9 August 2011

Australia Post Contractors Not Attempting Delivery

| squib
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Today, whilst I waited outside my unit complex in Turner to meet someone, I witnessed what I had always suspected.

An Australia Post contractor (White van with the contractor magnets stuck to it) pulled up and proceeded to pull out a fistful of missed delivery slips and walk directly to the mail boxes of the next door unit complex and insert them without even attempting to deliver by buzzing the specific units.

The contractor then moved onto my complex, and proceeded to do the same. When I challenged him about the fact that he hadn’t even tried to deliver the packages, he said he had tried and no one was home. When I told him that I had been standing right there for the last 5 minutes and had seen everything he got a bit defensive. He then put a slip in my mail box. I then told him that that was my mail box and he hadn’t tried to deliver my package. Well he got a bit more defensive and then finally went to his van to get my package. As he did so, he took my slip and ripped it into a million little pieces and threw it on the road like confetti.

His overall attitude when challenged was pathetic, and his then childish display sealed it.

What gets me is that this is extremely pre-planned. He has all the packages in the back, but he has written out all the slips in advance and is just driving around inserting the slips into the mail boxes. The amount of time this is taking him must be a fraction of the time it takes him to do his job properly, and yet he is probably being paid the same.

I’ve written to Australia Post – and suggest that if you suspect the same or similar practices are affecting you, you should too. I have had no end of problems with contractors from Australia Post. Terrible hand writing, inappropriate delivery times (night time, really early morning weekends) and so on.

As a side note, all direct Australia Post employees have been exceptional in their conduct, (store and/or directly employed delivery persons, be it registered or express etc). This complaint extends only to contractors.

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I live in Soldiers Point and I was waiting on a small package to arrive from overseas and heard the Postie pull up and all he did was put a card in the box.He did not attempt to deliver my small package as he had left it at the post office. I had to drive 5klms to get it. The person behind the counter said have you got the card. I said no. Have you got any I.D. I said no. They now who I am but they want to show there authority.They are very RUDE at this Post Office and a friend of mine will not even go in there but goes to Nelson Bay and they cannot do enough for him.

Pork Hunt said :

SupaSal said :

gOT A great younger looking guy, …

Struggling here a little. What value does the looks of the driver add to the service? Perhaps he delivers when hubby isn’t at home?

Perhaps the mention of him being “younger looking” is because many people assume that younger people are more likely to be lazy or not doing their job properly?

Or perhaps you thought she said “great looking”?
It is easy to accidentally read “great younger looking” as “younger great looking”. Our minds turn phrases into what we expect to read.

Back to the (old) OP, parcel delivery in Rivett is excellent–if my car’s in the carport, I always get a knock on the door. If I’m not home, the parcel is left in an inconspicuous spot on the front porch.

And, similar to patrick_keogh at #150, I’ve had that same excellent service from DHL. The driver agreed to slip the package in between the screen and wooden doors for me, even though it was a little awkward. Fastest delivery I’ve ever received too.

I once had an Australia Post contractor open my front door without even knocking, literally drop/throw the parcel onto the floor and walk off. But more often than not, they’d just drop it on the front verandah and leave. Nice.

Pork Hunt said :

SupaSal said :

gOT A great younger looking guy, Always knocks, says hello to the dogs. If we are home I usually see him coming and am on the door step waiting for him, If we are not home and it’s not a registered item he will leave a note telling us where he has put it out of site from the road (usually in the garden behind a bush) or will drop it at the neighbours, love this bloke. Always running!

Struggling here a little. What value does the looks of the driver add to the service? Perhaps he delivers when hubby isn’t at home?

We all know a good posty bangs twice. On the door of course

Pork Hunt said :

SupaSal said :

gOT A great younger looking guy, Always knocks, says hello to the dogs. If we are home I usually see him coming and am on the door step waiting for him, If we are not home and it’s not a registered item he will leave a note telling us where he has put it out of site from the road (usually in the garden behind a bush) or will drop it at the neighbours, love this bloke. Always running!

Struggling here a little. What value does the looks of the driver add to the service? Perhaps he delivers when hubby isn’t at home?

I think I’ve seen that movie…

Pork Hunt said :

SupaSal said :

gOT A great younger looking guy, Always knocks, says hello to the dogs. If we are home I usually see him coming and am on the door step waiting for him, If we are not home and it’s not a registered item he will leave a note telling us where he has put it out of site from the road (usually in the garden behind a bush) or will drop it at the neighbours, love this bloke. Always running!

Struggling here a little. What value does the looks of the driver add to the service? Perhaps he delivers when hubby isn’t at home?

Well it would appear that there’s more than a garden behind the bush..

SupaSal said :

gOT A great younger looking guy, Always knocks, says hello to the dogs. If we are home I usually see him coming and am on the door step waiting for him, If we are not home and it’s not a registered item he will leave a note telling us where he has put it out of site from the road (usually in the garden behind a bush) or will drop it at the neighbours, love this bloke. Always running!

Struggling here a little. What value does the looks of the driver add to the service? Perhaps he delivers when hubby isn’t at home?

gOT A great younger looking guy, Always knocks, says hello to the dogs. If we are home I usually see him coming and am on the door step waiting for him, If we are not home and it’s not a registered item he will leave a note telling us where he has put it out of site from the road (usually in the garden behind a bush) or will drop it at the neighbours, love this bloke. Always running!

patrick_keogh8:14 pm 26 Apr 13

A little OT I know, but relevant to the extent that OzPost’s competition are lifting their game…

At lunch time today I got a call from A DHL driver who was delivering at my house and wanted to know if I was home, or whether I wanted him to leave the parcel at the front door. He told me who the sender was and I decided it was OK to leave the parcels. Great service!

A_Cog said :

TODAY, this very morning, another one dropped a ‘delivery attempted’ slip at my front door when we were all home. But this time I heard the gate close, and was outside pretty quickly. Then when he saw me, he HAD to give me the package – and I can see why he didn’t want to -because it took him about two solid minutes of digging in the back to find it.

These slackers are not doing the job they’re paid for, and they are increasing the customer numbers and pressures on post offices. We need a Royal Commission, or Senate Inquiry, or something to sort this out. Maybe the SAS.

I’ve said it before in this thread, and I’ll say it again now that parcel lockers are a reality in Canberra – do these people actually want to make themselves redundant? If I were trying to make a living delivering parcels, and then Australia Post introduced parcel lockers, I’d be doing everything in my power to make sure that nobody in my delivery area decided that they needed to sign up for them.

I’ve been past the Belconnen Delivery Centre just before closing in the afternoon, and seen the line of people out the doors, and a good 20-30 metres down the road. Many of these people probably had to knock off early, just to get to the post office before closing time. So why wouldn’t they simply acknowledge that they’re going to have to pick up their own parcels one way or another, and choose to not have to stand in line by using a locker?

I think it’ll be a moot point soon anyway. I give parcel deliveries 5 years, before lockers are standard and home deliveries are a premium option. Regular mail deliveries can’t be far off that either.

Dilandach said :

Dante said :

Henry82 said :

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I think you’ve missed the point completely. If they are providing a paid delivery service, then they should do that, not a “sorry we missed you” card delivery service.

Not missing the point at all actually… I was missing deliveries on a repeated basis. Bloke would much the same, not knock and leave a slip.

You can sit on here pissing and moaning and pontificating about the poor service you are receiving, you could even lodge a complaint if you would like (and Aus Post’s investigation will turn up nothing with no action).

Meanwhile, I don’t have that concern, and I get my deliveries much quicker and more conveniently. Businesses that don’t deliver to a PO Box usually use couriers (ie overinflated shipping costs) and don’t get my business as a result.

How is getting a PO box so you can collect packages from the post office any sort of solution to delivery drivers not delivering packages, leaving slips and making you go to the post office instead of having it delivered at your home address like it is supposed to be?

