The next time I see a postie...

[Simon-JG-hr]

...I'm gonna knock his bleedin' block off.

I am now severely pissed off with Royal Mail (as if I wasn't before...)

After the fiasco of Special Deliveries not being delivered before Christmas (and the ensuing delays/costs of getting them from the distribution centres - that's not what you pay ?9 in the first place for...), I've now had at least two packages not be delivered since.

I've tried contacting them, but just get fobbed off (they're probably too busy planning their next strike to actually do their jobs).

If you're a postie then you'd better watch out, I'm on a mission.

[Pantomimehorse]

same thing happened to me numerous times last year mate, and sods law it was always the cigar packages...

[Simon-JG-hr]

Yep, two cigar packages have indeed never arrived. As both are from reliable/trustworthy sources I know full well that it's Royal Mail that have fucked up. (Pardon the language, please... ).

[Kdot]

Im not one for postie bashing but you posted this at the correct time Si.

I posted two jiffy bags to friends in scotland on tuesday with the address prominantly displayed and clearly marked "To" however the damn post office decided to send them to my home address which was clearly marked "From" and written in the smallest chicken scratches possible on the reverse of the package...what a bunch of dumb C***s!

[the mothman]

Know how you feel Si', mind you my local posties are diamond geezers in making sure I receive my stuff and not going back to the depot with it, its the bastard sorting offices that are shite. Luckily on one recent order that went missing I got a refund through [EDITED], thank god. many a time Im spitting and frothing at the mouth cos' of twatish services like these, thing is like you say complaining to them does fuck all! Feed up them pigeons and send it by air!

[Robusto]

On a side issue, I find having to do ANYTHING at the Post Office is depressing. The local ones have been shut so everyone funnels in to one place. Then you find that the Post Office has been moved to the side room of a local chemist's, or to somewhere like WHSmith. (What the hell is going on with that???)... THEN you wait for about 20 minutes in a pig pen queue in which three people are mouthing off on their mobiles about how slow it is in the Post Office queue...

I hate it. I try and imagine I'm in the Himalayas, or something, but it never works.

I don't know what the folks are on strike again for - I hadn't heard that they were TBH - but the Post Office = depression in my book. These people must feel they are waiting to be sacked. Which bit will be closed next? It can't be fun.

But they still shouldn't mess up our brown goods!

[Simon-JG-hr]

But they still shouldn't mess up our brown goods!

Exactly! Leave the magazines in the bag if you must, but make sure the stogies and whisky get through!

I agree about Post Offices, they seem to be, without fail, miserable places. The one in Gloucester city centre is actually quite a nice building/interior (reminds me a bit of a Victorian train station), and it has a considerable number of windows... that said, only about three are ever open and the queue is usually about twenty to thirty minutes long...

[Lee Nub]

I still have a couple of parcels missing from before Christmas. I was left a "while you were out" card last week. When i went to collect it, they said someone had already taken it. When i asked how when ID was required , they just looked at me like i had taken a shit on the counter.

The manager rang me about 3 days later, confirmed someone had taken it, and there is nothing i can do. No sorry, kiss my arse or anything.

Its only a matter of time before someone like Branson sets up a private mail service, then its goodbye Royal Mail.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Its only a matter of time before someone like Branson sets up a private mail service, then its goodbye Royal Mail.

Funny you should say that... I will probably be considering DHL as my go to for cigar related parcels from now on.

[Pantomimehorse]

My local post office is the trafalgar square branch, it has always been busy but you stood in a line and got served eventually. Now some special kind of w*nker has introduced a deli counter style ticketing system so you now have to stand around waiting for your number.... which would be fine if they called you in turn... but do they f*ck they prioritise Special Delivery customers over standard or recorded items and business account users are the top dogs. So I could be sitting there with my ticket for 40mins, some twat rolls in with a special delivery and gets seen straight away.....

I now HATE going to the postoffice

[Lee Nub]

Funny you should say that... I will probably be considering DHL as my go to for cigar related parcels from now on.

I used to have a DHL servicepoint agency , it was put into our stores by our Master Franchisee. I had nothing but trouble with it to be honest, lost parcels, delivery drivers blaming me even though i had signed paperwork they had taken it, and DHL siding with them etc.

Also , every parcel you send by DHL, be aware that they open them and check all contents at the depots, they told us this in training. Part of the security policy they have. If you use a service point, the agent will put a security sticker on the box, this is cut through along with any tape you use, and checked.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Thanks for the heads up... I might have to just hand deliver then...

[tippexx]

My PO's aren't to bad. There is a main in Southend, but I don't need to go there as there are two well run Subs in easy walking distance. Our Postie isn't to awful either .... you should see her in her shorts!

[Lee Nub]

My postman is an A1 arsehole. He threw a parcel at my wife one morning as she took a couple of minutes to get to the door. She was securing the dog in the kitchen, she should have just let the bugger go, would have loved to see the look on his face.

[Robusto]

I opt in and out of examination marking every year. This is usually determined by how much extra float I want rather than how much luuuurrrve I have to spread.

The other reason that has made me drop out recently is because the examinations system and issuing of public examination results obviously has to fit in with deadlines.

I've had to chase parcels of exam scripts from one end of the county to the other to get my scripts to keep to deadlines. This can mean a four hour hike in this county because the Post Office sometimes likes to see your blood to hand over the goods. And it means your marking time is lost because you've been up and down the motorway system.

These trips-for-pacels drives have made me wonder what the fuck I'm actually doing with my brain and body even more than standing in the Post Office queue.

I'll earn more from knocking out a version of Take That SHINE at a gig soon than a couple of hours of exam marking. I feel undignified but - hey! - if people want High Art...