An Post: I'm expecting some parcels but won't be here when they arrive?

Melsheimer

Hi all,

I ordered and paid for 3 items last week on eBay, and was wondering two things:
1) What are the chances of them arriving this week, before Christmas?
2) I won't be here from 31st Dec to 8th Jan. This is when I predict the items will arrive. The parcels will be small, but an awkward, rigid shape that won't fit in my letterbox. What will happen if they arrive when I'm not here? (Nobody will be in the house)

Thanks

Wats_in_a_name

Depends where there sent from if from Ireland or UK should arrive by Christmas.

If there are delivered when you are out they will be kept in the local sorting office for you to collect once you arrive home.

noodler

Sign on your door asking them to drop them into your next door neighbour maybe?

If appropriate.

murria

With this weather its anyone's guess whether stuff will arrive or not. In fairness everyone out there is doing their best to get it to us.

If they arrive when you aren't there, the postman will leave a note through your door of the address of the sorting office where the parcels are being held and times you can collect.

Fingers crossed you get them before Christmas

GeorgeBailey

Yeah they'll leave a note saying they're in the local sorting office. One potential problem though I think they return to sender after a certain amount of time... don't know how long though.

dudara

Moved to Online Buying & Auctions

dudara

busman

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

Depends where there sent from if from Ireland or UK should arrive by Christmas.

If there are delivered when you are out they will be kept in the local sorting office for you to collect once you arrive home.

I have a feeling that most of the time they are kept at the sorting office and never make it into the van!

If they can't/couldn't be bothered to deliver you should get a
"Notice of Delivery" Docket

It lists the options you have :
a) Collect it yourself from the sorting/delivery office from the date/time given.
b) An Agent authorised by you can collect it or
c) You can have the item delivered to a neighbour!

The length of time it it held is as follows:

Letter/Packet : Registered or surcharged letters are returned to sender after 3 working days, if not collected or delivered.

Parcel : Parcels if not collected or delivered will be returned to the sender

Ireland 5 working Days
C.O.D. 10 working Days
U.K./foreign 16 working Days

Supraman

Just spotted this thread, the notion that stuff doesn't make it into the vans is ridiculous. The delivery office I work in has every bench checked in the mornings after postmen have left to ensure not even so much as a letter has been left behind not to mention drivers packets/parcels.

The only packets that are not sent for delivery are ones that are addressed badly that happens an awful lot I can assure you as it does with letters made out by the public. I'd estimate that 15-20% were addressed wrong on my own postal route this year.

William Powell

Supraman wrote: »

Just spotted this thread, the notion that stuff doesn't make it into the vans is ridiculous. The delivery office I work in has every bench checked in the mornings after postmen have left to ensure not even so much as a letter has been left behind not to mention drivers packets/parcels.

The only packets that are not sent for delivery are ones that are addressed badly that happens an awful lot I can assure you as it does with letters made out by the public. I'd estimate that 15-20% were addressed wrong on my own postal route this year.

Then lets get proper post codes and make it easier for everyone

Pacing Mule

Supraman wrote: »

Just spotted this thread, the notion that stuff doesn't make it into the vans is ridiculous. The delivery office I work in has every bench checked in the mornings after postmen have left to ensure not even so much as a letter has been left behind not to mention drivers packets/parcels.

The only packets that are not sent for delivery are ones that are addressed badly that happens an awful lot I can assure you as it does with letters made out by the public. I'd estimate that 15-20% were addressed wrong on my own postal route this year.

Sorry to burst your bubble but I can absolutely confirm that this happens on a regular basis in our area (Dublin 15) On several occasions we've had notes left in the door at random, sometimes with our standard post delivery sometimes separatley. We've caught a hold of the postman before he left our garden asking why we had just been given a card and been given a bullsh!t excuse of it was attempted earlier or yesterday and the driver had no slips so I had to deliver the slip today etc. (this despite there being people in the house at the time the attempted delivery was claimed to have taken place) The same story would be repeated by most of our neighbours.

We've made complaints to the sorting office and have been told off the record that there were capacity issues (some postmen here go around on foot / bike and collect their mail from a central drop off point at the front of the estate) If there isn't a seperate van sent up to directly deliver parcels some of the guys on foot aren't bothered dragging the parcels around so bring out cards instead and send them back. We've also been told that if there are staff absences then they can't send parcels out at all and drop cards to let people know they can collect directly rather than wait.

It's a frustrating joke of an operation and these guys are certainly circumventing any procedures that An Post may have in place to stop it happening. That said we're on our fourth postman in a year so perhaps things are being spotted and dealt with but that doesn't mean these events don't happen.