Specials and Warped Logic

[taurus88]

Is it just me, or does the promised delivery of before 1pm on specials take the piss a bit? At our DO duties go up to 2pm, so that makes it difficult to meet said promise if you get a special for the last delivery point on your round. I never personally change the way I do a walk, thankfully I haven't delivered a special later than 12.59pm (exactly) yet, but that's just because the last part of my walk is a complete hole that never has any specials. But I don't see how the two things can be forced together and made to work, I'm certainly not going to ride right to the end of my walk, then back again, for the sake of a special - should the situation arise.

Is there some kind of contingency plan in place should I get a special and discover that it's for the last delivery point? Or do I have to lump it?

[POSTMAN]

Specials should of went on the vans when SDD came in.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Is it just me, or does the promised delivery of before 1pm on specials take the piss a bit? At our DO duties go up to 2pm, so that makes it difficult to meet said promise if you get a special for the last delivery point on your round. I never personally change the way I do a walk, thankfully I haven't delivered a special later than 12.59pm (exactly) yet, but that's just because the last part of my walk is a complete hole that never has any specials. But I don't see how the two things can be forced together and made to work, I'm certainly not going to ride right to the end of my walk, then back again, for the sake of a special - should the situation arise.

Is there some kind of contingency plan in place should I get a special and discover that it's for the last delivery point? Or do I have to lump it?

At our DO we inform the locker/manager that we wont get there before he time and they send it with a driver - mind you it can be a chore but recently as it was costing them a fortune in repaying claims its become a lot easier. PS I will cut off and deliver it if the manager tells me to do this - but I won't work over so they'll have more to cover.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Specials should of went on the vans when SDD came in.

We went the other way - they came from the vans and went onto the walkers.

[DGP1]

I've a CDV and we've all been told that we're to break off to deliver the 1pm SDs, I do as I've been instructed but it does increase the delivery time I get the '1000 yard stare' when I ask about the extra time need for it

[jockstrapp]

Specials don't get treated any different from the rest of the mail, if they are 9am then no chance if 1pm well there is a chance.

[theboropostie]

If you can't make it in time then don't take it. It cost rm a fortune if it's late which will only make things worse in the long run. That's the official guidelines so stick to it and challenge your gaffer if he disagrees.

[belle smith]

Specials don't get treated any different from the rest of the mail, if they are 9am then no chance if 1pm well there is a chance.

[NewPostieUK]

At our DO we inform the locker/manager that we wont get there before he time and they send it with a driver

I think it's meant to be like that at my place, but by the time I get my specials all the drivers have gone, so it's usually. . .

Specials don't get treated any different from the rest of the mail, if they are 9am then no chance if 1pm well there is a chance.

[taurus88]

Don't blame you, they should really be promised for delivery before 2pm seeing as that's when most duties are over and done by. I'm personally not going to hurry around for the sake of a special - it's their flaw in logic, not mine.

[Terry Butcher]

Having only been at RM for slightly less than two years i would be interested to see for how long the 1pm "cut off" time for Specials has been in operation. Why do i get the impression that only a few years ago the vast majority of posties routinely finished before 1pm? The cut-off time seems to me like a relic of bygone days when the postman got home before midday, and hasn't been corrected to suit today's typical routine. As you say, the time should correlate with the delivery span of the postman who has it in his bag. It will be interesting to see if the time will be increased to 3pm, the time we are soon expected to work until, although i suspect that the excuse of "increased mobility" will be the norm when the shared vans come in. Also, i can hardly see a 3pm cut-off time going down well with "customers".

On another note, has anyone else had to deliver election material in the form of a special? One walk in my office had one pretty much every day for the MP's office on busy strip of shops and businesses in the run up to the local elections. To those unfamiliar with "election specials" you are allowed to rip the special open and feed the contents through the letter box, one by one if neccessary. No signature required. Makes you wonder what the point in sending it via special delivery is? Is it subsidised somehow? It's another special delivery procedure that seems to defy logic as well as defeats the whole purpose of the service. On the plus side, it's quite funny to see some of the looks from passers-by as you are tearing into a packet with the words "Election material" in size 50 font printed on the side

[Lounge Lizard]

Having only been at RM for slightly less than two years i would be interested to see for how long the 1pm "cut off" time for Specials has been in operation. Why do i get the impression that only a few years ago the vast majority of posties routinely finished before 1pm? The cut-off time seems to me like a relic of bygone days when the postman got home before midday, and hasn't been corrected to suit today's typical routine. As you say, the time should correlate with the delivery span of the postman who has it in his bag. It will be interesting to see if the time will be increased to 3pm, the time we are soon expected to work until, although i suspect that the excuse of "increased mobility" will be the norm when the shared vans come in. Also, i can hardly see a 3pm cut-off time going down well with "customers".

On another note, has anyone else had to deliver election material in the form of a special? One walk in my office had one pretty much every day for the MP's office on busy strip of shops and businesses in the run up to the local elections. To those unfamiliar with "election specials" you are allowed to rip the special open and feed the contents through the letter box, one by one if neccessary. No signature required. Makes you wonder what the point in sending it via special delivery is? Is it subsidised somehow? It's another special delivery procedure that seems to defy logic as well as defeats the whole purpose of the service. On the plus side, it's quite funny to see some of the looks from passers-by as you are tearing into a packet with the words "Election material" in size 50 font printed on the side

but until a few years ago ordinary Special Deliveries were guaranteed by 12 noon, not 1pm.

[Terry Butcher]

but until a few years ago ordinary Special Deliveries were guaranteed by 12 noon, not 1pm. [/quote]

So according to the trend the time will be moved up to 2pm, just in time for when we are out until 3pm! Shows that the customer is always top priority for RM...oh...wait a minute...

[Lounge Lizard]

but until a few years ago ordinary Special Deliveries were guaranteed by 12 noon, not 1pm.

So according to the trend the time will be moved up to 2pm, just in time for when we are out until 3pm! Shows that the customer is always top priority for RM...oh...wait a minute...[/quote]
We are out till 3pm now on rural deliveries.

[Terry Butcher]

We are out till 3pm now on rural deliveries. [/quote]

Ouch. I wouldn't know that, my office is in the middle of Urban sprawl!