Not everyone sits at home waiting for parcels. No one is saying the posties are doing the right thing by not attempting delivery, but clearly complaining doesn’t work, so many have decided to fix it themselves, to at least get some semblance of service. Or we could just sit back and complain with everyone else instead.

I am pleased tell you that today I saw an Australia post contractor park and walk a package to someone’s door. However, what he also did was drive onto the wrong side of the road and park illegally (facing the wrong way).

Dante said :

Henry82 said :

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I think you’ve missed the point completely. If they are providing a paid delivery service, then they should do that, not a “sorry we missed you” card delivery service.

Not missing the point at all actually… I was missing deliveries on a repeated basis. Bloke would much the same, not knock and leave a slip.

You can sit on here pissing and moaning and pontificating about the poor service you are receiving, you could even lodge a complaint if you would like (and Aus Post’s investigation will turn up nothing with no action).

Meanwhile, I don’t have that concern, and I get my deliveries much quicker and more conveniently. Businesses that don’t deliver to a PO Box usually use couriers (ie overinflated shipping costs) and don’t get my business as a result.

How is getting a PO box so you can collect packages from the post office any sort of solution to delivery drivers not delivering packages, leaving slips and making you go to the post office instead of having it delivered at your home address like it is supposed to be?

I wonder whether people realise that there are two different kinds of parcel slips – one used by the contractors (who should attempt delivery first) and another used by the posties (who obviously can’t carry parcels on their bike). I haven’t quite figured out why they come one way or the other – I suspect it’s to do with the class of mail.

I have to say that the contractor in my area (Garran) is fantastic, and I’ve never experienced the problems described above – he even comes around early in the morning to catch people before they go to work. That said, I’ve no doubt that it’s a mixed bag for different suburbs so there’s probably some luck involved.

TODAY, this very morning, another one dropped a ‘delivery attempted’ slip at my front door when we were all home. But this time I heard the gate close, and was outside pretty quickly. Then when he saw me, he HAD to give me the package – and I can see why he didn’t want to -because it took him about two solid minutes of digging in the back to find it.

These slackers are not doing the job they’re paid for, and they are increasing the customer numbers and pressures on post offices. We need a Royal Commission, or Senate Inquiry, or something to sort this out. Maybe the SAS.

thatsnotme said :

BimboGeek said :

Felix the Cat said :

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Do all reputable and professional journalists usually use a gmail address?

He never claimed to be reputable or professional. Maybe he’s a sleazy freelancer putting a proposal together or perhaps a student working on an amateur zine.

More likely if he is a reputable and professional journalist, he’s smart enough not to put his actual email address on a public forum for all the world to see forever, and instead whipped up a gmail address which will never be used again after this.

Well, at least that’s what I’d do.

That’s it. I am, however, contactable on thommyjtemail@gmail.com and if you have something to say about non-delivery of parcels or mail theft – please contact me. I will give you my bonafides then. I’m just a bit uncomfortable throwing them online. Cheers.

Henry82 said :

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I think you’ve missed the point completely. If they are providing a paid delivery service, then they should do that, not a “sorry we missed you” card delivery service.

Not missing the point at all actually… I was missing deliveries on a repeated basis. Bloke would much the same, not knock and leave a slip.

You can sit on here pissing and moaning and pontificating about the poor service you are receiving, you could even lodge a complaint if you would like (and Aus Post’s investigation will turn up nothing with no action).

Meanwhile, I don’t have that concern, and I get my deliveries much quicker and more conveniently. Businesses that don’t deliver to a PO Box usually use couriers (ie overinflated shipping costs) and don’t get my business as a result.

BimboGeek said :

Felix the Cat said :

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Do all reputable and professional journalists usually use a gmail address?

He never claimed to be reputable or professional. Maybe he’s a sleazy freelancer putting a proposal together or perhaps a student working on an amateur zine.

More likely if he is a reputable and professional journalist, he’s smart enough not to put his actual email address on a public forum for all the world to see forever, and instead whipped up a gmail address which will never be used again after this.

Well, at least that’s what I’d do.

squib said :

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I got a parcel locker a couple of months ago and it works like a treat. I can pick up my package any time I want (open 24 hours a day!) without dealing with dodgy post contractors. Definitely think parcel lockers are the way of the future.

+1

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I got a parcel locker a couple of months ago and it works like a treat. I can pick up my package any time I want (open 24 hours a day!) without dealing with dodgy post contractors. Definitely think parcel lockers are the way of the future.

Felix the Cat said :

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Do all reputable and professional journalists usually use a gmail address?

He never claimed to be reputable or professional. Maybe he’s a sleazy freelancer putting a proposal together or perhaps a student working on an amateur zine.

cleo said :

…I went into the post office, and complained, the person behind the counter told me there were no guarantees as the people that were employed had no training….

Wait, people these days need training to be able to find a street and a house number?!

Felix the Cat11:46 am 19 Apr 13

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Do all reputable and professional journalists usually use a gmail address?

beh1972 said :

Kippax mail having to be picked up at Belconnen? What a dream!

From Ngunnawal we have to drive to Mitchell, and they only open after 1pm

His workers’ compensation insurance probably doesn’t let him drive into Ngunn-awol for fear he might do his back in on a “traffic calming” device. The ACTION drivers often complain about fatigue from having to drive around in Gungahlin.

Here_and_Now10:53 am 19 Apr 13

Sounds like some more investigative journalism may be afoot. Will RiotACT look into it and seek a statement for the masses hungry for local truths?

grunge_hippy said :

although, playing devils advocate for a moment… apart from him being an obvious douche, I can imagine if he had many many packages for an apartment complex, it would take a very long time. but you’re right, he should do his job properly.

It would be quicker than if he had the same number of packages all to be delivered to separate houses.

Was he parked illegally? He might have just been worried that if he left his car unattended it might appear on RA next Monday (and/or get a difficult-to-remove sticker affixed the window)?

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I think you’ve missed the point completely. If they are providing a paid delivery service, then they should do that, not a “sorry we missed you” card delivery service.

Dante said :

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

Except for all of the businesses that wont deliver to a PO box.

Get a PO Box or a parcel locker. Problem solved.

I have a solution and it works well. I have a PO Box attached to a LPO that is open til 6pm. Yes i have to pay for it, but its better then whinging on the internet about it. The parcels usually arrive in the morning, they put a card in the box and i pick it up next time i’m there. The staff are usually quite friendly also.

Aeek said :

I’m still struggling to train the letter posties to always use my new obvious letter box rather than the not letterbox. Last fail, I had envelopes on the ground.

For some reason I just had a mental image of a postie park, people take their postie to the park to play and socialise with other posties whilst riding their bikes around.

Watch out for the posties wearing muzzles.

Roundhead89 said :

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

You might also look at Aust Post upping their parcel and delivery rates by 30% which might result in the end of cheap Internet shopping as firms pass on the extra costs to customers.

There is a reason for that, it partially has to do with the rates that are charged for international packages. There’s an agreement with the IPC (International Post Corporation). They can’t charge others more without applying for it through IPC. Essentially they either had to continue at a loss or find revenue to make it up. It sucks, I don’t agree with it but that’s the reality.

As for the delivery guy who ripped up the slip into confetti, if that was done in front of me I’d be doing something I’d come to regret.

I too have had packages either not delivered even though there was someone home or in the rare occasion it was delivered my $500 item was just sitting in a box at the front door.

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Classic journo email there…. /s

I’m still struggling to train the letter posties to always use my new obvious letter box rather than the not letterbox. Last fail, I had envelopes on the ground.

I log onto the Aus post website and put the tracking number in then sign up to get alerts. One day I got an email to say it was onboard with the driver that day for delivery. I was home all day (anyway not because of the delivery) and my front door open with just the screen. I got an email at 1.40pm to say the driver had attempted delivery but no one was home. Well, yes I was and no he didn’t and I checked – no card anywhere! I rang aus post and made a complaint. At 2pm I got another email to say my package was at my LPO for collection. WTF? I rang back and said so where do I go I don’t have a card to tell me which LPO (we have a couple they use).

