Strange incident with Anpost delivery

tom_murphy112

Hey All,

Just wanted to share something that happened to me this morning with an anpost delivery.. So I ordered a product from the US that required me to pay customs.. so this morning the anpost delivery guys comes to my door to deliver the package and mentions that I need to pay a customs fee of €48.40, so I get my wallet and find that I only have €50 in it.. when I offered it to the guy, he said "no change, no change".. So I was like let me find if I have smaller denomination anywhere around the house.. at this stage the guy just said, I will give you a delivery notice and you can pick it up from the Anpost depot at a later stage, to which I said okay.. but here is the strange part, when he gave me the notice he made a comment like "It would cost me more than €2 in petrol to get the parcel from the depot", then it dawned on me the guy was expecting me to give him the €50 and expect no change.. is this norm, I was just confused/puzzled with that remark.. Plus the driver said he wont give me an invoice for the amount I pay for customs.. is this right ?

Sorry for the long rant, but just wanted to share

gerrykin22

There is a customs sticker on the parcel with the
charges on it. That is your receipt/invoice.

3DataModem

This is why I still have a chequebook

tom_murphy112

3DataModem wrote: »

This is why I still have a chequebook

Haha.. I am sure he wouldn't have accepted it anyway.. if he would have just made his intentions clear I would have given him the €50 with no bother and expected no change off him.. To be honest I still cant believe the Anpost driver was trying to shortchange me as a customers.. I have never seen this before with FedEx, UPS or DHL before... I am still kinda reeling from his comment :eek:

rubadub

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

"It would cost me more than €2 in petrol to get the parcel from the depot", then it dawned on me the guy was expecting me to give him the €50 and expect no change.. is this norm, I was just confused/puzzled with that remark.

I would be more annoyed if he didn't suggest it and if I only copped it later on. I would have given him it. It could also be viewed as him telling you that it does not need to be exact change.

You could view it as a tip rather than a mild form of extortion, people tip other delivery drivers a lot more.

Thoie

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

"It would cost me more than €2 in petrol to get the parcel from the depot",

Hang on, he turned up at your door without the package, but still wanted the money?!?! Did you point out that you'd paid for it to be delivered to your house, not somewhere vaguely in the right country?

tom_murphy112

rubadub wrote: »

I would be more annoyed if he didn't suggest it and if I only copped it later on. I would have given him it. It could also be viewed as him telling you that it does not need to be exact change.

You could view it as a tip rather than a mild form of extortion, people tip other delivery drivers a lot more.

To be honest I would have never tipped the guy anyway.. since he didnt even say hello when he first called.. just "I just have a parcel for you and you have to pay me customs charge if you want it".. Isn't anpost state owned anyway, the guys is prob earning enough that he doesn't have to be tipped

tom_murphy112

Thoie wrote: »

Hang on, he turned up at your door without the package, but still wanted the money?!?! Did you point out that you'd paid for it to be delivered to your house, not somewhere vaguely in the right country?

He had it with him.. I just didn't cope on that he was expecting me to hand over the €50.. with €48.40 going to customs and the rest as his lunch money... After he made that comment only did it dawn on me what he was after... Plus my local depot is like .5KM away from my house anyway

kc90

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

Haha.. I am sure he wouldn't have accepted it anyway.. if he would have just made his intentions clear I would have given him the €50 with no bother and expected no change off him.. To be honest I still cant believe the Anpost driver was trying to shortchange me as a customers.. I have never seen this before with FedEx, UPS or DHL before... I am still kinda reeling from his comment :eek:

I think you've taken it up wrong. He didn't try to short change you. You said he made it quite clear he had no change. And I really doubt he was desperate for €1.60. Was it not just a statement of fact or do you live close to the depot?

tom_murphy112

kc90 wrote: »

I think you've taken it up wrong. He didn't try to short change you. You said he made it quite clear he had no change. And I really doubt he was desperate for €1.60. Was it not just a statement of fact or do you live close to the depot?

I actually live in Glasnevin and had to pick it up from the Whitehall delivery office, so about 3-4 minutes away

Peanut2011

Any time I have received the delivery where customs had to be paid I was informed in advance and they always specify it has to be exact change only.

