This is not true: "Delivery Attempted - No Answer" why not tell the truth?

[pmadley]

Hello, long term lurker, first time poster.

I've been waiting in all day (not complaining to be honest) for a Special Delivery. I saw my regular postie earlier, and another carrying parcels around about midday. Tracking was even vaguer than usual, then suddenly:

"14:57 Delivery Attempted - No Answer Aberystwyth DO"

But that's not true. My home office is right by the door, and also the doorbell cam has no footage.

Just wondering if managers instruct the fine delivery folk to do this.

I appreciate RM are understaffed and overworked, I really do. But I don't understand why the tracking is dishonest. A neighbour had this happen three days in a row (tracking says attempted, but clearly wasn't).

Are you under so much pressure that you're not allowed to say "too busy, couldn't make it"? My neighbour's package ended up back with the sender. So he recommended I have it redirected to the local post office, however that'll be Friday, and I needed the package for tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Didn't want to risk a repeat of an alleged delivery tomorrow.

Makes me wonder what the point of paying for SD is really!

[pmadley]

And a follow up - is there much chance it'll be at the local post office later on tomorrow? That's my only hope at this point!

[BenacreNick]

14:57 would be just after your postperson's finish time, so is it possible the item was scanned by someone in the delivery office instead ?

Also the item wouldn't be at the post office.

[pmadley]

Cheers. I just wonder why they'd put "no answer" when delivery absolutely was not attempted.

I just don't understand why it's been updated to "Delivery Attempted - No Answer" when it wasn't. Is this RM policy now? My neighbour's experience and advice has me worried too.

A postie friend of my folks says they often drop off stuff at the post office when they collect the last post from there. So I'm vaguely hoping if I pop in close to closing, it'll be there. It's a 40th birthday pressie that I was really proud to have thought of, but fear I'm now going to arrive empty handed.

Edit: Just been into the post office and told it's very unlikely I'll be able to collect it late Thurs afternoon. Not impossible. But unlikely. So now I'm wondering if I should try the DO (miles away in a taxi) early tomorrow.

[richietns]

Is it definitely a special delivery item that was sent and not just a tracked item.

[pmadley]

Is it definitely a special delivery item that was sent and not just a tracked item.

It is definitely special delivery, yes.

It's been suggested I try in person at the DO early tomorrow (they're open 8am-10am) to see if I can intercept it.

[richietns]

The SD items do get top priority its unusual for any depot not to prioritize definitely ring your delivery office and ask why it wasn't delivered before 1pm.

[pmadley]

The SD items do get top priority its unusual for any depot not to prioritize definitely ring your delivery office and ask why it wasn't delivered before 1pm.

Thanks for the advice, appreciated.

The DO has a reputation for not answering the phone at all I'm afraid. I've been given the actual number rather than the one on the website by a nice chap in the post office. Vaguely hopeful I can get it tomorrow morning. Thoughts?

[richietns]

The SD items do get top priority its unusual for any depot not to prioritize definitely ring your delivery office and ask why it wasn't delivered before 1pm.

Thanks for the advice, appreciated.

The DO has a reputation for not answering the phone at all I'm afraid. I've been given the actual number rather than the one on the website by a nice chap in the post office. Vaguely hopeful I can get it tomorrow morning. Thoughts?

The earlier you ring the better I would even try 7am there will be staff in.

[pmadley]

The earlier you ring the better I would even try 7am there will be staff in.

Cheers buddy. Yeah the post office chap said they start at 7am but the doors open at 8am.

I'm hoping to get them to send it out again tomorrow rather than redirect. Or me jump in a taxi and get there for when the doors open.

[yellowbelly]

Hello, long term lurker, first time poster.

I've been waiting in all day (not complaining to be honest) for a Special Delivery. I saw my regular postie earlier, and another carrying parcels around about midday. Tracking was even vaguer than usual, then suddenly:

"14:57 Delivery Attempted - No Answer Aberystwyth DO"

But that's not true. My home office is right by the door, and also the doorbell cam has no footage.

