation are now feeling we can't go on like this. I supported my postman when his round was extended and it was partly changed back but I don't see anyone prepared to pay back that support by doing their utmost to get stuff moving again at Christmas. It's all one way. You want customers' support, but to hell with their Xmas post.

The service can't get worse than it has been this last month. So next time you're on your own.

Do you really believe that the f**k up was because of postmen/postwomen?

There wont be a service when we get privatised. The shareholder isnt there to make a loss and when they cant just push
the price of stamps up then they will make bigger cuts to jobs which will impact on deliveries & collections.
Look at British gas. What joy have we joe public received from this company losing its monopoly and being privatised?

[ChasPost]

Probably worse when/if we get privatised but dont worry, you'll get the chance to pay even more for it.

I think the service just went over the cliff this Christmas. Customers who have solidly supported against privatisation are now feeling we can't go on like this. I supported my postman when his round was extended and it was partly changed back but I don't see anyone prepared to pay back that support by doing their utmost to get stuff moving again at Christmas. It's all one way. You want customers' support, but to hell with their Xmas post.

The service can't get worse than it has been this last month. So next time you're on your own.

I couldn't agree more, Christmas should have been a bumper time, now a loss. I have been in mail order for nearly 30 years and haven't experienced anything like this. Where do I go from here is the only thing I keep asking myself?.

Perhaps if Royal Mail drive me out of business, I will have more time, so Royal Mail staff, if you need any support on your picket lines or demonstrations to keep your jobs and pensions, just get in touch., ...I'll give you all the help I can.............

[fishtank]

The biggest problem you will have is that "one price goes anywhere" is not sustainable for a private company.
It may be that the Government enforce this with the letters business but they certainly won't on parcel deliveries when other private carriers can already use zonal pricing.
This will have a dramatic effect on internet driven business.

[ChasPost]

The biggest problem you will have is that "one price goes anywhere" is not sustainable for a private company.
It may be that the Government enforce this with the letters business but they certainly won't on parcel deliveries when other private carriers can already use zonal pricing.
This will have a dramatic effect on internet driven business.

This may be, I am paying at the moment with the value of my business, so I can't pay any more. I am not so certain of your comments regarding the effect of higher mailing costs on Internet Business, it will certainly change it. Online sales is comparatively new in its present form and very fluid, there will be losses and gains, but IMO higher costs are a lesser deterrent than an unpredictable service.

Royal Mail is a very old industry, standards decided before even the car, times have changed through the door deliveries have only a limited life left. I can see that internet products will not be home delivered, but will be picked up at a depot, Argos or similar, the mess experienced this year won't carry on for long or none of us will have businesses some company will see this as an opportunity and fill the delivery void.

[fishtank]

I can see that internet products will not be home delivered, but will be picked up at a depot, Argos or similar, the mess experienced this year won't carry on for long or none of us will have businesses some company will see this as an opportunity and fill the delivery void.

It's possible..and it has certainly been trialled with varying degrees of success in other countries but our experience in this country is that the public are not ready for this product...you only need to ask the staff that work in our callers offices...the public do not like to travel to pick up "internet shopping"...i think they see it as pointless unless it is a niche market that is difficult to resource elsewhere.
That may change in the future...it may not.

If it does there is no one better placed in the market than Royal Mail who already have the infrastructure in place.
Do they have the management structure in place though?....that's a different question.

[ChasPost]

Probably worse when/if we get privatised but dont worry, you'll get the chance to pay even more for it.

I think the service just went over the cliff this Christmas. Customers who have solidly supported against privatisation are now feeling we can't go on like this. I supported my postman when his round was extended and it was partly changed back but I don't see anyone prepared to pay back that support by doing their utmost to get stuff moving again at Christmas. It's all one way. You want customers' support, but to hell with their Xmas post.

The service can't get worse than it has been this last month. So next time you're on your own.

I couldn't agree more, Christmas should have been a bumper time, now a loss. I have been in mail order for nearly 30 years and haven't experienced anything like this. Where do I go from here is the only thing I keep asking myself?.

Perhaps if Royal Mail drive me out of business, I will have more time, so Royal Mail staff, if you need any support on your picket lines or demonstrations to keep your jobs and pensions, just get in touch., ...I'll give you all the help I can.............

You are right, I'm sure, I'm just gripey over Christmas.
I am of the feeling that the issues that I have are slightly to national Royal Mail and centre more around the outgoing sorting office, Newtown, possible know as Aston Birmingham, don't know if you know the office, do they have issues there??

[endreas]

. The new walks are far too long and the deadlines we have to meet are impossible. At least us posties care about the customers. Let's hope we can sort things out and make the postal service great again.

I think it might be certain postmen are giving certain streets, cul de sacs a lower service on some days so that they finish their shift on time. After the abysmal service we have witnessed these last three weeks the RM should try and get back customer confidence by checking up on what happens on the rounds with the most complaints. Also, those postmen who are doing a great job should fess up on the colleagues who have no intention of pulling their weight. After all it is the furtire of the RM and their jobs are being put at stake.

[DGP1]

. The new walks are far too long and the deadlines we have to meet are impossible. At least us posties care about the customers. Let's hope we can sort things out and make the postal service great again.

I think it might be certain postmen are giving certain streets, cul de sacs a lower service on some days so that they finish their shift on time. After the abysmal service we have witnessed these last three weeks the RM should try and get back customer confidence by checking up on what happens on the rounds with the most complaints. Also, those postmen who are doing a great job should fess up on the colleagues who have no intention of pulling their weight. After all it is the furtire of the RM and their jobs are being put at stake.