It was all very fishy – Normally when we get a card it’s pick up after 4.30 but this parcel was there at 2pm!!

thommyjt said :

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

Not wanting to be a killjoy, but this smells fishy to me.
thommyjt, can you explain who you represent and what the purpose of your investigation is for?

grunge_hippy4:04 pm 18 Apr 13

Interesting to note I saw the local postie having his lunch at the shops this arvo, and on the front of his bike, pre-written were the slips to go in the box to say you have a parcel/letter to be picked up. Looks like they dont even bother to take them on their route, only the slips that make you go out and picked them up yourself.

A_Cog said :

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

Mate, you can chat to me also. This happens out of the Queanbeyan post office too and it happens once a week or two when we buy stuff from overseas through eBay. I get my mail delivered, and there is a ‘delivery attempted’ slip in there too – even though we’ve been home. But the bludger hasn’t even tried to deliver it. And this is happening currently, in Feb/March/April 2013.

Thanks – anyone can email me on thommyjtemail@gmail.com hope to speak soon.

I followed a contractor in fraiser a few months ago had the tail gate up on his van with all the s*** falling out on the road real smart one.

goggles13 said :

get a parcel locker – they are free, so there will no failed delivery attempts and illegible cards to decipher

Got a brochure in the mail the other day re these lockers. Looks like Aust Post is about to pass the cost of delivery onto you as a cost of collection.

Possibly wouldn’t mind if there were a corresponding reduction in postage, but I have no doubt there will be no such reduction and the gods at Aust Post will be able to keep their Porsches and Mercedes.

get a parcel locker – they are free, so there will no failed delivery attempts and illegible cards to decipher

They get a dollar per delivery, so if they attempt to deliver one package several times, they get paid more.

johnboy said :

@Thommyjt: suggest you post a contact email rather than spam our comments thread.

johnboy, apols.
Sure. Please email me on:
thommyjtemail@gmail.com

If you have had an experience with Aus Post “pretending” to attempt delivery or another adverse experience with AP

hawker said :

I have had a smiliar experience. When I lived in Downer, the parcel post contractor never bothered to stop, at all. The reason I know this is simple, I lived in a share house, and someone was home all day, yet packages and “first” slips never arrived. I only knew when parcel notices were in our letter box marked ‘Final notice’ – when I talked to the post office in Dickson, they told me that the second parcel notices were sent out from the post office and were delivered by the normal postie. I complained and they said they had had a few complaints and were looking into it.

I probably should have made an official complaint, but I thought they would actually look into it. A short time later I moved to Jerrabomberra, where the parcel delievery service was slightly better, except around Christmas, anything that didn’t need a signature was left on the door step or jammed inbetween the doors. Wasn’t so much a big deal as I lived in a small unit in a complex, with very little traffic, but I can see how it would be annoying for someone on a main street, especially with kids walking past.

I have since moved again, a lot more rural and decided to get a PO box (with free redirect) and no more issues. My local post office staff even know me, and as they see me coming in from the PO Box area, get my package out (If they’re not busy)…

Hawker, would you mind contacting me directly about your experience? I’m a journo researching a potential story.

AussieChris11 said :

@102 stonedwookie…. You’re right!! I worked for Aust post for 6 mths a few years ago doing parcel delivery and they paid 60 cents per parcel. Pretty lame as you would do at least 100+ a day. I always did my job, by knocking everytime. I was quick and had my shift over by lunchtime everyday. And the other guys that worked there treated the packages, boxes, postpaks etc like sh!t. They would load up the vans at 6am by just throwing stuff in… even just plonking boxes of wine. They didnt care. It wasn’t their stuff…I have noticed that there’s a few Indians and another looks like a Kamikaze Iraqi (long black hair & goatee) driving a white van around Belco and Kippax…. “It’s hard to get good help these days”!!!!

Hi AussieChris11, I am a journo, would you be happy to contact me privately about your experience?

@Thommyjt: suggest you post a contact email rather than spam our comments thread.

Roundhead89 said :

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

You might also look at Aust Post upping their parcel and delivery rates by 30% which might result in the end of cheap Internet shopping as firms pass on the extra costs to customers.

Thanks Roundhead. Yes, looking at that also. At the moment, still trying to have a one on one chat with a few people about their experiences. I am an online novice – but I gather people can message me privately and I can contact them from there. Cheers.

A_Cog said :

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

Mate, you can chat to me also. This happens out of the Queanbeyan post office too and it happens once a week or two when we buy stuff from overseas through eBay. I get my mail delivered, and there is a ‘delivery attempted’ slip in there too – even though we’ve been home. But the bludger hasn’t even tried to deliver it. And this is happening currently, in Feb/March/April 2013.

acog. Thanks. How do I get in touch privately to give you my contact details?

Roundhead89 said :

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

You might also look at Aust Post upping their parcel and delivery rates by 30% which might result in the end of cheap Internet shopping as firms pass on the extra costs to customers.

Doesn’t it suggest only the end of cheap domestic internet shopping. I understood that postage fees for overseas purchases are now extremely competitive.

I’d be interested to know how much AP’s parcel services are cross subsidising their general mail services. I’ve long believed that in this internet age AP should be gradually reducing the regularity of their standard mail.

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

You might also look at Aust Post upping their parcel and delivery rates by 30% which might result in the end of cheap Internet shopping as firms pass on the extra costs to customers.

thommyjt said :

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

Mate, you can chat to me also. This happens out of the Queanbeyan post office too and it happens once a week or two when we buy stuff from overseas through eBay. I get my mail delivered, and there is a ‘delivery attempted’ slip in there too – even though we’ve been home. But the bludger hasn’t even tried to deliver it. And this is happening currently, in Feb/March/April 2013.

Hi Squib,

I’m a journo. I’d like to take a closer look at this Aus Post situation.
Can I contact you somehow via email? I have sent you a friend request.

stonedwookie said :

well what ive heard is these guys get paid 60 cents for each package they deliver which isnt a hell of alot so you think once youve offended them there gonna take even greater care of your stuff?
doesnt seem like logic to me

I would imagine that if enough complaints are made against one contractor regarding their poor service that they would eventually get fired…or are you suggesting that people put up with poor service just so that it doesn’t get worse?

It’s your comment that is illogical.

I’ve never had a problem with AustPost or their contractors but if I ever did then the logical thing to do would be to speak with the contractor or their employer. That’s normal. What’s not normal is sitting around weaving paranoid conspiracy theories about AustPost contractors gleefully destroying your property even though they would quite easily be held accountable for their anarchic destruction.

Felix the Cat said :

I must be the only person in Canberra that doesn’t have any problem with Aus Post deliveries!

No, there are two of us. I mentioned that at the beginning of this thread

Felix the Cat9:20 pm 15 Aug 11

I must be the only person in Canberra that doesn’t have any problem with Aus Post deliveries!

