Online shoppers hit out at lack of parking

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 03 Jun 2019, 13:37

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DESPITE online shopping being at an all-time high, finding a parking space to collect parcels appears to be as difficult as ever.

Online shoppers claim there are only two spaces for motorists to park up to collect their parcels at Bolton Bolton North Delivery Office in Calvin Street. Yet one of the many positive aspects of online shopping is that is supposed to take the time and stress of traditional shopping away.

Shoppers can fire up their computer, laptop or even mobile phone, browse till their heart’s content and treat themselves to an item or two, or find a present for someone else.

However, if no one is in to collect the delivery, then shoppers usually have to take a small card to a collection depot to pick up their items.

As the oldest delivery service in the country, a lot of online shopping deliveries are done by Royal Mail but people visiting their Bolton North Delivery Office, in Calvin Street claim they are finding it difficult to park.

Phil Taylor, recently visited the depot and claims he was told by staff that only two parking spaces are designated for the public.

He added: “I went on a busy Saturday morning and there were queues coming out of the door of their collection buildings. The car park gets filled up almost entirely with Royal Mail staff. I spoke to members of staff and they told me there are only two designated spaces available for the public. Once them two are used up, there are only disabled spaces available.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are aware of the complaints and there are a number of parking spaces available for customers. We have recently been handing out leaflets to clarify the situation.”

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 03 Jun 2019, 16:39

At our DO it's frequently carnage in the mornings for members of the public to find a space, especially at busy times of the year like Christmas. I've often wondered when the day will come that our DOM insists the majority of spaces are for Joe Public picking up parcels only and members of staff have to make alternative arrangements.

Post by **General Mannerheim** » 03 Jun 2019, 19:43

The car park gets filled up almost entirely with Royal Mail staff.

Incorrect. Most of the staff have to park their cars on Waterloo Street or Croasdale street certainly the full time staff

, the part timers who come later park on the car park. And it doesn't help that the main car park was halved some years ago so more Royal Mail vans could park.

Also the British gas lot park their vans on the car park and have a nice chat with their mates instead of fecking off after picking up their parts.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 03 Jun 2019, 19:46

If RM manage to get their plan for moving parcels to LAT hubs into operation there will inevitably be far more amalgamation of DO resulting in far longer journeys to collect items. Also currently if parcels allocated to LAT duties cannot be delivered they are returned to the DO covering that address point for delivery the following day. We haven't heard how RM is going to deal with this given that non-LAT DOs will no longer receive large parcels. Seems like a recipe to further damage RM to me with no significant benefits to the service we provide.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 03 Jun 2019, 19:50

Regarding car parking most RM staff cannot park their own transportation on RM property and have to find parking nearby.

Sir Henry · Post by **Sir Henry** » 03 Jun 2019, 20:10

Celgar wrote:Also currently if parcels allocated to LAT duties cannot be delivered they are returned to the DO covering that address point for delivery the following day.

Ooh this is news to me. Sounds like an almighty SHITSHOW. So they try it later on the day it's received then again the next day if undelivered. Are the punters left a card to that effect or do they get a say if they're going to be in to receive it or not?
Also will it be ANOTHER later delivery by the dedicated LAT drivers? Around the same time the punters weren't at home the previous day?

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 04 Jun 2019, 15:52

Sir Henry wrote:
Celgar wrote:Also currently if parcels allocated to LAT duties cannot be delivered they are returned to the DO covering that address point for delivery the following day.
Ooh this is news to me. Sounds like an almighty SHITSHOW. So they try it later on the day it's received then again the next day if undelivered. Are the punters left a card to that effect or do they get a say if they're going to be in to receive it or not?
Also will it be ANOTHER later delivery by the dedicated LAT drivers? Around the same time the punters weren't at home the previous day?

Currently for the LAT parcels the LAT hubs do the first attempt at delivery. If that is unsuccessful no P739 card is left and the parcels are sent for delivery via the standard DO for the following day.
With the new parcel proposal the large parcels would not go to the standard DO for the second attempt as they would have the additional hour or more of work to do. The more I think about it the less chance I can see it working.

Sir Henry · Post by **Sir Henry** » 07 Jun 2019, 17:11

Cheers for that.

Nickvilla20 · Post by **Nickvilla20** » 08 Jun 2019, 05:05

At our office there is no parking spaces for the public. And outside there is double yellow lines with a traffic warden usually waiting there plus some of our deliveries go out more than 10 miles from the office.

Personally I think if your ordering online and you know you have a parcel coming at least try to be in or make alternative arrangements like having a safe place or reconnaissance neighbour

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 09 Jun 2019, 04:55

Kind of defeats the whole object really why buy online and pick it up Madness why not wait in for it or just go and get it instead faffing on the internet!