General Chat

...Don't waste money on sending anything first class in the run up to Christmas. royal Mail scraps its delivery targets between 2nd and 31st December and is allowed to do so by OFCOM.
In that case surely they should be made to a) put a notice up in all Post Offices stating that or b) Suspend the sale of first class stamps since the service is to all intent and purposes suspended

We expect good service from everyone except taxi drivers.

I never buy first class stamps any time of the year and never will - and of course the sale of first class stamps should be suspended during said period - it's legalised robbery otherwise

I think it was mentioned before in the paper but maybe I am just remembering last christmas. I don't send anything first class these days since I read that they are not meeting targets anyway.

That does not mean that they do not seperate first and second and deal with it differently, does it? Can you clarify why you think it is not worth spending 60p instead of 50p, Col. I doubt we expect first class mail to get through next day at 95% level anyway. Volumes in December surely cause a suspension in targets for delivery.

December post has never has come next day in the few years I have inhabited this globe. And we often used to put 3d stamps on instead of tuppenny hapenny ones :-) ;-)

I get lots of post. Currently 1st class is arriving 70% 1 day rest 2 days, 2nd class 70% 2 days rest within 5 days. Stuff sent out 1st class signed for not delayed so far. Do not use 2nd outwards. What's the problem ?

The Postman delivers everything down to the last letter.

If they are only scrapping the targets, by implication it sounds as if they are going to give 1st class mail priority, but are warning that more may not arrive the targetted following day.

Rollo - once the volume of Christmas Cards get into the system, you may find that more of your received 1st Class stamped letters will arriving on day 2 or later.

If they suspend their targets in December, it means that it will be easier to hit targets for the whole year and manager's anuual performance bonuses will be better. Not the only company to suspend performance targets when there is a peak or opposite in demand.

And I think we ought to praise the efforts of our postmen and women at this time of the year. For those of you not used to working with heavy loads on dark, cold and very damp mornings, it is absolute hell. They do a brilliant job for us. :-)

as they no longer use bikes to deliver the post in this area - they now do it with a van - wonder what they did with all the bikes? :-S

Simple solution?

Send out E-Christmas cards were possible. There are many Free E-Card sites out there and delivery by email unaffected by the seasonal rush.

What money you save by not buying cards and stamps you can donate to a charity of your choice who no doubt will be very happy to receive it.

Without so many Christmas cards to deliver Royal Mail might still be able to meet their 1st class mail delivery target.

Merry Christmas one and all.

When I lived in West Cornwall the village post lady had the village mail, delivered to her house and then did the round - funnily enough no-one seemed to have any post when it was raining :-) lovely lady though

Over the years vast numbers of unwanted Royal Mail bikes have been shipped to charities in Africa.

And before you all start moaning about charity beginning at home. The bikes that posties use/used are not your run of the mill bike. They are very heavy and solid.
So could not be given, say. to a kiddies charity here.

Many over the years have been broken up and used as spares to repair those still running! So in reality many just turned up their tyres and went to the big cycle park in the sky!! ;-)