Comments on: Rage against the Royal Mail

By: Ian Smith

Ian Smith — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:39:39 +0000

Interesting to read Mark’s July comments – a year ago my wife and I were in the middle of a transaction to post a parcel at our local one man Post Office, when the person serving just put up a closed notice and said it was time for his lunch break!
More infuriating is the amount of times recently I have had to make a 20 minute round trip to my local sorting office to pick up undelivered post due to incorrect postage. The first time was because a high street bank had franked a letter 1p short (apparently they had no idea postage charges had increased) – this cost me £1.02, and a lot of hassle.
Yesterday I had to make the trip again to collect a Birthday card which despited having a first class stamp, fitted through the template, and only weighed 10grms – was rejected, I was charged £1.06 for the priveledge. I have yet to find out why it was rejected, as the extremely objectionable person serving had no idea, and would not even discuss it with me.
I have now decided that all my future business invoicing will be sent via E-mail thus depriving the Royal Mail of my revenue .

By: Andrew Sherwood

Andrew Sherwood — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:45:49 +0000

The reply by Simon House says it all. We don't want to hold anyone to ransom, for me it definitely isn't about money. It is about the destruction of the service by a bunch of incompetents. Starting with the Government, Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier (worst of the lot) the regulator and the consumers body. The people of this country are being manipulated into thinking that the Royal Mail needs replacing with a privatised organisation to run it's Postal services (remember Railtrack !). I suppose when people are having to visit their local DHL or TNT depot to collect their mail or WH Smith for counter services then they will realise whats happening.

HOW TO PRIVATISE THE POST OFFICE... Remove Investment - Not only during the Thatcher years was the Post Office contributing £1M a day to help keep your income tax down, which by the way was our pension money. Since then the Post Office has been prevented from investing in the equipment it needs.

Remove trust - C4 Dispatches programme + others, some truth but much of it false and very definitely exaggerated.

Introduce unfair competition - The Post Office is not allowed to compete on a level playing field and won't be until such time as the competition has a major part of the share of the market, sadly th Management of the Royal Mail is extremely compliant with this and makes no attempt to compete at all.

Demoralise and casualise workforce - In order to make the business more palatable for potential buyers that need to pay their shareholders. This is what the Royal Mail is trying to achieve now and the strikes are a reaction to it.

By: Simon House

Simon House — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:04:38 +0000

Good evening. I have read your Royal Snail comments with interest…. !!

I have now worked for this joke of a company for 3 years. I am building my own business at the moment, but am dependant on the employment of R.M. whilst my web business develops.

I have to strongly dissagree that us employee’s have no respect for customer service or satisfaction. We are tied to the grindstone – money is being spent left right and centre – but not, in my opinion, where it should.
If you think £500,000 on signs in each mail centre, just to let “us” know where equipment should be kept, or £5000 on plasma T.V.’s to let Mr Leighton (yet another spelling ) dictate to us is a good thing – then that is fine.

Please understand though, that firstly we really do not wish to strike at all, and it is not just about a pathetic pay rise.

We are run by an out of touch group of managers who have no respect for the workforce. (We) really want to provide a serious & competative mail operation, and retain one of the U.K.’s longest running services, but it is being destroyed. Please do not blame us – blame Mr Brown and his flock. Have a think about why your mail is not being delivered for a few days, and have a think about your local farming community – if there still is one…………………..

Hello to all “On Mendip” and would enjoy continuing over some Butcombe or a gallon or two of cider.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:48:03 +0000

Amen, my friend. I too am sick of the post office.

Just today, I needed to get my car tax renewed, so I drive up to the nearest post office, and lo and behold! It's closed! At 1:30pm on a Saturday! It doesn't open again until Monday morning now.

For those of us who, you know, have to work for a living, it seems impossible to find an open post office. They open after I have to be in work, and they close way before it's feasible for me to get to one after work.

The only option is Saturday mornings, to queue for hours along with all the other miserable people who are in the same situation as me. Sigh.