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The thing you have to remember when comparing us to Amazon is that they have multiple income streams that they can feed off when it comes to investing in better vehicles and premises, in fact I think I'm correct in saying that Amazon don't actually make any profit from their retail/delivery arm despite the abysmal pay and T&C's their workers endure, it's all subsidised by the vast profits they make from their digital services.
It was a million pound a DAY not week. If I remember right
Callers offices opening hours, are about to be extended a bit longer. If royal mail announce a 500 mill loss, then they are cooking the books. Just like last time they did it, followed by a huge profit the following year. Not sure how they can lose 500 mill when 2 months ago royal mail stated they were losing 1 mill a week.
P.S presume this is happening ,so dont have to replace people in the callers office.
If you dont work in delivery ,youve no idea whats happening,not sure if its a nationwide thing but on top of doing collections (pillar boxes ) and picking up customer returns ,latest add on is on the 318,s no opening times ,so ring a number and ask for a redelivery ,so with the number of oversized parcels ,you end up forcing bigger packets in your pouches ,quiet often slippping them,and surprise surprise 2 days later you are taking the redelivery, good luck with that as christmas pressure arrives.
beatrootjuice, I wasn't referring to the their customer service or obligations.
I was referring to how much better the condition of Amazon's fleet is as well as how quickly they update their real estate when it's obvious that their older buildings are becoming unit for purpose. RM seem to be quite content with trying to patch up buildings and vehicles that need replacing rather than seizing the moment and updating.
Amazon haven't got the complication of having to deliver letters. That's why in our current state we will never keep up with the likes of Amazon. Oh and yeah we actually have to deliver the parcels instead of just dumping them on the doorstep!
If the business hasn't already started looking into reassessing it's fleet capability then it will need to do so as a matter of urgency. The state of many vehicles leaves a lot to be desired and our MT have already said that sending vehicles out with bumpers and wing mirrors held together with duct tape and cable ties is acceptable as are dented panels, odd back doors and missing paintwork.
It's fairly obvious that with so many parcels we will need larger vehicles or more of the smaller vans with just one driver to a van.
Regarding parcels automation, the business has know that parcel volumes have been on the rise for well over a decade but been very slow to react. Moya Green had the chance to get the ball rolling before privatisation but failed. Most of the smaller mail centres are no longer fit for purpose and require major investment or replacement.
It's interesting to note that Amazon are quite prepared to move quickly when the need arises.
@ beatroot.
Much the same in my office.
These problems are never seen by the wider public.
Unfortunately these "failings" are completely the fault of posties. That's if you believe some posters on here.
Agree about the vans.. but we need bigger ones fit for purpose .postman this morning loading up a small van on van share 2 rounds impossible to be efficient when piled high and still not room for all packets mean overtime to complete them...also postman had to go off after positive covid test...after special cleaner came in with a spray and a wipe of his and only his frame it was carry on..
You just have to look at the state of the average royal mail van to see that we are not investing in that area for starters. The amount of vans I refuse to take out due to dangerous faults that never get seen to is shocking. Trouble is there's always some corner cutting numpty willing to take them out coz it'll slow their day down to mess around trying to get another. And the managers know this.
A solid and reliable service to keep customers! Yeah right. That's why I'm not delivering the non tracked parcels today as haven't got time, and there's 5 walks in the office not going out at all! Yeah, quality of service!
No problem with the extra work through parcel pick up, the problem is that many deliveries due to extra lapsing , are now up to time or over. You can't keep adding work on whilst still cutting delivery people. Without people doing overtime or working days off the rounds would never go out in our office. Every other delivery business is recruiting staff to expand at the moment. Royal Mail is reducing staff to expand. That makes no sense. Once winter sickness kicks in , the deliveries side will collapse. It's alright for those that are working in mail centres and driving to say, great idea, bit it's making no difference to them. Many deliveries are now also doing 4 to 6 d2ds a week , something that also doesn't affect mail centre workers and drivers , yet you still get paid for them.
Hi snape, I don’t think I missed your point . It was well made and understood and I agree with your comments . Many people in Royal Mail are weary of change but it has to come, in order to survive we must evolve. There is no disagreement from me on that .
@ABRoyalMail
@IsleworthSpy
I think you miss the point of what myself and a few other members were trying to get across, nobody was calling everyone lazy. The point is, many employees, particularly some of the older more unionized ones are very dead set in their ways, they don't like change, still live in the days of everyone should get a 4-hour flyer, whether you yourself have this mindset or not is not the point. You work your hours, finish your shift, do whatever they want you to do, if it's hopping on your round or not, take your breaks, you do that.
The revenue of Royal Mail does protect your jobs, but we as a company need to keep that revenue coming in, we need to be profitable! However, due to the changing nature of peoples shopping and posting habits, we are going to struggle with that. Machines to sort parcels, better use of a logistics network, greater innovation and more efficient use of staff is inevitable and essential in order to maintain that revenue, Royal Mail needs to provide a reliable and solid service in order to keep customers.