If you did not read the instructions fully is your own fault. If that was me I would have tried to get him to take €50 even before he suggested it, to save myself the hassle.

tom_murphy112

I was never informed how much I would be charged exactly in customs... not a call, text or phone call.. so how am I supposed to know it.. It is pathetic that the guy actually expected a tip tbh, sure anpost is a state run organisation I am sure he earns enough with a good pension..

plus the 20 dollar shipping charge and 7 euro customs handling charge should have more than covered it

kc90

tom_murphy112 wrote: »

I was never informed how much I would be charged exactly in customs... not a call, text or phone call.. so how am I supposed to know it.. It is pathetic that the guy actually expected a tip tbh, sure anpost is a state run organisation I am sure he earns enough with a good pension..

plus the 20 dollar shipping charge and 7 euro customs handling charge should have more than covered it

That's what I mean, though. I don't think he was asking for a tip. It just doesn't make sense. I think that he thought it was such an insignificant amount, compared to what you're paying, that he couldn't understand why you wouldn't just let it go for the convenience. Don't get me wrong, money is money, I'm not saying you should let him have it.
The way they ask for payment is unusual though. There seems to be no consistency. I've only had custom charges twice and both times were different to this and to each other. The first time, our postman left off the package, mentioned the customs charge and left it to us to pay. Maybe this is because we're in a more rural area and we know him. The second time, a letter came first asking for payment direct to revenue before the package would be delivered. I always enjoyed that customs handling charge - charging you for the privilege of deciding what to charge you.

Beano

kc90 wrote: »

That's what I mean, though. I don't think he was asking for a tip. It just doesn't make sense. I think that he thought it was such an insignificant amount, compared to what you're paying, that he couldn't understand why you wouldn't just let it go for the convenience. Don't get me wrong, money is money, I'm not saying you should let him have it.
The way they ask for payment is unusual though. There seems to be no consistency. I've only had custom charges twice and both times were different to this and to each other. The first time, our postman left off the package, mentioned the customs charge and left it to us to pay. Maybe this is because we're in a more rural area and we know him. The second time, a letter came first asking for payment direct to revenue before the package would be delivered. I always enjoyed that customs handling charge - charging you for the privilege of deciding what to charge you.

The customs handling charge is not charging you for the privilege of deciding what to charge you. It does not go to revenue. It goes to an post. Do you think they should do this for nothing?

gerrykin22

Im a postman and believe me we are not
very well paid. I think the chap in question was
just giving you a way of getting the parcel
there and then saving him having to bring it
back to depot and then you having to go
to the trouble of collecting it.
When i have a customs charge to collect and
if i dont have change for the customer i give
them a choice to collect it from local office
or give me what ever they have and ill drop change
through letterbox the following day.

kc90

Beano wrote: »

The customs handling charge is not charging you for the privilege of deciding what to charge you. It does not go to revenue. It goes to an post. Do you think they should do this for nothing?

The handling charge goes to the carrier, who you've paid already.

Collibosher

kc90 wrote: »

The handling charge goes to the carrier, who you've paid already.

Unless otherwise stated, customs fees and duty are the responsibility of the receiver. That's the norm, unless it's pre-paid like the service offered through Ebay/Pitney Bowes.

whiterebel

kc90 wrote: »

The handling charge goes to the carrier, who you've paid already.

That is to complete a customs entry which is done electronically. They need to pay someone to do this, have an account to pay the VAT/Duty upfront for all the parcels, and buy the software package to allow them to do the customs entry in the first place.

Beano

kc90 wrote: »

The handling charge goes to the carrier, who you've paid already.

The carrier in this case being An Post. And you (presumably you mean the receiver) havent paid anything. The sender has paid for the shipment to be delivered. Any customs or associated fees are not included in what is paid by the sender because it is not the senders responsibility.

allthedoyles

The only thing I see strange about this incident is that the OP wouldn't give an extra €1.60 to complete the transaction there and then.

kc90

Collibosher wrote: »

Unless otherwise stated, customs fees and duty are the responsibility of the receiver. That's the norm, unless it's pre-paid like the service offered through Ebay/Pitney Bowes.

That's right. It's not what I was referring to.

whiterebel wrote: »

That is to complete a customs entry which is done electronically. They need to pay someone to do this, have an account to pay the VAT/Duty upfront for all the parcels, and buy the software package to allow them to do the customs entry in the first place.

That's fine for a courier. I think this could have been streamlined and absorbed into operational costs, for when anpost is fulfilling the delivery. There should be no need for extra handling charges. Thanks for the outline on what's involved though.