AussieChris117:31 pm 15 Aug 11

@102 stonedwookie…. You’re right!! I worked for Aust post for 6 mths a few years ago doing parcel delivery and they paid 60 cents per parcel. Pretty lame as you would do at least 100+ a day. I always did my job, by knocking everytime. I was quick and had my shift over by lunchtime everyday. And the other guys that worked there treated the packages, boxes, postpaks etc like sh!t. They would load up the vans at 6am by just throwing stuff in… even just plonking boxes of wine. They didnt care. It wasn’t their stuff…I have noticed that there’s a few Indians and another looks like a Kamikaze Iraqi (long black hair & goatee) driving a white van around Belco and Kippax…. “It’s hard to get good help these days”!!!!

stonedwookie5:05 pm 15 Aug 11

well what ive heard is these guys get paid 60 cents for each package they deliver which isnt a hell of alot so you think once youve offended them there gonna take even greater care of your stuff?
doesnt seem like logic to me

crackerpants4:43 pm 15 Aug 11

Given the issues some of you have had, the value of the items you’re having delivered, and the expressed inconvenience of having to go to a parcel pickup centre, surely it would be worth springing for a post office box? Ours was $70 or $80 at last renewal. You can choose the PO closest to you (work or home), and collect your parcels when it suits you. And it’s reasonably secure, for all your mail, not just parcels. It’s only occasionally that an online shop won’t deliver to a PO box. Sure you have to lug some unweildy items home, I’ve had some interesting times with toddler+baby+pram+15kg package, but on the whole I’d say it’s well worth it.

stonedwookie said :

i see everyones ears and eyes are failing here.
dont complain trust me it wont work and more of your stuff will get broken or lost once youve offended your local slave.
and you know when you stick a fragile sticker on the box thats just like asking the guy to throw it around and play soccer with it

Hi Stonedwookie,

Would you care to share your experience with us that you keep reiterating? You keep saying “trust me” but could you please share with us what you know?

Thanks.

smokey15 said :

i spoke to him again today(another parcel :))) and told him about this blog,he said he has been told about it from aussie post…….he then explained to me that he has to go to each section of the complex to ring buzzers if he has several parcels,then drive around to the letterboxes to drop off the cards. i guess you have just been unlucky a couple of times,you should catch him soon if you are home about 9ish.

My original and biggest gripe was lack of notices. With the idiocy of the complex layout and it’s many poorly labelled entries, I do feel sorry for the guy. My original post was pointing out I had seen notice only delivery here (don’t care as long as I get the item), but main emphasis was that not even that has been reliable for me (do care a lot).

Anyway, I found out it was no hassle to get things delivered to work, so that’s what I’m doing now. If original notice delivery is even occassionally messed up, the local post office failing to deliver the 2nd notices just compounds the problem.

I have two too many parcels lost at sea.

stonedwookie7:54 am 12 Aug 11

i see everyones ears and eyes are failing here.
dont complain trust me it wont work and more of your stuff will get broken or lost once youve offended your local slave.
and you know when you stick a fragile sticker on the box thats just like asking the guy to throw it around and play soccer with it

What worries me, I get other peoples mail, even if I repost it, it still comes back to me, so I’m concerned what is happening to my mail, I had bought online and had been waiting for some time for my parcel, and contacted them, only to be told the parcel was sent back to them, saying no such address, and the parcel was sent back to USA, of course I have bought and received parcels from the same company in the past, they emailed me to ring them, a bit pricey, but nevertheless I did.
I went into the post office, and complained, the person behind the counter told me there were no guarantees as the people that were employed had no training, after that I rang head office and complained, and receive an email stating that the post office concerned would get an email from them. My daughter used to work for head office, she told me they only do that to appear to be doing something about it, so I wrote a letter to the head honcho of Australia Post, and received a letter form them, well I haven’t had any complaints since then.

smokey15 said :

im sure most of the contractors are trying to do the right thing by there customers,trying to make your life and there life a little easier,surely there is a happy median

A happy median for me would be where the delivery agent actually attempts delivery before carding.

If I stay home doing the gardening or talking with my chooks because I’m waiting for a delivery, I don’t want to find a card in the letterbox at lunch time because the delivery guy was too lazy to drive or walk down the driveway of my battle-axe block to see if there was anyone home.

Sure, it cuts into the dollars per hour, but the delivery guys are paid that money to deliver. They are not paid to stare down a driveway and figure that there’s probably no-one home anyway so why bother trying.

Muttsybignuts10:30 pm 11 Aug 11

Shullerina said :

mickey said :

Once, they threw a package containing clothes into the yard and my dogs not understanding what it was, ripped into it. Should have asked for the cost to be reimbursed.

This happened to me quite recently (not clothes, powder for the arthritic dog who merrily tore the plastic bucket to bits). I called Aus Post to complain and discovered that they would only reimburse me up to $50 for packages that were not registered post. I was not pleased.

Also, we’ve complained more than once about the Kippax Post Office no longer taking some packages, but Aus Post says they can’t do anything about it and we will have to pick up packages from the Belconnen Business Centre.

I am going through the exact same thing as we speak. We had a few parcels not arrive and I was going down the path of whinging to Ebay and AusPost when I discovered that the courier guy had thrown the parcels over our 180 centimetre gate, into the dog’s part of the yard. The wife wasn’t real happy when $280 worth of clothes were torn to shreds. We have complained to Auspost at Belconnen and are hoping for some reimbursement. At least now, after making a lot of noise, we get the knock at the door. Until this we were victims of the old slip straight in the letterbox without attempting to leave the parcel as well.
If I could use anyone other that AusPost I would be.

oops, continuing on. With all the online shopping going on these days, there are twice as many parcels and packages to deliver as there was when i was in the game.

Have a word with your local Post office, or write a letter to Australia Post or fill in the online form, rather than just bagging out the service, that is hardly likely to change anything and will only leave you feeling bitter.

SSrb said :

@82

I’ve only ever seen him at the mail boxes from my window because he’s never been to my door. He’s just a guy with a white van to me.

The 3 days I have been home and I have got a notice, I have been home all day. I even saw the “delivery” on two of those days. It’s not like I could have possibly missed him if he actually tried. The intercom is stupidly loud.

i spoke to him again today(another parcel :))) and told him about this blog,he said he has been told about it from aussie post…….he then explained to me that he has to go to each section of the complex to ring buzzers if he has several parcels,then drive around to the letterboxes to drop off the cards. i guess you have just been unlucky a couple of times,you should catch him soon if you are home about 9ish.
although i think some of these situations do need to come to the attention of aussie post,some of your complaints are ridiculous and childish……squeeky brakes on a bike LOL, bad hand writing OMG have you checked your doctors hand writing lately,some of you need to grow up and stop being so petty and maybe talk to your driver(or leave them a note) about what you want,they cant read your mind.im sure most of the contractors are trying to do the right thing by there customers,trying to make your life and there life a little easier,surely there is a happy median

People do shit jobs everywhere. Especially journalists. Ex-Canberra lad Anthony Templeton broke the law for a childish story on importing Panadol today – weak story, not anything to go to jail for. But he just might.

Felix the Cat2:28 pm 11 Aug 11

beh1972 said :

Kippax mail having to be picked up at Belconnen? What a dream!

From Ngunnawal we have to drive to Mitchell, and they only open after 1pm

Oh noes all that way, must take you all of 5 minutes. However do you cope?

beh1972 said :

Kippax mail having to be picked up at Belconnen? What a dream!

From Ngunnawal we have to drive to Mitchell, and they only open after 1pm

Google maps seems to think that Kippax to Belco is 1.1km shorter then Ngunnawal to Mitchell, but it also thinks that it will take 3 minutes longer. When you take into account the relative ease of parking, I’d say Mitchell is the Dream.

auspost said :

You can access the webform here: http://auspo.st/pVO3n

I’ll be bookmarking this. A while back, we were having massive problems with the post contractor in my area… he was doing wheelies on peoples’ (dirt and gravel) driveways and grinding great furrows in them. One neighbour was so enraged he put a pile of rocks in the furrows. Went looking for how to report this on the Aus Post website, and the best I could find was that you had to write a letter to the post master general.

I think one problem is they seem to go for the lowest tender, and then the contractor discovers he’s not making money and gets resentful.

The current one has taken to outsourcing the mail delivery by putting anything with my house number on it in my box, regardless of the street name or district!

@82

I’ve only ever seen him at the mail boxes from my window because he’s never been to my door. He’s just a guy with a white van to me.

The 3 days I have been home and I have got a notice, I have been home all day. I even saw the “delivery” on two of those days. It’s not like I could have possibly missed him if he actually tried. The intercom is stupidly loud.

