Safe Drops Could Become Big Problem For Royal Mail

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Feb 2008, 15:48

http://www.hellmail.co.uk/postalnews/te ... 6&zoneid=3

The issue surrounding the security of so called 'safe drops' across Britain, where pouches of mail are left at predetermined locations for postmen and postwomen to collect could resurface again.

As more Post Offices are closed across the UK, the good will of hoteliers and local newsagents will be relied upon more than ever but as one postal worker said:

"We seem to be shooting ourselves in the foot on this one. Some newsagents which used to be Post Offices, are understandably refusing to accept delivery pouches now. When they were Post Offices, they actually got paid for taking them in, storing, and keeping an eye on them, now they are private, they get nothing, apart from in some areas a thank you note at Christmas. Royal Mail really hasn't considered this. All these closures, plus the problems involved with getting pouch boxes fitted will leave us short of secure safe drops."

"Safe Drops" were last year highlighted on Trevor McDonald's current affairs program on ITV and with the reality of opportunists stealing mail from bicycles and other locations, the long term safety of Britain's mail is likely to become a serious one.

Royal Mail has made extensive cut backs over recent months, extending the routes of delivery workers by taking out some postal rounds and adding them to others. With weight restrictions on the amount of mail that can be carried in a mail pouch, safe drops are becoming more important than ever.

Â© Hellmail.co.uk (04 February 2008)

Post by **POSTMAN** » 04 Feb 2008, 16:36

Well i suggest they do some research before putting up an article like that!!
Anyone who does a safe drop gets payed for it,there are a few round my way,that includes private houses,shops and yes Post Offices.
Lazy arse journalism,but at least the spelling mistakes are getting better!!!

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 04 Feb 2008, 16:43

In my DO we only use pouch boxes and if I need extra bags I just arrange for them to be dropped out to me by a driver

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 04 Feb 2008, 16:48

Depends where you are in the country. Some areas are better than others. All our walks have been extended and I wouldn't say our drops are safe by any means.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » 04 Feb 2008, 17:53

Our "safe" drops don't receive anything, not even a book of stamps at Christmas.

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 04 Feb 2008, 18:25

A lot don't. I know of three safe drops that have ceased to exist in more recent months because they were fed up doing it for nothing. Understandable really. Hardly lazy journalism - makes a very valid point and good that someone has. All our walks are being extended and its a struggle sometimes trying to find new spots to leave pouches or bags.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Feb 2008, 18:27

I am pretty suer that ours get Â£100 a year.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 04 Feb 2008, 19:47

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:I am pretty sure that ours get Â£100 a year.

I can tell you it is thirty pound's top in our area but if it is a tso it's 50p yes 50p per bag they ask me how many bag's i say 1-2 they say 3,4,5,6 i dont give a sh*t any more!.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 04 Feb 2008, 20:47

If you are a registered 'Safe drop' you are entitled to payments,saying RM does not pay it now IS lazy journalism.
I know of 3 off the top of my head round my way who get it.
One criticism of it is at times RM take a while to pay as we all know how RM can do things.

Hey,i'm as pissed with RM as the next person with the goings on,but for 2 bob journalism to state something that is clearly wrong aint right.
We're the 1st to critise RM when they screw up and rightly so,but when total bollox is written we've also pulled the journos up as well,and that includes the nationals.
There's many an article on here that is total bull,this one is just one of them.

Night Tonic · Post by **Night Tonic** » 04 Feb 2008, 20:51

No getting away from fact that as Post Offices close, there are less safe drops and on big walks (like many of us are on now), we need more and more of them...

dubdaz · Post by **dubdaz** » 04 Feb 2008, 21:50

Night Tonic wrote:No getting away from fact that as Post Offices close, there are less safe drops and on big walks (like many of us are on now), we need more and more of them...

We aint gonna get them,timed meet bags is the way forward(saves our jobs

).Tell your screws you cant find anyone willing to help out royal mail with bag drops coz of management reducing the quality of service they get.
This jobs been run on the good will of us and the public for decades,you can see the panic and realisation in the eyes off the screws in our place,their the ones who some how have to make these changes work,and deep down they know it aint gonna happen.I think Leighton and Dozier expect mass resignations from us posties,but I'd bet money on our screws cracking first (my line manager has looked suicidal since the strikes).

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 04 Feb 2008, 22:21

dubdaz wrote:
Night Tonic wrote:No getting away from fact that as Post Offices close, there are less safe drops and on big walks (like many of us are on now), we need more and more of them...
We aint gonna get them,timed meet bags is the way forward(saves our jobs ).Tell your screws you cant find anyone willing to help out royal mail with bag drops coz of management reducing the quality of service they get.
This jobs been run on the good will of us and the public for decades,you can see the panic and realisation in the eyes off the screws in our place,their the ones who some how have to make these changes work,and deep down they know it aint gonna happen.I think Leighton and Dozier expect mass resignations from us posties,but I'd bet money on our screws cracking first (my line manager has looked suicidal since the strikes).

"Timed meet bags" - how is that going to work ? Can any of us predict realistically what time we're going to get to a particular point on our walk ? And is Royal Mail going to buy us all watches ?

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 04 Feb 2008, 22:23

Royal Mail have had their heads in the sand about safe drops and calling office space for years.

Why is this?

1. Senior Mgmt in RM are insulated from knowing about this. I am not talking about Operations, but those with financial clout, and possibly even the likes of Crozier etc...
2. Local level mgmt spend their time fire-fighting, and cost-cutting

Results
Most of the time RM get away with the safe drops, because you posties make do and mend, the people who host them just do it, public are oblivious. When someone does find out it gets some press coverage, people get bored and the cycle continues
Timed drop offs just won't work, unless improved I.T or communications equipment is used. My suggestion is more pressure on local councils to create more drop-off points, or work with third parties to offer larger drop-points. This could work if some walks were re-designed and more bulk volume mail is delivered by vehicle.

They also need to really work out some way of expanding calling offices for packets and parcels. Its a disgrace that is getting worse

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 04 Feb 2008, 22:32

We've just had our CO expanded, tho they have given us no extra shelving, there is no flooring in the new area just concrete, we needed to expand as we could'nt move in the original space.

H & S rep was'nt too happy with our previous working environment, to be honest we were'nt either.

F0zziebear · Post by **F0zziebear** » 05 Feb 2008, 08:34

I remember one particular DO when I was in what I thought was a priviledged position. It took me nearly a year to get work done. The work that was done was amateurish at best. For example they painted over the dust! They then proceeded to replace what had been there with inferior materials. It was a disgrace and they charged us an arm and a leg.

Something serious needs to be done and done differently.

I'm sure the builders have been on rogue trader since, but not wanting to advertise TV programmes I will stop here. The pictures above say it all. One are aof the business that is expanding and where RM can under-cut competitors and they are fluffing their lines badly.

ROYALMAILCHAT

Safe Drops Could Become Big Problem For Royal Mail

Safe Drops Could Become Big Problem For Royal Mail

COBBLERS!!!

re: Heads in sand

re: Remember one DO