URGENT! Sunday parcel delivery clarification

[makingsounds]

A colleague is facing dismissal for alleged 'Intentional Delay' of the mail on a Sunday where he brought back a number of parcels scanned as either no answer, inaccessible or incomplete address which the business are obviously disputing.

Although the parcels scanned as incomplete address appear to have 'no issues' with how the address appears on the parcel itself, the PDA was showing something different, which is what he is saying he followed as that is what he has always done and never been pulled up for it before.

The deliveries he does on a Sunday differ from the usual delivery he does during the week so he relies entirely on the manifest on the PDA, which he says differed from what was on some parcels. Not sure if this is a defence or not?

Any info on Sunday delivery issue or processes would be helpful.

[BenacreNick]

I would think your colleague would be "reminded of his/her responsibilities" and given "additional PDA training" to eradicate this in the future.

Dismissal seems unlikely given the effort to recruit and train your colleague in the first place. We all make mistakes, we learn and we move on from them.

The Sunday manifest may be different on the PDA, but the address on the parcel is the crucial element here.

[ted_e_bear]

I've no experience whatsoever of the RM parcel delivery thingy you can use on the PDA but I do know that the QR code contains whatever the address label says so not too sure about that, there's people on here that are dpr drivers that use it everyday so hopefully someone will come along and comment.

[Smoothbackground]

As Ted says above, the PDA manifest, if done right, will match exactly the addresses printed on the labels and contained in the QR code. The label address is always the definitive address (unless a re-di or Deliver to Local Collect label has been applied).

[TopperGas]

As Ted says above, the PDA manifest, if done right, will match exactly the addresses printed on the labels and contained in the QR code. The label address is always the definitive address (unless a re-di or Deliver to Local Collect label has been applied).

The QR code often brings up a number of addresses on the same road, not the exact address, although usually it's easy to identify the correct address in order to match it to the one on the parcel, it looks to me the driver has just been caught out by the management.

[Darwin]

The way sunday parcels are scanned out before delivery has changed over the past few weeks due to the phasing out of RON. There is a new system coming in, but i was told that won't happen until march. So in the meantime your still using RON to navigate you to the correct addess, if you know the area then you dont need RON navigation but if you don't know the area you need to rely on this. RON is so out of date on the routes I do ( which I know really well ) if I try to use navigation it will tell me to turn left up a particular rd that had bollards installed on it over 10 years ago so the address can't be accessed this way. Add on all the new build addresses it can't find makes it useless if you don't know the route.

[Barnacle]

A colleague is facing dismissal for alleged 'Intentional Delay' of the mail on a Sunday where he brought back a number of parcels scanned as either no answer, inaccessible or incomplete address which the business are obviously disputing.

Although the parcels scanned as incomplete address appear to have 'no issues' with how the address appears on the parcel itself, the PDA was showing something different, which is what he is saying he followed as that is what he has always done and never been pulled up for it before.

The deliveries he does on a Sunday differ from the usual delivery he does during the week so he relies entirely on the manifest on the PDA, which he says differed from what was on some parcels. Not sure if this is a defence or not?

Any info on Sunday delivery issue or processes would be helpful.

They should not be dismissed for this. If you can’t deliver something you can’t deliver something, simple as. The PDA does not have every single option on it as a reason why you couldn’t deliver. So you use inaccessible or address incomplete as a standby if that’s all you can pick.

The manager should handle this with the customer and that will be the end of it.

If they want you to select something else on the PDA if you can’t deliver something, they need to tell you this, not make it a mystery.

[Basildon Bond]

As Ted says above, the PDA manifest, if done right, will match exactly the addresses printed on the labels and contained in the QR code. The label address is always the definitive address (unless a re-di or Deliver to Local Collect label has been applied).

Just a minor point: Royal Mail doesn't use "QR codes". Any scannable item has a 1D or 2D barcode (one dimensional vs. two dimensional). Some internationals etc. have just a 1D barcode. Most not-tracked UK parcels have just a 2D barcode. Tracked 24 and 48 mostly have both - though you can get UK tracked that only have a 2D barcode. Anyway, it's just being picky - sorry but a few have used the term "QR code" and it's not true.