Beano wrote: »

The carrier in this case being An Post. And you (presumably you mean the receiver) havent paid anything. The sender has paid for the shipment to be delivered. Any customs or associated fees are not included in what is paid by the sender because it is not the senders responsibility.

Correct, the carrier is the person that fulfills the delivery. An Post is the carrier in this case. I smiled reading 'The sender has paid for the shipment to be delivered.' Nowhere did I say it was the senders responsibility.

I really don't know what has you all excited. I don't moan about a lot of charges, but I dislike handling fees, not just those applicable here. You're pulling the thread off topic and haven't contributed to the OP, over my fairly unassuming opinion, which I mentioned in passing and which you seem intent on misunderstanding.

Beano

kc90 wrote: »

That's right. It's not what I was referring to.



That's fine for a courier. I think this could have been streamlined and absorbed into operational costs, for when anpost is fulfilling the delivery. There should be no need for extra handling charges. Thanks for the outline on what's involved though.



Correct, the carrier is the person that fulfills the delivery. An Post is the carrier in this case. I smiled reading 'The sender has paid for the shipment to be delivered.' Nowhere did I say it was the senders responsibility.

I really don't know what has you all excited. I don't moan about a lot of charges, but I dislike handling fees, not just those applicable here. You're pulling the thread off topic and haven't contributed to the OP, over my fairly unassuming opinion, which I mentioned in passing and which you seem intent on misunderstanding.

You posted incorrect information. You were corrected. End of story.

kc90

Beano wrote: »

You posted incorrect information. You were corrected. End of story.

To my knowledge, I didn't post any incorrect info, and I suppose that's why I can't understand where your replies are coming from. Each of them are dripping with vile. It's like you're out for blood or something. What is incorrect?

Beano

kc90 wrote: »

To my knowledge, I didn't post any incorrect info, and I suppose that's why I can't understand where your replies are coming from. Each of them are dripping with vile. It's like you're out for blood or something. What is incorrect?

I'd love to know what dripping with vile means

As already explained both of these below are wrong.

kc90 wrote: »

... I always enjoyed that customs handling charge - charging you for the privilege of deciding what to charge you.

kc90 wrote: »

The handling charge goes to the carrier, who you've paid already.

delahuntv

so the OP got a parcel with 48.40 charges and expects the postman to walk about with a float of change?


Postman gave OP an option, that as the OP did not have exact amount (or cheque) the OP could take the parcel there an then and hand over €50 and the postman would possibly keep the massive amount of €1.60 "lunch money" - (where do you get lunch for €1.40), or the postman could return it to the delivery office and the OP culd walk / drive there and collect in his/her own time.

For the sake of €1.60, I'd take it from the postman - in fact I wouldn't have even questioned the cahneg element as my postman (and probably most others) give me a great service year after year and probably deserve the odd tip.


Hope you don't get on a bus anytme soon without exact fare - you'll be in for a surprise!

evolving_doors

gerrykin22 wrote: »

Im a postman and believe me we are not
very well paid. I think the chap in question was
just giving you a way of getting the parcel
there and then saving him having to bring it
back to depot and then you having to go
to the trouble of collecting it.
When i have a customs charge to collect and
if i dont have change for the customer i give
them a choice to collect it from local office
or give me what ever they have and ill drop change
through letterbox the following day.

Just wondering... when you go out on delivery are you given a list of all the charges you are due to collect. So at the end of the day you have to account for all monies recieved...

Or is it a case of ...leaving the depo with a load of parcels...nobody says nothing about charges to be collected...you arrive at a door,look at the parcel and say "€48:40 mate".. the guy hands you the money...you go back to the depot with a ball of money and hand it to someone else?

Does your money collection have to tally at the end of the day?

Also.. for Delahuntv above... If someone is charged with the responsibility of collecting exact change then surely they should have change to give.
What if the charge was €45.05... is the OP also obliged to tip €4.95? In this case it is unfair to suggest that the OP is being a tight fist (no matter how insignificant the amount). If you are getting on a bus you have some idea of change needed in advance (OP did not know in advance). Also, there is a facility in place to issue a receipt to redeem your change later so your analogy is redundant.

Talking about your tipping habitsis neither here nor there.. maybe you don't tip yor postman,binman,roadsweeper enough either.

