Royal Mail to trial dropping off parcels with neighbours

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The pilot scheme will be introduced in Edinburgh in the run-up to Christmas before being rolled out across the country.

Residents in Edinburgh will have their parcels dropped off at neighbours instead of left at the sorting office in a trial scheme by the Royal Mail.

Over 150,000 homes in the east, west and north of the city will take part in the trial, which aims to reduce the number of parcels which have to be collected from depots.

It comes as Royal Mail tries to bring itself in line with other courier companies who give people the option of leaving parcels with a neighbour. The Royal Mail is the only delivery company who cannot give customers this option.

Consumer groups are worried that it will lead to more items of post going missing as many customers do not know their neighbours.

But the Royal Mail will be writing to every house involved in the trial and giving them the option to opt out.

Annie McGovern, Policy Manager at Consumer Focus Scotland said: "Many people don’t want valuable or private mail to be left with neighbours. And with many people in Edinburgh living in tenements, in reality it means people can have quite a large number of neighbours who they don’t necessarily know.

"That’s probably why four out of five people told us that they should be able to choose whether this should happen – and we are glad Royal Mail has taken this on board and is giving people a choice to opt out of this trial.

"Royal Mail should listen carefully to what customers want during this trial and we will watch consumers reaction."

The trial will start at the end of November, in time for the busy Christmas delivery period.

Nick Landon, from the Royal Mail said: "Research shows that our customers welcome this initiative. It will make it much easier and more convenient for customers to receive letters and packets if they are not at home when we try to deliver."

The trial will run until February and will include recorded delivery but not special deliveries, international items or parcels that need to be signed for.

[MinisterofCucumber]

This is the most stupid idea yet.

Moya Greene has identified that our biggest selling point is "trustworthiness". We are different from private couriers because the public know that if they are not in, their parcels will be at the local Delivery Office. This initiative will make us as untrustworthy and unreliable as our competitors.

When the public have to take a gamble on whether they will get goods ordered off the internet, they will go back to physical shopping if it is available or, more likely, do without.

[arnold cheshire]

what if a neighbouring house isnt near by do you have to walk around knocking on 2 or 3 doors and then walking back to leave a note its going to add time to a delivery

[slave]

Another ill thought out scheme, obvious management idea!

Nobody in, trudge next door, nobody in, trudge back other way to other neightbour (assuming there is one), nobody in, back to original house and write out a 739.. And I'm guessing when they plan walks they'll factor this extra time in, will they f**k! I'd rather waste my time going to the local PO, it'll be quicker!

At least there's an opt out, but what if someone doesn't opt out?
26 happy for 28 to take packets, people at 28 move house, 26 forgotten about packet opt-out, less desirable character moves into 28, packet for 26 not in so take to 28. 26 says he's not had his packet, 28 denies all knowledge of having seen said packet.... Recipe for trouble in some areas if you ask me.

[clashcityrocker]

Yesterday was my day off.
A Parcelforce driver knocked on the door to ask if I would take in a packet for my neighbour.
The neighbour lives at 58. I live at 68 but I was the first neighbour he could find who was in. He had to knock on 5 doors.
No idea who the bloke is at 58 but I signed for it and delivered it later.

[Bahia Feliz]

In my 25 years with RM this practise has always gone on especially on Rural deliveries which are 30mins drive away from the office,It's the other A**ehole courier firms that leave parcels on doorsteps that make me laugh they don't even try to leave items with neighbours!