Anyway...

A colleague is facing dismissal for alleged 'Intentional Delay' of the mail on a Sunday where he brought back a number of parcels scanned as either no answer, inaccessible or incomplete address which the business are obviously disputing.

Although the parcels scanned as incomplete address appear to have 'no issues' with how the address appears on the parcel itself, the PDA was showing something different, which is what he is saying he followed as that is what he has always done and never been pulled up for it before.

The deliveries he does on a Sunday differ from the usual delivery he does during the week so he relies entirely on the manifest on the PDA, which he says differed from what was on some parcels. Not sure if this is a defence or not?

Any info on Sunday delivery issue or processes would be helpful.

I've got photographic proof from an issue that occurred October 20th. I scanned a Tracked 24 item during the morning. I saw the address before scanning it, recognised it - I know exactly where it is and the colour of the front door. However, when I scanned it into the RON system...the address was NOT what was shown on label. I was not a case of me accidentally picking from a list the wrong number or another address in the same postcode - there was no list (as I recall). No, the address that came up was in a postcode sector I do not cover as part of my current DO and isn't covered in any nearby DO I have ever worked for in the past.

I think this was an IT glitch (Horizon IT scandal anyone?) that cause the problem. It screwed the RON ordering right up because RON had me disappearing off for a 45 minute drive (there) and 45 minute drive back so it factored in that massive detour.

[Smoothbackground]

As Ted says above, the PDA manifest, if done right, will match exactly the addresses printed on the labels and contained in the QR code. The label address is always the definitive address (unless a re-di or Deliver to Local Collect label has been applied).

Just a minor point: Royal Mail doesn't use "QR codes". Any scannable item has a 1D or 2D barcode (one dimensional vs. two dimensional). Some internationals etc. have just a 1D barcode. Most not-tracked UK parcels have just a 2D barcode. Tracked 24 and 48 mostly have both - though you can get UK tracked that only have a 2D barcode. Anyway, it's just being picky - sorry but a few have used the term "QR code" and it's not true.

Anyway...

A colleague is facing dismissal for alleged 'Intentional Delay' of the mail on a Sunday where he brought back a number of parcels scanned as either no answer, inaccessible or incomplete address which the business are obviously disputing.

Although the parcels scanned as incomplete address appear to have 'no issues' with how the address appears on the parcel itself, the PDA was showing something different, which is what he is saying he followed as that is what he has always done and never been pulled up for it before.

The deliveries he does on a Sunday differ from the usual delivery he does during the week so he relies entirely on the manifest on the PDA, which he says differed from what was on some parcels. Not sure if this is a defence or not?

Any info on Sunday delivery issue or processes would be helpful.

I've got photographic proof from an issue that occurred October 20th. I scanned a Tracked 24 item during the morning. I saw the address before scanning it, recognised it - I know exactly where it is and the colour of the front door. However, when I scanned it into the RON system...the address was NOT what was shown on label. I was not a case of me accidentally picking from a list the wrong number or another address in the same postcode - there was no list (as I recall). No, the address that came up was in a postcode sector I do not cover as part of my current DO and isn't covered in any nearby DO I have ever worked for in the past.

I think this was an IT glitch (Horizon IT scandal anyone?) that cause the problem. It screwed the RON ordering right up because RON had me disappearing off for a 45 minute drive (there) and 45 minute drive back so it factored in that massive detour.

You are 100% right, it is technically a 2D barcode, not a QR code, though do forgive me if I continue to refer to it as a QR code as I get muddled in my head by 1D and 2D when it comes to barcodes!

Probably one in 10 items contain incorrect or incomplete address data in the 2D barcode. When you scan stuff into RON (now Ad Hoc Route) you need to check and overwrite the pre-populated address info as appropriate - using the postcode field and looking up the delivery point. Manually overwriting it and hitting save in RON (now not used, of course, since October) should have brought up the entire address in capital letters, possibly also with an exclamation mark, showing the DP hasn’t been matched . That bit is the responsibility of whoever is scanning up the route. I scan my own work up so have the luxury of ensuring it’s right before finalising the route, though I appreciate others may just be given a york of parcels already numbered up and a route number.