Craig – given the number of complaints expressed here all basically saying the same thing about parcel delivery problems, I was wondering if is it your intention to inform all parcel contractors to stop the practice of carding letterboxes without first checking if people are home? Why wait for more ‘official’ complaints from your website to take action on this and the other parcel issues raised?

I have another related whinge – US/Australia online post tracking is bogus. US Post Online consistently advises on the tracking that there have been “three delivery attempts” – and they are invariably all within ten minutes of each other on the system. That of course puts my item in danger of being returned to sender in the US. If I am expecting a parcel from the US I actually drop into the PO and inquire over the counter as to whether it has arrived – because I can trust neither the online tracking nor delivery slips. While I’m annoyed with the inner north white van contractor, I have to posit in his possible defence that he is probably badly underpaid by Post and has to cut corners.

Kippax mail having to be picked up at Belconnen? What a dream!

From Ngunnawal we have to drive to Mitchell, and they only open after 1pm

SSrb said :

I’ve seen them do exactly the same thing at unit blocks in Franklin.

And then they sometimes don’t even get the slip in the mail box. I recently had a package not delivered, and no notice either.

I waited the requisite 5 weeks for an international package before inquiring after it and then uncovered AusPost’s crappy out-dated procedures. It was returned to the sender in the US, so it is currently on a 3 month sea mail voyage. My phone number is generally on those kinds of packages. Surely calling that would be cheaper than sending it back, and would be another check when their delivery system is obviously so full of human error.

i also live in the same unit complex in franklin(there is only 1 built so far) and have only good things to say……always knocks,and leaves a card if im not home……he did tell me he was having trouble getting to some units a while ago due to other units being constructed and cranes parked everywhere……..maybe describe him to see if we are talking about the same guy

mooo_cow said :

You can actually go down to your local Post Office and make a formal complaint. The Post Office should encourage it, as by the Contractor not performing their job correctly, means more work for them.

Except of course that many of the post offices, even the ones that look like a real post office (Kippax) for example are all run by contractors too.

I-filed said :

Nuh. I don’t want to complain via your website – I’d like a responsive counter at the local PO please.

Why not? I know it is discouraging because complaints often go into the ether, or are referred to the person or area about whom we are complaining, but if you don’t formally complain up the line and instead just whinge on RA you’re even less likely to have any success.

As a result of Craig W’s post on this thread I have just taken up his offer. While my complaint is probably small compared to others here, I have also taken the opportunity to post compliments including about my local post office. Unlike some other on line enquiry forms, I received an acknowledgement of my enquiry, and details of my comments for my records. My only gripe is that I had to have two attempts as I timed out, so regularly copy your comments.

I have tried multiple times to complain to Aus Post about the appalling behavior of our contractor, on every single occasion I have been told they will ring me back to let me know the outcome (around 8 times) and never once has that occurred. When I ring back I get told that the complaint has been passed on to the Mitchell parcel centre, but from there the guys at Mitchell fail to act. I’ve had one particular complaint forwarded onto Mitchell 4 times by Aus Post. The only time I got any action (the contractor receiving a written warning) was when I went through the ombudsman, because I was completely fed up with nothing being done.

On the other hand, our local Giralang postie is great, and the guys that run the Kaleen Post Office are fantastic!

auspost said :

What I would ask each of you to do, is to send us the specifics of your complaints via our webform, so that we can get on top of it, and do our best to make sure the poor service ends.

Craig W you need to address a complete lack of engagement at the Dickson Post Office – not just your underpaid contractor’s behaviour. I have complained at least four times at Dickson about the issue, and you would think a manager there would have taken an interest. Nuh. I don’t want to complain via your website – I’d like a responsive counter at the local PO please.

stonedwookie said :

you do realize now that youve offended your local immigrant postal slave that he willl lose/break all your packages im not kidding ether.
how about nexttime instead of having a whinge and go at someone just ask the guys straight up have you got any packages for me?.

Well the conversation was entirely civil – the only thing that wasn’t was his ripping up the card (bizarre – but maybe I misinterpreted it?).

I didn’t have a whinge or anything remotely close to it. And even if I did, so someone should – it concerns everyone, in my unit complex, and more broadly the people in Canberra (who knows how wide spread it is!) I posted this in community because that is what it is about. We should care about the services we receive in this community. Just because he did or did not happen to have a package for me was beside the point really.

If an improvement in service for everyone means I lose a few packages, fine. I’m happy with that.

This has given me some good insight into the issues that some of you are facing.

I first up would liek to apologise for any poor service any of you have experienced, it is not the kind of thing I (and Australia Post) like to hear about. The positives of a congregation of people who have opinions, also means that I can address a lot of the public at once.

What I would ask each of you to do, is to send us the specifics of your complaints via our webform, so that we can get on top of it, and do our best to make sure the poor service ends.

The more info you can include, the better, and you can remain anon if you prefer, but please make sure an address is included.

You can access the webform here: http://auspo.st/pVO3n4

Thanks again, espcially to the OP for the post.

Kind regards,

Craig W.
Social Media Consultant
Australia Post
http://www.auspost.com.au

powerpuffpete11:58 am 10 Aug 11

hawker said :

I have had a smiliar experience. When I lived in Downer, the parcel post contractor never bothered to stop, at all. The reason I know this is simple, I lived in a share house, and someone was home all day, yet packages and “first” slips never arrived. I only knew when parcel notices were in our letter box marked ‘Final notice’ – when I talked to the post office in Dickson, they told me that the second parcel notices were sent out from the post office and were delivered by the normal postie. I complained and they said they had had a few complaints and were looking into it.

For the last package sent to my house I got a “final notice” before receiving a first notice. In fact, “first notice” had been ticked and then scribbled out. The date listed on the notice was from a week before the slip ended up in my mailbox. While it’s possible I simply didn’t see the slip for a week, it’s highly unlikely given the type of mailbox I have and given my fastidious personality.

When I went to pick up my package I was asked “did you receive a first notice?” When I said “No” I thought she was going to explain that this has been happening lately (I assumed that was why she’d asked). But instead she chuckled and told me that I probably threw it out with my junk mail. Except that I have a “no junk mail” sign on my mail box… All a bit dodgy and weird…

While everyone is polishing auspost workers while criticizing the contractors, we’ve had a problem which has only just been resolved with out postie. For months (Id say almost since Christmas), everytime the postie came into the street, we’d hear his brakes screeching, often from the very end of the street. A few words to him and he suggested its not his problem as its a company bike. Within the last couple of days, either theyve fixed the brakes or that particular postie has had a few sickies.

So we can add poor maintanance of their vehicles to the list of criticisms of the postal service too.

stonedwookie8:12 am 10 Aug 11

you do realize now that youve offended your local immigrant postal slave that he willl lose/break all your packages im not kidding ether.
how about nexttime instead of having a whinge and go at someone just ask the guys straight up have you got any packages for me?.

I have had a smiliar experience. When I lived in Downer, the parcel post contractor never bothered to stop, at all. The reason I know this is simple, I lived in a share house, and someone was home all day, yet packages and “first” slips never arrived. I only knew when parcel notices were in our letter box marked ‘Final notice’ – when I talked to the post office in Dickson, they told me that the second parcel notices were sent out from the post office and were delivered by the normal postie. I complained and they said they had had a few complaints and were looking into it.

I probably should have made an official complaint, but I thought they would actually look into it. A short time later I moved to Jerrabomberra, where the parcel delievery service was slightly better, except around Christmas, anything that didn’t need a signature was left on the door step or jammed inbetween the doors. Wasn’t so much a big deal as I lived in a small unit in a complex, with very little traffic, but I can see how it would be annoying for someone on a main street, especially with kids walking past.

