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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be upset at post office

24 replies

alyaster1 · 13/10/2021 15:12

How does a parcel just vanish?? I went into my local post office a couple of weeks ago to post my daughters birthday present. She has had a stressful time recently so I've been gathering meaningful things to send to her. As I couldn't be with her I wanted her to have something to open on the day. The post office staff are lovely and friendly so when I said it was a birthday present they suggested I get it signed for so I would know it had arrived( esp as she lives in a shared flat) . I sent it off 2 days before her birthday as first class can't guarantee next day.... nothing arrived and still hasn't 2 weeks later.
Of course I know realise I should of sent it fully tracked but I hadn't realised signed for first class means the post office scan on receipt and delivery meaning no one has a clue now where it is.
How can a parcel just get lost in their system? I mean can it fall off a conveyor belt in a warehouse and be in the bowels if the building forever?
I just can't imagine a scenario that explains it?
I'm so upset and disappointed in myself for blithely just trusting a process!

OP posts:
elaeocarpus · 13/10/2021 15:15

I've had a number of things disappear recently too; or things saying 'delivered' but actually not delivered and they are no help because it has been scanned as delivered

It seems to have become worse in the last year or two

Motnight · 13/10/2021 15:16

That is rubbish Op.

I've noticed since Covid that no post marked signed for is actually signed for.

Brainwave89 · 13/10/2021 15:20

Since Covid signed for actually means very little, as physical signatures etc are not being requested. Whilst in practice very few parcels do go missing, in a shared house it is very possible for it to have done so at that end. Check with the PO you sent it from and make a complaint, but the likelihood is that it was delivered to a shared rack and either lost or stolen. Sorry OP.

Stoppochoco · 13/10/2021 15:20

Has your daughter, or the house she lives in had a card from Royal Mail telling her to arrange re delivery, or collection ?
I have an online business and in some areas things are taking longer to arrive, due to staffing issues. So it might still be on its way.
Also, a lot of times in shared property (even between families) someone will take in a delivery, put it down somewhere and not tell the recipient it has arrived. Could that have happened in your daughters place.

Oblomov21 · 13/10/2021 15:23

The post office are negligent in not advising customers to choose fully tracked. If they did advise us all to not send 'signed for' we'd at least know.

Original poster
alyaster1 · 13/10/2021 16:03

On the tracking website you get a notification the post office have it, which I have, and when they have attempted/ delivered the parcel which it clearly states hasn't happened yet.
So it can't have been misplaced at her flat/ in the hallways etc. The only explanation for not attempting to deliver is that it's lost. 🙁

OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 13/10/2021 16:20

RM handle millions of letters, parcels etc. Surely you can grasp that some will go astray?

You can claim up to £50 compensation if the parcel is lost.

WeatherwaxLives · 13/10/2021 16:28

can it fall off a conveyor belt in a warehouse and be in the bowels if the building forever?

Yes, basically. I'm sure I read something about post being found under some machinery that was replaced in a sorting office. It was decades old!

Ariela · 13/10/2021 16:29

There are lengthy delays in some areas due to staff shortages. What I think tends to happen is the RM depot is targeted to deliver something like 93% of all 1st class next day - so once it's late it's late, they next day they focus on the new incoming post to hit their target - so the older stuff stays at the depot till eventually a week or two later they finally have enough staff to shift the bottom of the pile.
Same thing happens with planning application approvals. Once the government target for processing has passed (is it 12 weeks?) there is no urgency to deal with it,.

