CALLERS OFFICE

[dvbuk55]

We are having a bit of a nightmare in the callers office at the moment, I suppose most have experienced the influx of packets and having less and less room to store them. There has been a hiatus on booking packets in for some considerable time and as anyone who has worked in the callers will know that is poor practice, especially as at present the callers is not secure in any sense of the word.

Currently we operate an alphabetical system ABC etc and the manager wants to institute a numerical system 123 etc which admittedly would utilise the shelf space better and would necessitate booking packets in again, both good things - however it means that each time a customer comes to the callers office you are going to have to search the register for the packet number - the shelving cannot accommodate large items, in fact the callers office can't accommodate them.

What I would like to know is how do other offices manage their packets and what system of recording they have and if there is any equipment - such as computers and software in use or available.

Thanks in advance for any advice/assistance.

[Stormproof]

We used to have a computer system in our callers, you had to input the data in, ie surname door number, road, packet/letter, special/rec/international. Once entered it allocated a number, we had a roll of stickers with numbers on. When the customer came in to collect their packet you just had to type the door number, road or surname into the computer and it came up with the number. RM in their wisdom got rid of the system even though other offices were interested. It did save on shelf space aswell. BTW nothing gets recorded now, it just gets thrown on the shelf in Alphabetical order.

[not me]

We used to have a computer system in our callers, you had to input the data in, ie surname door number, road, packet/letter, special/rec/international. Once entered it allocated a number, we had a roll of stickers with numbers on. When the customer came in to collect their packet you just had to type the door number, road or surname into the computer and it came up with the number. RM in their wisdom got rid of the system even though other offices were interested. It did save on shelf space aswell. BTW nothing gets recorded now, it just gets thrown on the shelf in Alphabetical order.

same in our office

[Pinky 1]

Same as our office too ...... the computer just sits there getting dusty now .....

[krussel]

We shelve packets in address number order with house names and firms seperate. It seems to work ok. All returns are simply written in a book which is then endorsed as collected / rts etc as the packets leave the office. Finding the item in the book can be tricky if the postie puts the wrong date on the P739 though

[jockstrapp]

We have a clever way of sorting packets in our callers office...............we just throw them on a shelf then search for them when they are called for.

[mclovin]

PHG's dont have time to register every single parcel on a computer, its just not viable.

I mean, between reading the paper, making cups of tea/coffee, filing their nails, darning their socks and having a nap, where would they find the time?

[dvbuk55]

PHG's dont have time to register every single parcel on a computer, its just not viable.

I mean, between reading the paper, making cups of tea/coffee, filing their nails, darning their socks and having a nap, where would they find the time?

You forgot the texting.

Thanks for the input lads and lasses, hopefully this will give us some ammunition tomorrow.