First Week as a Postie : Views

cj_1985 · Post by **cj_1985** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:29

Hi all,
i started in my new position as a Part time postie on tuesday (Training on monday) and got the following views/opinions.

I went in on tuesday and got the tour and all the (what i assume is normal) explanations about what everything is and what you do with the different forms and frames that i hadnt used before.

got stuck in to work anyway splitting plastics and then filling trays with letters and/or flats...

wednesday/thursday/friday i have been out on the street delivering the mail...

now aside from the normal jibes that you expect from kids (F***ing little tossers not at school

) like the "Postman pat" comments nothing too bad... my trainer has been very helpfull and explained about the walk and what you do with the 379s etc...

anyway only problems i have is that i am still without any ID... as im told the Mail Centre shoulcd have dealt with this on my induction/training day... still waiting to find out whats to happen about this...
iv not got any access key to get into the DO and am currently using the entrance to/from the loading platform. but again i expect that to get sorted along with the ID issue.
at the end of the training/induction we were all told we should phone up to order the uniform (ill come back to issues with that later) when i did on the monday i got told "Your not in the system, call back after wednesday" great start... but i finally managed to get that sorted on wednesday afternoon..

with the Uniform issue.. explain this to me...
we start work and get a basic uniform to start us of for the first 6 weeks...
however i dont understand how they can expect us to go out in all weathers with just a fleece jacket...
i mean today i was out and it was chucking it down... and i was lucky i managed to borrow a fleece but its not suitable for rain.

now general gripes about the public...
why does every F***ing door have its letter box at a different height... now i get its a personal choice and that we have a duty to deliver the mail to every door irespective of location of the letter box it just make it a more difficult job, even when the letter box flap doesnt have anythng to grip to lift it in those odd cases.

other than these i have no problems with the job and really enjoy it.. was even more surprised when i got a payslip for this week when i was told i wouldnt get paid till next week... but im not complaining

leiwolf · Post by **leiwolf** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:35

We have all got gripes against any firms we work for, but the important thing to remember is that we are the most of us professionals in our work and that we can hold are heads high.

Welcome to the firm, I would say welcome to hell, but hell a lot friendly then RM*L* Hope you enjoy working with us and just remember to do it by the book, its may take longer but keep ploddings, keep calm and above all have fun doing the job.

cj_1985 · Post by **cj_1985** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:41

like i said i enjoy the job.

and i remember one thing... why has my pay number changed

iv been given different pay number from the number i had when i worked at glasgow mail centre...

leiwolf · Post by **leiwolf** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:44

Talk to your trainer / union rep and they should help you out

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 18 Apr 2008, 19:50

Don't worry too much about the ID, I've been back at RM for 6 years and I've still no ID

postyparker · Post by **postyparker** » 18 Apr 2008, 23:34

I've no ID after 4 months. Never been asked for it and the people who have them 80% don't wear them. That's not my problem though :D

Everyone in my office goes through the loading bay entrance entering or leaving as well, managers included. Very high security my office haha

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » 19 Apr 2008, 12:54

You're right about the letter box sizes and heights though. The ones I hate are the old vertical slot ones that are just slim envelope size. There should be a British Standard!!

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 19 Apr 2008, 12:56

I wonder if you have yet worked out the immutable law of posted items. The smaller and the more awkward a letter box the more mail they get.

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 19 Apr 2008, 14:29

Don't forget height of postbox ie ankle height is worst place to reach. Also lovely/awful dogs waiting to attack/play you for delivering the letters to protect their terrority. ie Guard dogs/terriers breed.

cj_1985 · Post by **cj_1985** » 19 Apr 2008, 15:35

that also makes me wonder...

what is it about this job and dogs...

is it just some quirk of fate that we are all (or most of us are) afraid of dogs... (or that we just hate them)

or is it part of the job description

i mean i swear to god the dog can smell me/us coming....

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 19 Apr 2008, 15:42

Your probably not far wrong, the letters and packets may have a similar smell everyday and thats the smell that the dogs associate with us.

It has been explained that the reason why dogs do not get on with posties is for one of the following reasons:

1. Red is seen as a danger signal to them and we carry round a big red bag.

2. They see posties come onto their territory everyday and may see us putting letters through the door as marking our territory so they try to protect it.

3. The first time a dog heard this stranger coming up the walk, he got alarmed. He probably backed up a little bit at first, but one brave day, he gave a little bark. His owners came running to see what was causing the commotion. The postman, of course, dropped off the mail and left. The combination of praise from his owners and the postman's retreat makes dogs very happy. They just assume that they scared the postman off. From then on, they feel confident that they can protect their homes from these fearsome visitors, so they keep barking

pinstripe · Post by **pinstripe** » 19 Apr 2008, 15:52

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Your probably not far wrong, the letters and packets may have a similar smell everyday and thats the smell that the dogs associate with us.

It has been explained that the reason why dogs do not get on with posties is for one of the following reasons:

1. Red is seen as a danger signal to them and we carry round a big red bag.

2. They see posties come onto their territory everyday and may see us putting letters through the door as marking our territory so they try to protect it.

3. The first time a dog heard this stranger coming up the walk, he got alarmed. He probably backed up a little bit at first, but one brave day, he gave a little bark. His owners came running to see what was causing the commotion. The postman, of course, dropped off the mail and left. The combination of praise from his owners and the postman's retreat makes dogs very happy. They just assume that they scared the postman off. From then on, they feel confident that they can protect their homes from these fearsome visitors, so they keep barking

Or it could be that the owners are too lazy to stop their stupid mutt barking, too arrogant to prevent their mutt attacking or just too ignorant in general. (I'm sick of some dog owners)
I've quite a few dogs on my round and most of the owners keep their dogs under control but there are some who think it's funny having to travel to the DO to collect their mail because they leave their vicious animals loose in their gardens or snapping at the letterbox and banging against the door. It's not always the dog to blame.

cj_1985 · Post by **cj_1985** » 19 Apr 2008, 15:58

i found this via google a few weks back and i think this is as good a time to post it as any....

unfortunitly i cant find the link to the website i got it from...

coaster · Post by **coaster** » 19 Apr 2008, 18:18

CJ, are you me in disguise?

Everything you said in your post reminds me of what I went through and what I thought on my first week.

If you can stick through the first few weeks of what we call the 'sink or swim' period you will be fine.

Welcome to the job!

I wonder if you have yet worked out the immutable law of posted items. The smaller and the more awkward a letter box the more mail they get.

Strange that isnt it, but also so very true.

cj_1985 · Post by **cj_1985** » 23 Apr 2008, 15:34

now nto my second week.... and on my 3rd route.... new complaint...

why do people not have numbers on ther doors.. or even a little label or sticker in the window like one place i saw today....

and why do so many streets not have road name plates up on posts or on walls...
trying to find the roads for deliveries today was getting me so frustrated as i couldnt find which road was xyz street, which was xyz lane, and which was xyz drive etc... nearly had me in tears i was getting so stressed about it.... especially when i was out on my lonesome.. when the other guy that was with me (only been there a week longer than me) f***ed of to do deliveries on the main street...