Just wondering if managers instruct the fine delivery folk to do this.

I appreciate RM are understaffed and overworked, I really do. But I don't understand why the tracking is dishonest. A neighbour had this happen three days in a row (tracking says attempted, but clearly wasn't).

Are you under so much pressure that you're not allowed to say "too busy, couldn't make it"? My neighbour's package ended up back with the sender. So he recommended I have it redirected to the local post office, however that'll be Friday, and I needed the package for tomorrow (Thursday) evening. Didn't want to risk a repeat of an alleged delivery tomorrow.

Makes me wonder what the point of paying for SD is really!

Did you get a 'red card' through the door? I'm thinking not. If that is the case then there's definitely something amiss.

As you may know Special Deliveries are one of our products that managers INSIST must not fail their delivery specification ie. they must be delivered
for 1pm (although some Special Deliveries now don't have the 1pm specification on them).

Sometimes due to operational circumstance they may fail their 1pm deadline. Then the sender or recipient can put a claim in for the product not meeting it's deadline - a lot of customers (either recipients or the sender) are not too worried about that and never claim - as long as the product arrived. However the manager will see a failed 1pm delivery and should investigate.

If they've done as you said - not reached you at all, you've got a couple of options - try and get the item from DO or PO as you've described in some of the posts and let it go.

Or you can complain officially. If no attempt to deliver the item was made at all, the investigating staff will be required to investigate and will be able to see from GPS data if a postie actually attended your address. If they didn't, the correct scan to make (as you suggest) is 'Delivery not attempted', however this would immediately put the local manager and the postie under scrutiny as to why.

If they didn't attend your address the 'Delivery attempted - no answer' is a cop out basically to hide an error for whatever reason at the local office. Whether the individual postie decided to do that scan or it was under manager's advice is the big question.

[pmadley]

Did you get a 'red card' through the door? I'm thinking not. If that is the case then there's definitely something amiss.

I did not, nope :(

Thanks for the detailed reply, appreciated.

If they've done as you said - not reached you at all, you've got a couple of options - try and get the item from DO or PO as you've described in some of the posts and let it go.

Fingers crossed the DO are of use in the morning. I reeeeeeeeaally want/need it for tomorrow (Thu) evening.

Can the DO cancel my redirect to the Post Office on Friday, and attempt delivery again on Thursday?

Or you can complain officially. If no attempt to deliver the item was made at all, the investigating staff will be required to investigate and will be able to see from GPS data if a postie actually attended your address. If they didn't, the correct scan to make (as you suggest) is 'Delivery not attempted', however this would immediately put the local manager and the postie under scrutiny as to why.

If they didn't attend your address the 'Delivery attempted - no answer' is a cop out basically to hide an error for whatever reason at the local office. Whether the individual postie decided to do that scan or it was under manager's advice is the big question.

I'm not looking to cause trouble for my local posties (who are excellent). So I'm not (at this point) going to cause a fuss...

... but if the DO are unhelpful tomorrow, I may!

[pmadley]

Obviously Aberystwyth DO haven't answered my calls. Called 10 times between 7am and 9am. Bah and indeed humbug!

Edit: Now I'm just confused (see image, sorry it's so huge)

tracking.jpg

[yellowbelly]

Hopefully you'll get it today.

The 'Delivery request received' soon after the 'no answer' one is a bit of a strange one - the local DO can't create that themselves. It's a system generated one that comes from a customers request for a redelivery. Had you by that time been in touch with RM about the item?

Looks like they're trying to get it out to you today.

[pmadley]

I spoke with my regular postie earlier; he says definitely didn't attempt yesterday. He seemed a little offended - I didn't word it properly.

The redirect to Post Office was my dumb idea, but thankfully it's there today - he says it should be if that's what the tracking says. So hopefully I can grab it after work.

Cheers, thanks for all the input and advice folk.