Regardless of who scans it up or what address is shown in RON, imho the postie delivering bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring it’s delivered to the right address as shown on the label (not the address in RON).

[ted_e_bear]

I know it really doesn't matter but....

A QR code, or Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone's camera to access information:

What they look like
QR codes are square-shaped grids of black and white pixels. They can also have unique patterns, colors, and logos.

What they contain
QR codes can store links, coupons, event details, contact information, and more.

How to scan them
Most smartphones have a built-in QR code reader, or you can download one from the app store.

So yes they are QR codes, a QR code is a 2d barcode.

[Basildon Bond]

I know it really doesn't matter but....

A QR code, or Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone's camera to access information:

What they look like
QR codes are square-shaped grids of black and white pixels. They can also have unique patterns, colors, and logos.

What they contain
QR codes can store links, coupons, event details, contact information, and more.

How to scan them
Most smartphones have a built-in QR code reader, or you can download one from the app store.

So yes they are QR codes, a QR code is a 2d barcode.

Sorry, but they are not the same I'm afraid. QR codes are easily identifiable with their big squares in three corners. This explains what the differences are ...

https://qrcodedynamic.com/blog/qr-code-vs-barcode/

[ted_e_bear]

I know it really doesn't matter but....

A QR code, or Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone's camera to access information:

What they look like
QR codes are square-shaped grids of black and white pixels. They can also have unique patterns, colors, and logos.

What they contain
QR codes can store links, coupons, event details, contact information, and more.

How to scan them
Most smartphones have a built-in QR code reader, or you can download one from the app store.

So yes they are QR codes, a QR code is a 2d barcode.

Sorry, but they are not the same I'm afraid. QR codes are easily identifiable with their big squares in three corners. This explains what the differences are ...

https://qrcodedynamic.com/blog/qr-code-vs-barcode/

Ah yes sorry I stand corrected, a QR isn't exactly the same although it is a 2d barcode, however as I said for the purposes of this post regarding delivery of parcels it really doesn't matter.

[Barnacle]

I know it really doesn't matter but....

A QR code, or Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by a smartphone's camera to access information:

What they look like
QR codes are square-shaped grids of black and white pixels. They can also have unique patterns, colors, and logos.

What they contain
QR codes can store links, coupons, event details, contact information, and more.

How to scan them
Most smartphones have a built-in QR code reader, or you can download one from the app store.

So yes they are QR codes, a QR code is a 2d barcode.

Sorry, but they are not the same I'm afraid. QR codes are easily identifiable with their big squares in three corners. This explains what the differences are ...

https://qrcodedynamic.com/blog/qr-code-vs-barcode/

Ah yes sorry I stand corrected, a QR isn't exactly the same although it is a 2d barcode, however as I said for the purposes of this post regarding delivery of parcels it really doesn't matter.

Do we use Aztec then?

I’m calling them Aztecs from now on

[Basildon Bond]

Do we use Aztec then?

I’m calling them Aztecs from now on

Unfortunately we use the plain old "Data Matrix". Often, where there are more than 24 by 24 modules the code is divided into blocks that do not exceed 24 modules on a side to prevent distortion of the code. Hence you get a solid "crosshairs" running through the 2D barcode. Side-by-side example:

crosshairs.png

It's all totally geeky and really "who cares!?!". I get it. But it's important to understand the differences. Knowledge is power. More power to us all to understand the job and what RM uses.

[Barnacle]

Do we use Aztec then?

I’m calling them Aztecs from now on

Unfortunately we use the plain old "Data Matrix". Often, where there are more than 24 by 24 modules the code is divided into blocks that do not exceed 24 modules on a side to prevent distortion of the code. Hence you get a solid "crosshairs" running through the 2D barcode. Side-by-side example:

crosshairs.png

It's all totally geeky and really "who cares!?!". I get it. But it's important to understand the differences. Knowledge is power. More power to us all to understand the job and what RM uses.

Data Matrix it is then. I love the geeky stuff