I have since moved again, a lot more rural and decided to get a PO box (with free redirect) and no more issues. My local post office staff even know me, and as they see me coming in from the PO Box area, get my package out (If they’re not busy)…

I agree it’s mostly contractors. What looked like a cost cutting exercise with quality control, has turned into a farce. It’s been going on for years so the post managers are NOT listening or somehow failing to address it, so contractor or not it still falls on Australia Post managers surely.

Letters also. I swear they shuffle the deck every morning just for kicks or something. There’s security and privacy issues too. Are they contractors too I wonder? If it is a contractor thing what is it about that which lends itself to poor quality? Is the volume unrealistic, what’s the deal and why can’t they hear us? I’ve known so many people to complain and they always promise they’ll fix it but they don’t.

I’d love to have a meeting with an Australia Post manager and give them a piece of my mind and have them read these pages. I really want to know why this has gone on for years now. If I do mail them a complaint it’s going to be via courier.

Our postal contractor us to leavel parcels at our door all the time. Our front door is very close to the road and anyone walking past could pinch it. We left instructions with Australia Post to not leave any parcels at the front door. The contractor failed to comply, and still left stuff at the door. We complained multiple times, and eventually on the 4th time we got notice that the contractor had received a written warning for failing to comply with the instructions. After that he went from friendly to grumpy, and left tickets on the grass, or on at least 4 occasions left our parcels all over Giralang at different houses. Once he threw a parcel at our door from the footpath (I was home and saw him).

To people who are away all day, just buy a lock, some steel cord, and a reasonable sized tool box. Attach the lock to the steel cord, and the cord to the box. Then leave a large note on the inside lid “place packages here, lock the box please” or something like that. Its not perfect for all situations, but it will solve most problems.

I used to live in McKellar, all of a sudden at Xmas time last year some numpty driver took to leaving a card between my screen door and the front door. In full view of anyone wandering past. I was away for Xmas and came home to find the card stuck in the door for 6 days. Australia Post got a right blasting for advertising the fact I’d been away for 6 days. It happened again about 2 weeks later, so I decided to catch the guy out. I arranged to work from home for 2 days just when I knew a parcel was due, one afternoon I heard the van stop in the driveway, and yanked the door open just as the guy was sticking a card in. He got an earful, considering he parked his van right next to the letterbox!! He didn’t have an answer for my question ‘what part of this *^%(^$ door looks like a *%&%&$ letterbox?’

I have actually an item I had ordered from the US about half a year ago 🙁

The contractor had left several slips but did not identify on the slips whether it was a first or final notice, and the hand writing was so bad that even the staff at the GPO could not read it! The GPO staff where actually really good about it and even got the manager to try and find the package. By the time they found it, it had already been sent back.

After making a complaint about this incident we seemed to get a new contractor delivering in our area. The new guy was great: would always ring on the doorbell, had legible hand writing etc. Alas he seems to have disappeared and we now have another inefficient bozo.

I understand that these guys work hard, are under time-pressure and may not get paid much, but that it no excuse for sloppy work.

Mozzie said :

I wish they would leave slips for me. Everyone in my apartment works, so nobody is available to collect packages during the day.

When Australia Post delivers parcels to my apartment, they always leave them on my doorstep. But this is in a fairly high traffic area. I am terrified that someone will nick something expensive one day. It really stresses me out. Packages have also gotten wet in the rain. Still the lower cost of online purchases more than offsets the risk 🙁

Back where I come from they always used to leave slips if nobody was home – and this was at the end of a cul de sac where nobody ever came.

So ring Australia Post and have them make a note for the delivery guys asking them to not leave parcels on the doorstep. It’s not a perfect system as they sometimes don’t get the messages, but it’s not that hard to call and ask is it?

I came close to losing an expensive item that was about to be posted back to the US – because that frigging inner north contractor in the white van didn’t bother leaving me delivery slips. Infuriating!

I wish they would leave slips for me. Everyone in my apartment works, so nobody is available to collect packages during the day.

When Australia Post delivers parcels to my apartment, they always leave them on my doorstep. But this is in a fairly high traffic area. I am terrified that someone will nick something expensive one day. It really stresses me out. Packages have also gotten wet in the rain. Still the lower cost of online purchases more than offsets the risk 🙁

Back where I come from they always used to leave slips if nobody was home – and this was at the end of a cul de sac where nobody ever came.

CHW said :

Pretty sure the contractors are working for pretty slim pickings… but then I don’t have huge problems going and getting the parcels if I have to.

While I understand what you are getting at here, and I commend your attitude, I would like to point out that for some people, that’s a really tricky thing to do.

In my case, I commute daily, from a small town just beyond Braidwood, Leaving well before the post offive is opened, and getting home some times as late as 11pm. the closes post office is closed on weekends, and either way, I am away most weekends.

Now, in my case it is not a problem, the local post office (Braidwood is closest for us) is wonderfull, and will often go out of their way to help me get my parcells.

However, I can only imagine that this is not the case for everyone, and while mine is an extreame example, it shows that it is not always an option to just pop in and pick up a parcell!

Feng said :

screaming banshee said :

Our census got delivered in the same fashion recently, I arrived home to find a slip in the letterbox and the forms shoved under our screen door. The wife arrived about 30 minutes before me and all the while the family were in the living room adjacent the front door.

Pretty sure that’s how Census deliverers are told to do. I mean can you think of a better option if no one is home? Of course, this being unless you had some other way (e.g. special box set up for census forms) of collecting your forms when you’re not home…

Sorry, was this when you were home? If so, then it’s unacceptable and you should make a complaint.

screaming banshee said :

Our census got delivered in the same fashion recently, I arrived home to find a slip in the letterbox and the forms shoved under our screen door. The wife arrived about 30 minutes before me and all the while the family were in the living room adjacent the front door.

Pretty sure that’s how Census deliverers are told to do. I mean can you think of a better option if no one is home? Of course, this being unless you had some other way (e.g. special box set up for census forms) of collecting your forms when you’re not home…

I don’t even know where to begin with these guys!

My office is shared with an apartment block and we have reserved car spots in the basement for our office, and theres about 4 contractorts with 4 different vans living here. Every single day they park in at least once of our spots, or come monday morning all our 4 reserved spots will be full with the f*cking vans parked there. After repeated notes asking them not to park there they continue to do so, does my head in.

and my second complaint is that at home i have a gate which is locked, so they can’t knock on the door so its fine when they leave a note in my letter box. But lately they’ve been so lazy they don’t even write a note and they just throw whatever package I have ordered over the gate. Thankfully nothings been broken yet, but it makes me angry when you shell out a few hundred dollars for something online for them to just throw it over the fence, even once when it was raining!

end rant.

Pretty sure the contractors are working for pretty slim pickings… but then I don’t have huge problems going and getting the parcels if I have to.

Try this $14 automatic wireless motion sensor doorbell for a possible solution http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/16-Chime-Wireless-Door-Bell-Motion-Sensor-Alarm-S1412-/260790872168. You can leave it on all the time or just turn it on when you are keeping an eye out for someone (eg Aussie Post). There are more expensive ones around but so far this seems to do the job quite well for us.

Aust Post contractors aren’t the only ones doing it. Any deliveries I get using DHL, which are usually expensive items, are just dumped on the doorstep without as much as a knock on the door. Usually the only way I know something has been delivered is because I have been watching the online tracking service and see the status update when the driver logs the delivery.

Our experience with AusPost contractors has been hit-and-miss over the years, but our usual bloke now is good. If no signature is required, he leaves it on the front veranda, knocking as he leaves just to let me know it’s there. Otherwise, he knocks so I can sign for it. For some, I think it’s about doing a half-arsed job and getting it done as quickly as possible, but for others, I think they just assume (maybe based on experience, maybe not) that nobody is home during the day.

Wow I almost posted this story a month ago.

