Old Postie's Handy Hints and Pointers

[theflyingpostman]

Actually I don't use the Yellow insert in my bag as its too small, easily ripped and not that flexible. I use a Black Bin bag. I also use the Black bags in my red inserts pouches so that whatever the weather I cant still keep the mail dry even when transferring it to my bag.

Red insert pouches. Never heard of those.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hard to descibe but they are like large Meter Mail pouches except they use velcro and have handles. The idea being when you get to your safe drop or pouch box all you do is lift the red bag into your pouch and hey presto everything is ready for you to go. Saves about 5 - 6 mins per bag (but dont tell the boss ). For drivers its easier to stack and carry, better than the mail bags, and posties are less likely to overload them.

[theflyingpostman]

Thanks. Could have done with some of those today.

[majeed]

Hard to describe but they are like large Meter Mail pouches except they use Velcro and have handles. The idea being when you get to your safe drop or pouch box all you do is lift the red bag into your pouch and hey presto everything is ready for you to go. Saves about 5 - 6 mins per bag (but don't tell the boss ). For drivers its easier to stack and carry, better than the mail bags, and posties are less likely to overload them.

It's true: I have only been using them for the last two months or so; before that, I was using regular 11Kg mail sacks. The inserts are better, because they match the shape of your carrying bag exactly, so by filling an insert, you know that what goes into it will also fit neatly into your bag. Looking back, using the mail sacks was an absolute pain!

[Lounge Lizard]

Actually I don't use the Yellow insert in my bag as its too small, easily ripped and not that flexible. I use a Black Bin bag. I also use the Black bags in my red inserts pouches so that whatever the weather I cant still keep the mail dry even when transferring it to my bag.

##

In wet weather use black bin bags on your feet - they're more waterproof than Royal Mail shoes !

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Actually I don't use the Yellow insert in my bag as its too small, easily ripped and not that flexible. I use a Black Bin bag. I also use the Black bags in my red inserts pouches so that whatever the weather I cant still keep the mail dry even when transferring it to my bag.

Alas i am not very flexible anymore! I just hope you dont buy the black bags but nik em (or ask?) from the cleaners at your office?

[majeed]

Actually I don't use the Yellow insert in my bag as its too small, easily ripped and not that flexible. I use a Black Bin bag. I also use the Black bags in my red inserts pouches so that whatever the weather I cant still keep the mail dry even when transferring it to my bag.

Alas i am not very flexible anymore! I just hope you dont buy the black bags but nik em (or ask?) from the cleaners at your office?

Well spotted, Teebs: looks like there's tea leaves in more places than the drinks machine or canteen!

[majeed]

Regarding start times: my contract is from 9am until 2pm. When I started (and this is the same for all new postmen, when they first start), they come in at the times they are contracted to do, but then they get no end of grief from the rest of the people in their district, because they are claimed to be 'holding everyone up'. It is not the new postman's fault: all they know is that they are expected to work from x hours until x hours, but they get tongue-lashed by the driver and the other postmen that rely on the driver to be taken out. I have seen several new postmen driven to distraction by this situation. Personally, once I started to experience this, I went to my manager and told him I would need to come in earlier, and explained that if I didn't do so, I would not be able to get my work done on time: he was okay with this, and from then on, we have always both negotiated with each other, regarding the times that I come in on a morning, with changes made at situations change, throughout the year.

[majeed]

If I find a member of the general public looking at their wristwatch and saying to me something like, "What time do you call this?", I usually state that, "There is no set time for mail to arrive,as long as it arrives within a twenty-four-hour period" (I have been told that there are agreements in place for a five o'clock pm, preferred, upper limit). If I'm doing overtime, due to sickness or absence, I simply say, "I'm doing overtime": most people seem to understand that and don't question any further: I also just say this, when I can no longer be bothered getting onto my soap box (due to my having said it so many times previously throughout the day).

For recipients who work as businesses - from within semi-residential properties or otherwise - I remind them that if they would like an earlier delivery, there is the option of a timed delivery, i.e., a delivery made at a set time, each day (which is available at an additional charge).

[majeed]

I find it curious that most people seem to want cheques, but always ask me to take back bills, i.e., invoices, that I might deliver because they do not want bills: it always surprises me when someone says that they "want cheques, but not bills" because I hear it from people across the social spectrum, yet this type of wording is not something which is taught in schools, and I certainly never learnt it from school or anywhere else, for that matter!

[majeed]

Actually I don't use the Yellow insert in my bag as its too small, easily ripped and not that flexible. I use a Black Bin bag. I also use the Black bags in my red inserts pouches so that whatever the weather I cant still keep the mail dry even when transferring it to my bag.

...what do you do...fight with them ? I've had my last one (before it recently got made into the liner for a bag box) for about the last nine months.

[vinnieb5]

informed by fellow colleague "don't eat yellow snow"