I think you'll find that most posties pull their weight, it's the management that are the ones who don't, they're the ones who screwed up, not us.
Thry directing your anger towards them and Postcom (the Government) but all we do is try to cope with the unreasonable workload and the constant demands of an uncaring and incompetant management.

[wheresmyparcel]

Just as a point of interest, this is what happened in the business I'm in during the same period with the same level of disruption (a PRIVATISED company by the way).

Volunteers on days off immediately called in for work.
A call went out to any others on days off or leave for help. New leave/days off were cancelled
The Emergency planning team went into operation and manned the phones at the dedicated emergency centre.
Managers stopped what they were doing unless directly involved in operations and went out to deal with the customers.
Some managers went out to clear snow with shovels.
Special equipment and staff were hired in.
Customers were processed on a FIRST IN FIRST OUT basis.
Honest and open communication with customers was made a priority.

Was it perfectly handled? No
Did almost everyone work beyond their terms and conditions? Yes
Did the customer feedback show they were appreciative of the extra effort made? Yes
Will they come back and use us again? Yes.
Are jobs safer in the long term because of the willingness of staff to go the extra mile? Most definitely.

Can RM, both staff and management, take a few lessons here? Over to you........

[wheresmyparcel]

Oh! And just one more thing:

Would I rather work for the old Government-owned Corporation where the staff attitude was bad, the service was bad and the customers were angry, or for the privatised company where the staff do what needs to be done, managers only last if they are effective, and most of the customers are happy? I tell you, I really don't want to go back to the old days.

[Stormproof]

and what sort of business are you in wheresmyparcel? is it the communications industry as RM, do the staff have to walk up to 10 miles a day carrying bags between 8-16kg in snow/ice risking personal injury due to roads/paths/driveways not being cleared? From what I've seen the managers in RM avoid the customers at all costs and the customer usually gets told 'they are in a meeting' and to be honest I would'nt trust half the managers to run a bath let alone plan for severe weather.

[Stormproof]

Oh and one more thing..........

If you don't like the way RM is being run why don't you use another firm??

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just as a point of interest, this is what happened in the business I'm in during the same period with the same level of disruption (a PRIVATISED company by the way).

Volunteers on days off immediately called in for work.
A call went out to any others on days off or leave for help. New leave/days off were cancelled
The Emergency planning team went into operation and manned the phones at the dedicated emergency centre.
Managers stopped what they were doing unless directly involved in operations and went out to deal with the customers.
Some managers went out to clear snow with shovels.
Special equipment and staff were hired in.
Customers were processed on a FIRST IN FIRST OUT basis.
Honest and open communication with customers was made a priority.

Was it perfectly handled? No
Did almost everyone work beyond their terms and conditions? Yes
Did the customer feedback show they were appreciative of the extra effort made? Yes
Will they come back and use us again? Yes.
Are jobs safer in the long term because of the willingness of staff to go the extra mile? Most definitely.

Can RM, both staff and management, take a few lessons here? Over to you........

You know its very frustrating that people post opinions get replies then ignore them as it does not fit their agenda. During December I was working 10 - 12 hours days and did not get a day off between 6 - 24 Dec 2010 (including Sundays) and yes I have posted this before and then I and other come on here in what little spare time we have to try and give advice to customers. But you appear to have ignored that because if doesn't fit into your world view. Your not alone though as a few customers are posting opinions and views then ignoring any input and quite frankly its extremely disheartening, frustrating and certainly doesn't make me more likely to do it again.

[DGP1]

Just as a point of interest, this is what happened in the business I'm in during the same period with the same level of disruption (a PRIVATISED company by the way).

Volunteers on days off immediately called in for work. Didn't happen because it would cost too much
A call went out to any others on days off or leave for help. New leave/days off were cancelled . We don't have any leave in December so that can't happen
The Emergency planning team went into operation and manned the phones at the dedicated emergency centre. No, management just used the same resources as where in place before.
Managers stopped what they were doing unless directly involved in operations and went out to deal with the customers. Managers hid in their offices, drinking coffee and 'working' on their computers.
Some managers went out to clear snow with shovels. LOL They'd end up having heart attacks if asked to actually do any labour.
Special equipment and staff were hired in. Costs too much (even though RM have a policy to bring in contractors to clear snow).
Customers were processed on a FIRST IN FIRST OUT basis. Delayed mail has already failed so RM can't be fined for it twice.
Honest and open communication with customers was made a priority. The only communication was by us to customers, the managers (as above) hid in their offices, drinking coffee etc.

Was it perfectly handled? No
Did almost everyone work beyond their terms and conditions? Yes - The posties did, the management didn't (away home hours before many of us got back to the office.
Did the customer feedback show they were appreciative of the extra effort made? Yes - If you mean did where people thankful that I had gone out to deliver their mail/packets in the atrocious weather then yes, they did.
Will they come back and use us again? Yes. Unless they want to use another company to deliver items to them that costs more and is even more unrealiable then yes.
Are jobs safer in the long term because of the willingness of staff to go the extra mile? Most definitely. No, we get treated like crap whether we went to extra mile or not (in fact the management get treated better even though they didn't).

Can RM, both staff and management, take a few lessons here? Over to you........

My answers are in green

[fishtank]

When the snow hit in late November our bin collections were suspended for 2 weeks.
There was no attempt made to deal with the "backlog"..after the snow normal service was resumed and customers were told to take the rubbish to the civic amenity site themselves....i believed that this was ridiculous so i complained.
I didn't,however go looking for "binmenchat" and vent my spleen at the ordinary bin man because i am not an idiot and am aware that this was not down to lazy-arsed bin-men who couldn't be bothered or were afraid of snow.
I knew that this was a management policy so i complained to....management.
I suppose i could have phoned the Daily Mail but their lines were jammed with people complaining about all those lazy-arsed postmen.