It is bad practice to tip a public servent also..
Some may find it insulting as it implies you feel sorry for them.
Implies your neighbours are tightfisted if they dont cough up.
Implies they go above and beyond their normal duties.
Implies they could do with that €1:60 for lunch.
Tipping a postman a few coins is just a way for folk to feel better about themselves...

kc90

Beano wrote: »

I'd love to know what dripping with vile means

As already explained both of these below are wrong.

Cool, I see replies to those, but no corrections.

Beano

kc90 wrote: »

Cool, I see replies to those, but no corrections.

perhaps try reading them again. i'm done responding to trolls.

whiterebel

kc90 wrote: »

That's fine for a courier. I think this could have been streamlined and absorbed into operational costs, for when anpost is fulfilling the delivery. There should be no need for extra handling charges. Thanks for the outline on what's involved though.

An Post do exactly the same thing as the courier, why should they do it for free?

shamelessidiot

Thoie wrote: »

Hang on, he turned up at your door without the package, but still wanted the money?!?! Did you point out that you'd paid for it to be delivered to your house, not somewhere vaguely in the right country?

He's telling OP that it would cost OP more to go and collect it at the depot than just to hand over €50 for the customs fee and take the parcel. Driver can't hand it over without OP paying, so he would've had to take it back to the depot.

evolving_doors

shamelessidiot wrote: »

He's telling OP that it would cost OP more to go and collect it at the depot than just to hand over €50 for the customs fee and take the parcel. Driver can't hand it over without OP paying, so he would've had to take it back to the depot.

hmm not necessarily the implication of the 1.60 tip im thinking about. Why was he suggesting to hand over tge 50 ..

As I asked the 'postman' earlier here... how is any of the money to be collected, accounted for?

if theres no accounting procedure would anyone notice the €50 if it wasn't handed in...

not accusing, just wondering what the procedure was!

gerrykin22

Hi Armelodie.
The postman on the route with a parcel with customs charges has to sign a book which has the customers name and amount of charges. The packet is scanned out to the route also.
On return the postman has to sign the book again when handing the cash over to the staff member
responsible for collecting the charges.
Everything is above board.
If i have a customs parcel and dont collect or lose the cash i have to pay out of my own pocket.
Hope this puts your mind at ease.

evolving_doors

gerrykin22 wrote: »

Hi Armelodie.
The postman on the route with a parcel with customs charges has to sign a book which has the customers name and amount of charges. The packet is scanned out to the route also.
On return the postman has to sign the book again when handing the cash over to the staff member
responsible for collecting the charges.
Everything is above board.
If i have a customs parcel and dont collect or lose the cash i have to pay out of my own pocket.
Hope this puts your mind at ease.

OK thanks, it all seems legit so and there is no way the guy could pocket the fifty. Even if he took the 50 and tried to get the change in the shop (€1.60) it would be way too much hassle unless he really was a tightwad with a brassneck.

You said above that if you dont collect the money (i.e. if the op didn't have change and opted to go to the depot)... you had to pay out of your own pocket. If I'm reading that right , could this mean you could be down a couple of hundred in a day if nothing is accepted (everybody was out of the house!), that seems a bit extreme. Could that be why the postman was edging for the OP's €50?

lillen

Armelodie wrote: »

OK thanks, it all seems legit so and there is no way the guy could pocket the fifty. Even if he took the 50 and tried to get the change in the shop (€1.60) it would be way too much hassle unless he really was a tightwad with a brassneck.

You said above that if you dont collect the money (i.e. if the op didn't have change and opted to go to the depot)... you had to pay out of your own pocket. If I'm reading that right , could this mean you could be down a couple of hundred in a day if nothing is accepted (everybody was out of the house!), that seems a bit extreme. Could that be why the postman was edging for the OP's €50?

The postman can obviously not be down on money if he has not delivered the packages.
If the packages goes to a depot for collection, the depot is obviously the ones who have to provide the money when the package is collected.

What he is saying is, if he delivers the package without collecting the custom fee, or loses the money, he has to pay from his own pocket.

gerrykin22

You either have to have the parcel or the cash going back to the mail centre.
If you dont get an answer , scan the parcel back to the sorting office no
longer the postmans problem.

evolving_doors

Grand thanks just wanted to clear that up.

Well then to my mind then it was probably an innocent enough throwaway suggestion, of which I'd say, if the postman was reading this he wouldn't bother ever saying again.

But tipping a Postman or any other public servant!! That's for a whole different thread, but no-way in my books.