I kinda went nuts and bought alot of stuff on COTD. Despite being home for several “deliveries”. No one ever knocked on the door. What annoyed me even more was that I had to go to Belconnen to pick up the parcels. Yes they are open from 7am-515pm M-F which they state is convenient. But not when you catch a bus to work at 730am and dont get home until after 5pm.

After complaining several times about my stuff not getting sent to Kippax, who are open late and also open on Saturdays. I was told that the smaller post offices don’t have the storage facilities anymore and everything is now sent to the business centers for collection.

The first time I got annoyed about my ‘delivery’ I was at home sick, spent the day on the couch less than 2m from my front door. Got up when the dog started barking to see a card shoved in my door. No knock – nothing.

The Last time I had a missed ‘delivery’, there were 5 people home and not card was left behind. The Belconnen business centre staff said that most people are complaining about being home when the ‘delivery’ is made and gave me an email address to complain to. I will post this when I get home.

Kippax PO arranged redelivery of a heavy itemin 08. This was a once-off as since then no delivery.
A $2 delivery receipt equal no problem

Name, Shame, time and location people and maybe some photo’s.

Shullerina said :

Also, we’ve complained more than once about the Kippax Post Office no longer taking some packages, but Aus Post says they can’t do anything about it and we will have to pick up packages from the Belconnen Business Centre.

This is exactly what I am going through. I usually get my parcels from the Kippax PO too.

Brandi said :

The contractor in O’Connor was excellent.

*was* is the key word here. He went southside for a while. Standards dropped. He returned briefly a few months ago. But his stay was all too short. I’m not sure where he went, but the poor standards returned.

Mickey’s experience in post #27 is familiar to me too.

I’ve seen the card being left without an attempt to knock. I’ve seen them drive and throw the parcels like newspaper deliveries. I’ve had parcels left in clear view of the street. I’ve also experienced Saturday morning deliveries. I always complain to the driver and the base. I chase it up too. Contractors do get disciplined and sometimes moved on.

(No probs with ECI/EMS by the way. Worst of the courier firms BY FAR is DHL in my experience.)

The O’Connor post office says to deal with aus post directly by the way. Please call. Please complain. It makes a difference.

I feel this XKCD comic is particularly apropos in this discussion: http://xkcd.com/921/

YES! So glad this subject has come up. This happens to me on the Belconnen side all the time, although I don’t even get a slip anymore, just a second and final reminder to pick up an item I had no idea had been delivered.

mickey said :

Once, they threw a package containing clothes into the yard and my dogs not understanding what it was, ripped into it. Should have asked for the cost to be reimbursed.

This happened to me quite recently (not clothes, powder for the arthritic dog who merrily tore the plastic bucket to bits). I called Aus Post to complain and discovered that they would only reimburse me up to $50 for packages that were not registered post. I was not pleased.

Also, we’ve complained more than once about the Kippax Post Office no longer taking some packages, but Aus Post says they can’t do anything about it and we will have to pick up packages from the Belconnen Business Centre.

Primal said :

I’m never home during the day anyway, so I’m just glad that the Tuggeranong Business Centre opens before 9. There’s one lady who works at their early morning pickup window who is just amazingly cheery for so early in the day…

Yes, the Qbn post office has a brilliant dodge where they open a parcel window in the post boxes room from 5am. It’s VERY heavily used! Whoever thought of that needs a medal. You get to have a stickybeak into the parcel room too. Peters of Kensington is sending a lot of boxes to someone in Qbn.

Just to add to the list; the Erindale drivers are almost as bad. We had no problems when we lived in Greenway, but we’ve been complaining regularly since moving into Erindale’s delivery area.

And to make it worse, the women running the post office at Erindale are two of the grumpiest old hags I’ve ever encountered, so I’m really not surprised they can’t get their drivers to do their jobs properly!

I’m never home during the day anyway, so I’m just glad that the Tuggeranong Business Centre opens before 9. There’s one lady who works at their early morning pickup window who is just amazingly cheery for so early in the day…

The ones that service McKellar have done a pretty good job over the last 3 or 4 years. I don’t recall having to pick up more than 1 package from the post office, despite having dozens of things delivered.

Australian Air Express, on the other hand, have been lazy. Very lazy. I refuse to use them any more.

Never had this problem and I have had many, many parcels delivered! I live in Bonython.

Classified said :

The contractors who service Chisolm are well known for this behaviour.

Or sitting things on the gate post in full view and open to the weather.

On the one hand, practically every package I have had delivered in the last five years a note has been left, and no one has knocked.
On the other, when a delivery was going to be on a public holiday long weekend they have done the delivery on the Saturday morning instead and rung the door bell.

This is in Braddon.

montana said :

wow so ignorant to assume the someone is Indian, just becasue they are form the sub continent.

I actually know my guy…

This has happened twice in the last month. Both times my wife was home, both time there were not one, but two cars in the driveway. Pretty frustrating when you really want to play with your new DSLR that you didn’t buy from Harvey Norman.

Ironically, this XKCD came out right after it happened the first time.

montana said :

wow so ignorant to assume the someone is Indian, just becasue they are form the sub continent.

I thought he was talking about a Native American.

montana said :

wow so ignorant to assume the someone is Indian, just becasue they are form the sub continent.

Haha good one. Most pakis would be happier if they were identified as Indians. Trust me, we Indians are never happy if its the other way around.

screaming banshee12:30 pm 09 Aug 11

Our census got delivered in the same fashion recently, I arrived home to find a slip in the letterbox and the forms shoved under our screen door. The wife arrived about 30 minutes before me and all the while the family were in the living room adjacent the front door.

wow so ignorant to assume the someone is Indian, just becasue they are form the sub continent.

troll-sniffer said :

Captain RAAF said :

My local contractor is a cute blonde girl with pigtails and she always comes to the door. She is friendly and we always exchange small talk…

You know, I always thought these stories happened to everyone but me, but just the other day, there I was, waiting for a delivery, when the doorbell rang. When I opened the front door, there she stood, a nubile pert young thing… da da da (Apologies to all the authors of Penthouse stories over the years)

Insert a package handling joke here

troll-sniffer12:00 pm 09 Aug 11

Captain RAAF said :

My local contractor is a cute blonde girl with pigtails and she always comes to the door. She is friendly and we always exchange small talk…

You know, I always thought these stories happened to everyone but me, but just the other day, there I was, waiting for a delivery, when the doorbell rang. When I opened the front door, there she stood, a nubile pert young thing… da da da (Apologies to all the authors of Penthouse stories over the years)

I have my own gripes, but I’m pretty sure they’re overworked and underpaid. As long as Australia Post keeps taking the cheapest tender it’s going to be a race to the bottom.

I live in Ainslie and our local parcel delivery man is great.

I’ve had similar issues. I work part time and have a son who is not well and am often home all day. Go out to check the mail in the evening and there is one of those stupid slips. Very irritating when I’ve been home to get thte parcel and then I have to drag my sick son out to the collection facility the next day just because they couldn’t be bothered knocking…..grrr! Will be putting in a complaint too. Nice to hear it isn’t just me though.

I’ve had both kinds delivering to my various abodes at various times, but the guy(s) who do it in Garran at the moment will always ring the buzzer and attempt to make delivery before dropping a note in the letter box. I even had a parcel delivered on a public holiday a while back!

So… the Aust Post contractors are giving Canberrans the slip ey?

/me ducks and weaves keyboards, mouses, and belated packages

borizuka said :

The indian Aus Post contractors that service North Side, around the Evatt area are also terrible, and have been not knocking for the last year.

Both me and my wife have called Aus Post, complained at the post office and they are still delivering and doing the same.

If we get a delivery almost 90% of the time it is left on the front porch, which is visible to onlookers.
We even had sachets requiring signature left on the front porch.

So yeah. I have no hope anymore.

