RMCtv : Photo Capture on Delivery : All Tracked 24 &48 [non signature items] require a photo : Green light go-ahead for Thursday 10th March

[2yearpostie]

How do you know what my way of working is?

Because you told us:

I've just been taking pics of the parcel with the closed front door and it's number. I know it's not the correct procedure but quite frankly, with all the other s**t that goes on in my office, I don't care. I know my customers and I know who wants a packet/parcel left behind their plant pot on the front doorstep and who doesn't.

Easy pickings for a sacking, RM could deem it to be evidence of doorstepping

It is actually encouraged in our place mate. Got laughed at when brining back 10+ noticed tracked parcels to the DO when I first started. Management's response ''Just leave it behind a plant pot if they aren't in, or under the doormat.''

This is the culture within our office.

Then ask your dom to have that in writing as a specific instruction in case it goes above his head when someone complains.

I bet they refuse to do it.

[Cwtchy bear]

I’m probably being dull here but how do Royal Mail know if and what safe place instruction is printed on a label? Is there a record of these instructions? Also, for the BT(?) routers they say “leave safe under cover eg with neighbour”, does this count as an official instruction?

[sorefeet17]

I’m probably being dull here but how do Royal Mail know if and what safe place instruction is printed on a label? Is there a record of these instructions? Also, for the BT(?) routers they say “leave safe under cover eg with neighbour”, does this count as an official instruction?

They probably do have the record of them if they are on the label, but would you have any faith that they would recover that info to save the posties arse? I know I wouldn't.
Most of those safe place options are rubbish anyway, "leave in bin" "leave in porch" yeah you don't have one "leave under cover" I would if there was some.

[SpacePhoenix]

I’m probably being dull here but how do Royal Mail know if and what safe place instruction is printed on a label? Is there a record of these instructions? Also, for the BT(?) routers they say “leave safe under cover eg with neighbour”, does this count as an official instruction?

They probably do have the record of them if they are on the label, but would you have any faith that they would recover that info to save the posties arse? I know I wouldn't.
Most of those safe place options are rubbish anyway, "leave in bin" "leave in porch" yeah you don't have one "leave under cover" I would if there was some.

Probably depends if they were generated directly by RM software/the RM website or by a 3rd party software

[HTPostman]

Our team talk the day it went live was keep doing what your doing you know your customers.

It’s times like these when I love being a (mostly) rural reserve, I don’t know many of my customers and I’m not driving half a mile to the next farm. I doubt the duty holders will change their approach, I know of at least 3 who sign for specials and leave in a safe place.

[SpacePhoenix]

I know of at least 3 who sign for specials and leave in a safe place.

They're very lucky that none have ever gone missing.

[HTPostman]

I know of at least 3 who sign for specials and leave in a safe place.

They're very lucky that none have ever gone missing.

Agreed. And all for a couple of notes and a bottle of wine at Christmas.

[Murdoch]

This whole thread is embarrassing. It is full of people moaning about having to do their job properly.
If it is going to cause so many problems people will quickly learn how to add instructions to their parcels and navigate the inflight options.

It's not embarrassing, it's just a natural consequence of shopping habits completely changing over the last 5 - 10 years. And Royal Mail having to copy the competition on "photo capture" to reduce denial of receipt complaints. As ultimately when something goes missing, there's a standoff between the retailer, and the delivery company, about who takes responsibility and covers the cost.

That said, what mainly causes the contention, is that in order to get things delivered, half the company has been operating an unofficial "know your customer" safe place policy. Which has either been actively promoted by local managers, or a blind eye has been turned. Posties are uncertain about how much, if at all, this sort of "safe placing" will be cracked down upon, now that they've rolled out Photo capture on delivery for all tracked parcels.

I suspect, not much will change. Everybody will go back to unofficial safe places after a week or two of being more cautious. The only thing that would change this, is if "compliance" is being checked remotely, and it comes from above that the practice must stop.

But even Simon Himself, is sending some very mixed signals.

[Woody Guthrie]

I think the only real issues are..

1. Most of us have just gone through a revision that ignored this despite the fact they (and the union) must have known this was coming. Kinda typical.

2. It's very awkward trying to balance a bundle of mail and sometimes 2-3 parcels for the same door and take a "good" picture.

3. These PDAs are very unpredictable in poor weather.

4. I'm sick to death of being compared to other couriers, it's not the same job and I'd imagine it would be a piece of piss if all I had going up to the door was one parcel and a PDA.

[postieblueshirt]

At the end of the day this company needs to know what it wants to be because we still operate as a public service people still think of it as a public service to.what are we a letter company? A parcel company? All rural are basically still a public service most days our average rural don't even need to use the back of the van you could fit it in the front I know I did them for years.if were a parcel company great il deliver and take lovely photos all day.

[2yearpostie]

Mail in one hand, pda in bag.

Take parcel and pda out of bag (as normal)
Scan parcel (as normal)
place parcel in front of door(as normal)
click ok buttons and get ready to take photograph
knock and ring bell on door (as normal)
retreat to end of path and turn to face door (as normal)
When door handle moves wait for crack in door to open and take picture.
say thankyou and go to next house.

[Acca Dacca]

Mail in one hand, pda in bag.

Take parcel and pda out of bag (as normal)
Scan parcel (as normal)
place parcel in front of door(as normal)
click ok buttons and get ready to take photograph
knock and ring bell on door (as normal)
retreat to end of path and turn to face door (as normal)
When door handle moves wait for crack in door to open and take picture.
say thankyou and go to next house.

The parcel/s are supposed to be placed inside the recipients doorway not on the doorstep

[postieblueshirt]

Mail in one hand, pda in bag.

Take parcel and pda out of bag (as normal)
Scan parcel (as normal)
place parcel in front of door(as normal)
click ok buttons and get ready to take photograph
knock and ring bell on door (as normal)
retreat to end of path and turn to face door (as normal)
When door handle moves wait for crack in door to open and take picture.
say thankyou and go to next house.

you keep your pda in your bag? if you are taking a photo from that distance you would need to tell them to step back into the house because they would be in the picture

[2yearpostie]

Mail in one hand, pda in bag.

Take parcel and pda out of bag (as normal)
Scan parcel (as normal)
place parcel in front of door(as normal)
click ok buttons and get ready to take photograph
knock and ring bell on door (as normal)
retreat to end of path and turn to face door (as normal)
When door handle moves wait for crack in door to open and take picture.
say thankyou and go to next house.

you keep your pda in your bag? if you are taking a photo from that distance you would need to tell them to step back into the house because they would be in the picture

Point the camara down so the top of the screen is level with the letterbox

[Hyrrokkin]

How do you know what my way of working is?

Because you told us:

I've just been taking pics of the parcel with the closed front door and it's number. I know it's not the correct procedure but quite frankly, with all the other s**t that goes on in my office, I don't care. I know my customers and I know who wants a packet/parcel left behind their plant pot on the front doorstep and who doesn't.

Easy pickings for a sacking, RM could deem it to be evidence of doorstepping

It is actually encouraged in our place mate. Got laughed at when brining back 10+ noticed tracked parcels to the DO when I first started. Management's response ''Just leave it behind a plant pot if they aren't in, or under the doormat.''

This is the culture within our office.

Then ask your dom to have that in writing as a specific instruction in case it goes above his head when someone complains.

I bet they refuse to do it.

Exactly - your job on the line they will screw you over...i asked for it in writing/signed and witnessed - should have seen the look on his face.
I will do it the official way and care less how many i bring back