Counting Packets..

[Lenny1883]

Work time learning today, we were informed that over the next two weeks we have to count all our packets, attendance packets and otherwise.. I'm assuming this is so they can add even more work to what we are expected to do in a day..

[The Quiet Man]

Work time learning today, we were informed that over the next two weeks we have to count all our packets, attendance packets and otherwise.. I'm assuming this is so they can add even more work to what we are expected to do in a day..

I'd like to think they're trying to get an average daily figure and will allocate time for delivering the packets when it comes to creating new walks.....but I could be wrong!

[Hanna]

We did something similar in March, also over two weeks, but we had to count packets AND recorded delivery items. (Packets to the same address counted as one count) They wanted to work out the average number of 'knocks' we had per day. Knocking a couple of times, waiting, and having to write a 'slip left' out card out can take up several minutes - six times and that can be half an hour added to the delivery time! Hopefully my average will be incorporated into any new delivery I get

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Knocking a couple of times, waiting, and having to write a 'slip left' out card out can take up several minutes - six times and that can be half an hour added to the delivery time! Hopefully my average will be incorporated into any new delivery I get

A (hopefully taken as a constructive) suggestion...
Knock on door and ring bell for address with packet(s)/recorded.
If no answer after ~15 seconds put standard mail/d2d in the letterbox (not all way through).
Knock again after ~20 seconds.
Begin filling out "form left," starting with the reverse details (24 hours until contacting office, "x" in taken back to depot).
By the time you complete the form and post it through letterbox, write on packet and possibly in your recorded wallet, you will have been at the doorstep for the magic one minute (meeting our guidelines) or just a little over.
Sometimes you might "waste" a form, with household member opening door just as you finish writing, but more times than not this should help you save a bit of time per call.

I wholeheartedly agree that oversize packet calls/recorded/specials can have a major affect on walk times, I experience this most days and it can easily add 45-60 minutes to my time compared to quiet days.

[fishtank]

Attendance call time ( packets etc ) tests in a live enviornment 28 seconds for a successful packet and 78 seconds for an unsuccessful delivery of a packet. The debate on how many will be successful or not is normally about half.

Number of attendance calls ie knocks on the door. Royal Mail currently give about 17 attendance calls per 500 delivery points , it is imporant if you believe that this is more in your office that you argue this case.

[hampshireman]

Work time learning today, we were informed that over the next two weeks we have to count all our packets, attendance packets and otherwise.. I'm assuming this is so they can add even more work to what we are expected to do in a day..

We had this a year ago. It is to get 'some ' idea of the attendance calls. Make sure you do this right. Packets that you would normally 'stuff' in the frame should be counted.

[not me]

thing is,if you want truelly equal walks,then these things need to be taken into account
when i do the PHG's I can be giving half a yorkie of tracked/SD to one duty and 3 items total to another
whether RM use it wisely is another matter!

[clashcityrocker]

Packets that you would normally 'stuff' in the frame should be counted.

If you can put it through the letterbox then it shouldn't count as an attendance call, even if it doesn't fit in the frame.
An office average is meaningless. Some duties get more packets. Some have old small letterboxes that require more door knocking than normal, some walks have a high number of young professionals who are never in during the day.

[fishtank]

Should a business delivery have an attendance call rate of zero?....just a thought.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Should a business delivery have an attendance call rate of zero?....just a thought.

Hell no! There is a big difference between handing "normal mail" to a shop worker or leaving it in a reasonable place if they are busy, compared to waiting for a member of staff to be free and then having someone who is allowed to sign for a recorded or special (which sometimes means a manger being summoned to shop counter from back office, losing yet more time).

[hampshireman]

Packets that you would normally 'stuff' in the frame should be counted.

If you can put it through the letterbox then it shouldn't count as an attendance call, even if it doesn't fit in the frame.
An office average is meaningless. Some duties get more packets. Some have old small letterboxes that require more door knocking than normal, some walks have a high number of young professionals who are never in during the day.

I used the word 'Stuff' , because i see people force items into the frame. Not meant to indicate that ones that would go through should be counted.

And you are quite correct in that an average office is meaningless. But counting the packets by walk has benefit

[dvbuk55]

Should a business delivery have an attendance call rate of zero?....just a thought.

Are those £ notes in your butt crack trying to tempt DGP to a holiday in the isles ft

[RedBagMan]

We had this a few weeks ago - one day I can remember 26 "Door knocks" and 12 sign-fors ... yes easily adds up to 60 minutes on a walk ...

Shouldn't this sort of thing have been done BEFORE the P&L "planners" move in ??

... and will anybody do anything with the information anyway ... or is that just pessimissm ....

[DGP1]

Should a business delivery have an attendance call rate of zero?....just a thought.

Hell no! There is a big difference between handing "normal mail" to a shop worker or leaving it in a reasonable place if they are busy, compared to waiting for a member of staff to be free and then having someone who is allowed to sign for a recorded or special (which sometimes means a manger being summoned to shop counter from back office, losing yet more time).

Is that for the baby Jesus

[fishtank]

We had this a few weeks ago - one day I can remember 26 "Door knocks" and 12 sign-fors ... yes easily adds up to 60 minutes on a walk ...

Not according to the CWU "live tests".
38 attendance calls at 50% success rate is roughly 34mins.