There's a lot of crap postmen and a lot of good ones!
Lemme explain some things...
One of the many problems is that things are constantly being changed lately and this is meaning there is an inconsistent and rather shambolic service all over the country as these changes are brought in at different places at different times with people interpreting the rules in different ways.
For example as part of Royal Mail's 'modernisation plans' a computer system was used to work out brand new delivery rounds based on a little man on a screen going round the delivery in question at 4 miles per hour. That is fact despite what RM says in the press.
In a lot of cases these rounds are not worked out based on local knowledge or common sense, the computer works it all out using postcodes and the speed this little computer man goes at. He doesn't stop to knock on doors, press entry buzzers, re fill bags, cross roads etc etc. He continually walks at 4MPH for 3 and a half hours stopping at each door for 1 second, the supposed delivery time for our rounds. Basically this is unachievable by any normal person thus the deliveries in some cases take far longer to complete.
Start times have gotten later so the mail is being delivered later.This is supposedly progress!?
A lot of deliveries have gotten longer(see above) this all means that we the postmen(who do their best to follow the rules) are leaving the office to start our deliveries at approximately 10am. A whole number of buzzers etc go off at about this time or about midday meaning we cannot gain entrance to a whole number of buildings.
The public expects that we should buzz every individual numbers do gain entry(this adds on a lot of time), but officially we are not supposed to. The official standard operating procedure is to press the service button and if you cannot gain entrance via that the mail gets returned for re-delivery the next day. after 3 days of no entry the mail is supposedly mean to be sent back to sender.
Things you can do to help a posman do his job better.
Make sure you're flat entry buzzer is working and is on till atleast 2pm.
Make sure that you're name and flat number is clearly marked on both the buzzer and your actual door. Names on doors at the very least is really helpful when we don't have complete addressed items
When you are receiving something try to ensure the sender uses your complete address, the more info there is the more likely you are to receive it. I receive a whole number of incomplete addressed items everyday, combine that with no names on doors and there's little chance for me to be able to deliver that item on time and to the right house.
Make sure dogs are not out in the garden during posting times, or that you do not let a dog get out when the postman knocks at your door. Basically If you're dog is out don't expect to get mail!
If you know you are not going to be in, you can have items delivered to nearby post offices instead so that you can collect them there.
If you are unhappy about the postal service you are receiving or you cannot get the entry system to your flat put on later etc there is what is called a
call and collect service available. Basically your mail will be held at the relevant post office depot and you can collect it. It's free.
I know folks like to moan and see every postman as a lazy bastard, but there are a number of hard working people who do their best within the rules of the job.
There's a whole number of possible reasons why you are not getting your mail. It's not always down to the postman not doing his job properly.
Ramblin' post over.