I have had trouble with these guys as well, made a complaint to the post office and next time they did knock. They didnt seem too pleased about it though. (Im Indian too btw)
Once, they threw a package containing clothes into the yard and my dogs not understanding what it was, ripped into it. Should have asked for the cost to be reimbursed.
Yes and a number of times they have left packages outside in plain view, without even leaving a slip.
I would suggest you make a formal complaint at the local post office. They are being paid for a service they are clearly incompetently delivering.

Captain RAAF11:32 am 09 Aug 11

My local contractor is a cute blonde girl with pigtails and she always comes to the door. She is friendly and we always exchange small talk but before her, yep I too was a victim of the lazy contractor that just left the note in the letter box.

If it happened again, my advice would be not to complain to the contractor but to the local Aussie Post centre.

Wokie said :

I often miss getting mail delivered to me and get mail for a totally different street!

Me too. I get a variety of mail for my house number, but different streets. Some I am able to deliver, but a few have stumped me so they go back into the post. I just hope people who are getting my mail do the same thing.

Working from home today, I heard the doorbell go about half an hour ago, and answered the door to a smiling Indian post office contractor holding my parcel. No cars in the driveway and no-one in the front room.

I was sure to thank him for his good service after reading this thread earlier!

You surprised me when you revealed that he had the parcels in his van! I always assumed that they did the cards at the Post Office, and didn’t even bother taking the parcels for a drive.

I wish they’d implement the US system here… the postie will leave a card and a key if you get a parcel or registered item. You visit the PO mail boxes section, which is open 24/7, find the door your key corresponds to, use key to open door and grab your item. The cupboards are all different sizes. Key stays in lock for retrieval by post office staff during working hours.

Hugely convenient, secure… quite un-American, really.

Like Stevian, I’m going to annoy you with my merry tale. My contractor in Franklin always rings the bell to deliver my packages. Not only that, he knows when I’m likely to be home and sorts his mail accordingly. If I’m not there, he’ll leave things if they’re small and he can put them in an unobtrusive place. If they’re bulky or obviously reasonably costly, he’ll take it back and leave a slip. He is polite and a top bloke. I raved about him to AusPost staff once when I had to pick up a parcel. They reply? “Yeah, everyone says that!”

Just to join the chorus, the contractor(s) who deliver packages in Braddon do this too.

In Bruce it’s a bit random. Sometimes they knock, sometimes they don’t. For a while they were throwing my packages over the gate of the next door residence and when I complained about that it stopped.

The worst one was when they left a missed delivery note for a package I had already picked up. Caused a lot of confusion when in the post office when they couldn’t find the package 🙂

The contractor in O’Connor was excellent. Always knocked to see if someone was home, and would card a parcel even if it wasn’t registered rather than leaving it on the doorstep.

Perhaps the equally superb franchisees running the O’Connor and Lyneham post offices may have something to do with choosing the contractor.

They used to leave the items at my local post office. Now I have to go to the Belconnen Mail Delivery Centre to get my items. It’s a bit of a hassle having to try and get there early on a weekday morning and I can’t get it after work as I work late. I would prefer that they left my item at my local post office where I can pick it up on a Saturday morning. This has been happening for the last few months.

teddyhb said :

the contractor that delivers to our house just leaves the boxes sitting on the doorstep, does not knock or anything, you just hear a thud as they chuck the box on the ground outside the door and then see the contractor driving off

maybe this is for regular mail, unregistered packages? they are not obliged to have you sign anything, they can leave it on your door step as long as its not in plain view from the street.

We’ve had this problem in Chisholm for years, but it has improved (for me at least) in the last few months after I made a complaint.

the contractor that delivers to our house just leaves the boxes sitting on the doorstep, does not knock or anything, you just hear a thud as they chuck the box on the ground outside the door and then see the contractor driving off

montana said :

OP > I wouldnt have confronted him like that, when you control the mail, you control information.

Yes! We have a reference of the week winner!

Swimming against the stream, and I’m sure this will annoy many.

I’ve had zero problem with parcel delivey by Australia Post. When I’m home and expecting a package I always expact to find a slip in my mail box to collect, a trip to the Post office, where is the drama in that. Yet every time, a knock on the door and there it is.

I’ve seen them do exactly the same thing at unit blocks in Franklin.

And then they sometimes don’t even get the slip in the mail box. I recently had a package not delivered, and no notice either.

I waited the requisite 5 weeks for an international package before inquiring after it and then uncovered AusPost’s crappy out-dated procedures. It was returned to the sender in the US, so it is currently on a 3 month sea mail voyage. My phone number is generally on those kinds of packages. Surely calling that would be cheaper than sending it back, and would be another check when their delivery system is obviously so full of human error.

I’ve busted them before too! Only a few weeks ago I had done some online shopping and at about mid day heard a car roll up (still running) and someone walking up the stairs. No knock, only opened the screen door (so he could stick the ‘sorry i missed you card’) inside. I opened the door and said “Hi must not have heard you” he was standing right there just writing out the card. He got pretty defensive and rude which was weird considering he was in the wrong…

OP > I wouldnt have confronted him like that, when you control the mail, you control information.

dont be surprised if packages address to you mysteriously go missing now.

The indian Aus Post contractors that service North Side, around the Evatt area are also terrible, and have been not knocking for the last year.

Both me and my wife have called Aus Post, complained at the post office and they are still delivering and doing the same.

If we get a delivery almost 90% of the time it is left on the front porch, which is visible to onlookers.
We even had sachets requiring signature left on the front porch.

So yeah. I have no hope anymore.

Happens all the time at my complex in weston creek as well. We get our normal mail no problem, but if there’s ever a package I will get a slip. Always. My partner worked from home for a good period of time and never had the doorbell ring, but always the slip.

I’ve already complained to Australia Post but short of camping at my letter box I don’t know how else I can catch them out?

Beserk Keyboard Warrior10:11 am 09 Aug 11

Same here, I’m forever buying things online and despite being at home all day I never ever hear a knock at the door. Furthermore the note they leave in my letterbox looks like a 2 year old chimpazee has scrawled a message on it – completely illegible. then I have to wait until 4:30pm that day to pick it up from my ‘local’ post office. I’m going to set up a covert camera system and send the story to TT.

I often miss getting mail delivered to me and get mail for a totally different street! Even asked the postie one time if he could read English as he tried to deliver mail from the wrong street to me. The street name is even on front of unit. Now what could be easier? Have lodged numerous complaints to Australia Post and it still happens. Guess they just find it too hard to do their jobs!

grunge_hippy9:53 am 09 Aug 11

mine is pretty good. if he sees the car in the driveway, he’ll call out (we have a harmless, yet large dog that is between him and the front door). If we arent home, the slip goes in the box. However when the postman has a letter that needs signing, a slip goes straight in the box. he doesn’t even bother getting off the bike.

although, playing devils advocate for a moment… apart from him being an obvious douche, I can imagine if he had many many packages for an apartment complex, it would take a very long time. but you’re right, he should do his job properly.

You can actually go down to your local Post Office and make a formal complaint. The Post Office should encourage it, as by the Contractor not performing their job correctly, means more work for them.

The contractors who service Chisolm are well known for this behaviour.

golden_youth9:31 am 09 Aug 11

Happens to me all too often (I am a sucker for buying things online), where I am home all day, and will find the slip in the letterbox without a single knock at the door. Its pointless. I haven’t ‘officially’ complained but have mentioned it to the post office staff a few times, but has fallen on deaf ears – probably doesn’t help that I start off by calling their contractors lazy!

What is even more mind boggling is if my package is being sent to my address in Phillip, why do I have to go all the way to the Post Office at Weston Creek to pick it up!? Why not the post office in Woden? Even Mawson!?

Another example of their poor work – a couple of months ago an OzPost contractor delivered a package to our place and we signed for it. At the time I didn’t look too closely as we were having a few packages delivered. The driver obviously didn’t look too closely either as the package was for someone who lives ten houses down the road! Fortunately I know the person the package was addressed to and delivered it when they were home.

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