
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the leading provider of postal and parcel delivery services in the UK. We deliver to over 230 countries and territories worldwide.
Carriers including the Royal Mail are starting to suspend signatures on delivery, even for services where a signature is normally required such as Special Delivery or other Signed for services. Instead, they will simply ask for the name of the person receiving the parcel and record this without signature removing the need for handheld devices to be touched by customers.
This will impact consumers as when a parcel is delivered it is likely to be placed on the door mat, the delivery person will ring the bell and step back a couple of meters and if the parcel is accepted and taken into the house they will record that as if a signature had been received.
Marketplaces and website owners will need to be aware that their normal proof of deliveries will vary over the next few months and be aware of the requirement by carriers to suspend signatures on delivery until further notice. This could also provide an opportunity for some cost savings in your shipping costs. During the period of time that carriers suspend signatures on delivery, you may well decide to use a cheaper service with a doorstep scan rather than a signature on delivery.
With many in the country going to have to self isolate at some point, we are going to be reliant on deliveries for everything from food to medicines as well as doubtless treats and diversions to keep us occupied and distract from the boredom of staying at home. Courier delivery drivers and Posties are at the front line and will be the ones to keep the country moving, so work with them while they suspend signatures on delivery to help them stay safe and make their lives as easy as possible during these changes.
The following notes are the temporary changes for posties to Royal Mail’s Operational Delivery processes for the delivery of any parcels which cannot be posted through a letterbox, or items that would normally require a signature.
Yes. These new processes apply to all parcels and items requiring a signature that are delivered in the UK.
No. These new temporary processes apply to delivery to all customers.
These changes are effective immediately, until further notice.
if were going extreme
hope they washed their hands before knocking on my door
We’re more likely to catch it of the postman / woman as they are touching letterboxes garden gates hand rails and so on all day
if we’re going extreme again…. as a RM business customer I hope the lack of communication (from RM itself) on this issue is the danger of me receiving covid-19 on the the letter about this ‘update’.
Why doesn’t the postman just hold the machine and ask the customer to use their own pen without holding the machine , at arms length if your expecting a special delivery item then just get a pen ready for when postman arrives , special delivery usually means the item is expensive. Or just give the postman / woman surgical gloves .
Its when someone says “i did not get it”, ebay or whoever ask for a proof of delivery and there is no signature………it is how compatible RM’s stance is with ebay etc and RM’s own claims department will be for any claims made etc. Lets hope all are sensible…..that includes you eBay!!!!
We use RM24 and RM48 with delivery confirmation scan. No signature is required. It’s not perfect, as posties won’t perform 100% of these scans, but mostly they do. Ebay/Paypal accept it as proof of delivery. Amazon do not accept it as proof.
Because to do that they will most likely have to step within 2 metres of the customer. Gloves are not stopping them breathing on you. Masks might, but do you want numerous delivery drivers to use up the scarce supply of masks needed for health and care workers who do have to get that close?
wont really matter if were all in lock down,
no one will be buying or selling much anyhow
In a rather unfortunate twist of fate… this situation will benefit me. As a seller of hot tub and pool accessories etc, we have already seen a spike in hot tub stuff selling as more stay home or get ready to. If this continues into summer, with holidays abroad cancelled etc… then that drives our pool business. As with any situation it creates winners and losers…. but to be honest, i would rather it not be happening. there is no joy in the benefit from others misery.
Toby, you could always donate your increased profits to charity groups working with those who get laid off or underpaid because of corona 😉
Oh and just waiting for RM to think about emailing it’s business customers to update them on this… great when you hear it through a third party first!
This has been in place for several days now. Haven’t seen my postman to ask him for postal sacks to send my orders out for instance, which he normally supplies for me on regular basis.
How will this impact seller protections on Ebay, Paypal etc. No communication, just tumbleweeds from them. Assume they will try and get away with it as long as possible, sticking to their usual policies….
Was out on delivery today which felt awfull. Customers are looking at us on delivery like we are big germs. Can’t believe royal mail still haven’t supplied us gloves. Plus hand wipes.
You cant use a pen on a royal mail PDA machine .. it’s done with your finger to sign for items …
As a Postie i can see us carrying the technique on, after the virus has gone, as it speeds up delivery, and as they (RM) want to increase walk sizes it would allow them (RM) to do just that. By the way https://tamebay.com/2020/03/royal-mail-cwu-workers-vote-to-strike-but-support-country.html
As a courier for the royal mail we are only providing a service which the customer wants, if they want to avoid the virus at all costs then don’t order on line, our pda, s are only touched by us and the transport supervisor, the parcel will have been touched by a lot of people down the line not including the goods inside
If we believe we have the virus we are responsible enough to self isolate so as not to put the general public at risk
My daughter works in a mail room on a military run camp at southwick park Hampshire so should she be going to work as she handles all types of mail and parcels from couriers
Royal Mail is the leading provider of postal and parcel delivery services in the UK. We deliver to over 230 countries and territories worldwide.