Original poster
alyaster1 · 13/10/2021 17:02

@Ariela

There are lengthy delays in some areas due to staff shortages. What I think tends to happen is the RM depot is targeted to deliver something like 93% of all 1st class next day - so once it's late it's late, they next day they focus on the new incoming post to hit their target - so the older stuff stays at the depot till eventually a week or two later they finally have enough staff to shift the bottom of the pile. Same thing happens with planning application approvals. Once the government target for processing has passed (is it 12 weeks?) there is no urgency to deal with it,.
Thank you Ariela, at last an explanation that makes sense!
OP posts:
Blue4YOU · 13/10/2021 17:36

I’m currently having exactly the same issue with a present I tried to send to Ireland.
Never happened before

LettertoHermoine · 13/10/2021 17:48

Yes, they fall off the conveyer, languish there till a film of dust gathers on the top, then someone who works there drops their phone, bends down to get it, sees your parcel lodged underneath, kicks it out with their foot and puts it right back on the conveyer belt and the recipient gets it 3-6 weeks later :)

Blue4YOU · 13/10/2021 18:03

I also think up to £50 compensation is shit.
The gift I sent was 3 times that. It’d be a right racket if one was inclined to think the worst of RM - especially now you have to declare what’s on every parcel and it’s value when sending abroad.
I really hope that’s not what’s going on

Stoppochoco · 13/10/2021 18:44

@Blue4YOU

I also think up to £50 compensation is shit. The gift I sent was 3 times that. It’d be a right racket if one was inclined to think the worst of RM - especially now you have to declare what’s on every parcel and it’s value when sending abroad. I really hope that’s not what’s going on
Brexit has caused lots of delays with stuff going outside of UK, so it might be that. If you don't declare accurate value of gift to keep gift within threshold, then you won't be able to recover more than what was declared.
Roominmyhouse · 13/10/2021 19:09

@Blue4YOU

I also think up to £50 compensation is shit. The gift I sent was 3 times that. It’d be a right racket if one was inclined to think the worst of RM - especially now you have to declare what’s on every parcel and it’s value when sending abroad. I really hope that’s not what’s going on
When you send a parcel they ask the value though, so you can get postage which covers more compensation if the item is worth more than £50. Of course the postage also costs more!!
Ariela · 13/10/2021 19:16

@Blue4YOU

I’m currently having exactly the same issue with a present I tried to send to Ireland. Never happened before
This may be different, there are border delays due to Customs
Ariela · 13/10/2021 19:17

@Blue4YOU

I also think up to £50 compensation is shit. The gift I sent was 3 times that. It’d be a right racket if one was inclined to think the worst of RM - especially now you have to declare what’s on every parcel and it’s value when sending abroad. I really hope that’s not what’s going on
It's down to you to select the correct service for your needs: if you need to cover the package against loss chose special delivery/tracked and signed
GeeIneverthoughtofthat · 13/10/2021 19:24

Don’t be too hard on yourself. I sent my sister a birthday present and it was fully insured and tracked (Special Delivery).

The relief postman who was covering for the day then delivered it to an empty house in the street next to hers and then said that he had delivered it. I asked RM for an investigation (based on PDA location) and it showed his location when it was marked as delivered.

All of this took several weeks. I missed her birthday but I did ultimately get my postage and the value of the parcel back. RM escalations were good though and a cheque came quickly.

muddyford · 13/10/2021 19:30

This has happened to me twice this year. It's definitely getting worse. Full return address on too, so where do they end up? If they are found they should either be delivered or returned to sender. It's an expensive exercise, sending a present these days. Especially when it gets lost.

AnnieJ1985 · 13/10/2021 20:36

@Blue4YOU

I’m currently having exactly the same issue with a present I tried to send to Ireland. Never happened before
Post within Ireland is slow at the moment too, we send a lot via express post for work, and it is hit and miss in places
Blue4YOU · 13/10/2021 23:58

Thanks to those of you who replied to me!!
Yes, I’d select a different service if my post office actually allowed me to (that’s another story).
But for the OP - I hope the gift gets found!! And delivered

Original poster
alyaster1 · 23/10/2021 22:14

My daughter got her parcel!! Just to give any of you hope if you in the same situation! Almost 4 weeks late but safe and delivered!

OP posts:
birdling · 24/10/2021 08:43

That's good. If only the parcel could talk and tell you where it's been all this time Grin

Bramshott · 24/10/2021 08:48

Great news!

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