Beware of the Delivery Instructions

[Ozzvaldo]

A word of warning. I had a package on my delivery today that had been sent as a Tracked item requiring the recipient's signature, and yet the sender (presumably at the request of the recipient), had also taken the trouble to stick a very large typed label on it requesting that the package be left inside the porch should the addressee be unavailable to receive it!

Forgive me if I'm missing something as blatantly obvious as Giant Haystacks' arse here, but why would anybody insist on paying for a premium service in the first place when they're obviously quite happy to allow Royal Mail's bog standard service to kick in at the drop of a hat? Except that it didn't, 'cos they'd paid for a signature and that's precisely what they're going to get when the recipient's can be bothered to haul themselves into my Callers Office clutching their P739.

Not only that, but the so-called "porch" is no such thing and simply an alcove into which easy access is afforded to gale force winds, rain (of which we have plenty up here), incontinent cats etc....oh, and thieves.

In other words, I was being cordially invited by a combination of sender/addressee to doorstep an item of mail that, due to the protocols associated with Tracked items requiring signatures, I would also have to sign for on the recipients behalf to carry out their wishes.

Whatever you do, don't let yourself get caught out by this sort of chicanery, because if you play ball and something goes awry, which it could for all sorts of reasons, then it will be your very own semi-illiterate, spidery scrawl staring up at you from the PDA records being displayed on a computer screen during your disciplinary (or rather, dismissal) hearing....a colleague of mine with some 39 years servitude has recently been sacked for signing for an item himself and then delivering it.

I've noticed an increased tendency in recent months for packets to be similarly adorned with additional delivery instructions (many of which, as in the case above, run contrary to Royal Mail procedure), and it pays to be vigilant to any potential ramifications resulting from your course of action because it will definitely be you, and not the customer, who gets dropped in the clarts if there's a balls-up.

[doorstepped]

as far as I am aware you can only leave a tracked item in the safe place that is stated inside the box on the label.
if it is blank, then there is not a safe place instruction in place and should be returned to the DO.

[ebbzie]

You done the right thing, if it says signature required then that is what you need, if there not there 739 it simple. You will never get in trouble for doing the correct thing

[brykins]

as far as I am aware you can only leave a tracked item in the safe place that is stated inside the box on the label.
if it is blank, then there is not a safe place instruction in place and should be returned to the DO.

...and NOT do what the guy who trained me said: "It says 'Safe place' there so it can be left in a safe place". I did question that surely *if* there was an intended safe place then it would be in the box, but he insisted that the words 'Safe place' appearing anywhere on the packet meant it could be left just about anywhere.

[PhilthyPhil]

I get a lot of recorded packets and even a few specials which say "If out please leave on porch/shed", I just cross that label out and P739 it.

[dvbuk55]

as far as I am aware you can only leave a tracked item in the safe place that is stated inside the box on the label.
if it is blank, then there is not a safe place instruction in place and should be returned to the DO.

...and NOT do what the guy who trained me said: "It says 'Safe place' there so it can be left in a safe place". I did question that surely *if* there was an intended safe place then it would be in the box, but he insisted that the words 'Safe place' appearing anywhere on the packet meant it could be left just about anywhere.

Oddly enough when tracked first started the instruction from one manager was precisely that - that at the postmans' discretion it could be left in a "safe place" - it took a while for the penny to drop - which was when the safe place box started to be used

[Listonosz]

I 739 everything that can't be delivered, even if it's a tracked that has a 'please leave in safe place' request. If you leave it in the safe place requested and it goes missing then it's your job on the line. Safe place is the callers office

[fishtank]

What's a safe place anyway?
Surely if you can leave it there someone else can un-leave it.

[Haitch P]

Straight from the horses mouth!

http://www.royalmail.com/delivery/busin ... place/faqs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1 How much does it cost?

There is no additional charge for the Safeplace™ delivery option.

2 Which products can it be used with?

Currently, Safeplace™ is only available for use with Royal Mail Tracked™. However, it may become available for other non-signature Packet products in the future.

3 How do customers nominate a 'safe place'?

If you have signed up to the Safeplace™ service, customers can nominate an alternative delivery option when they place an order with you. It is up to you how you wish to capture their Safeplace™ instructions.

4 What counts as a 'safe place'?

Customers can ask for items to be left in any secure, weather-proof area of the property, as long as it is safely accessible. Alternatively, they can nominate a near neighbour to receive delivery of the item.

5 How will Royal Mail know where the customer wants the item to be left?

You will need to display the customer’s instructions clearly on a label on the outside of the Packet. You can print this information onto the label using either our Despatch Express software, or your own systems.

6 Does Safeplace™ guarantee first-time delivery?

No, because in a very small number of cases it won't be possible to follow the customer's Safeplace™ instructions. Examples of these include: if it would be dangerous for us to access the nominated point; if the item would be exposed to bad weather; or if the nominated point is clearly insecure (i.e. a doorstep in full view).

7 What do you do if the customer's instructions can't be followed?

In these cases we will issue a P739 ('Something for you' card) and return the item to the delivery office. The customer can then arrange for redelivery, or pick the item up in person.

8 Is any compensation offered if an item goes missing?

Compensation will be offered in line with the terms and conditions of the postal service by which the item is sent. Once the item has been delivered to the nominated location, we will not be liable for any loss or damage to an item or its contents.