Category: Mailing

Without a doubt delivery drivers have been worth their weight in gold during the pandemic as we have had to rely on deliveries of everything from clothes and toys to tools and decorating materials. The trend for online shopping has continued and so the demand for delivery drivers is on the rise but what exactly does work as a delivery driver entail?

The majority of delivery companies require their drivers to use their own vehicles to transport the parcels and so the fuel costs must be taken into account when looking at the rate of pay. The main advantage with this type of flexible working is that the driver can set their own hours of work which may suit working parents in particular.

As an employed delivery van driver will usually start with collecting goods from a warehouse, shop or collection point. You will load the vehicle, and then ensure your route is not being affected by traffic or roadworks. Once you get to the drop off address you will be responsible for unloading deliveries and getting signatures if required. Another important part of this job is recording your hours and delivery records. If you are a multi-drop driver you will then move onto the next drop off or return back to base.

There has been an increase since the start of the pandemic of postal scams as more people than ever before are ordering goods online. The latest scam which comes either by message or email claims that payment is required for a package to be delivered and asks the recipient to click on a link to set up a payment. Social media is full of stories relating to the con, warning people to beware and not to be taken in by it.

Trading standards officers warn people not to click on any link as it may connect to a copycat website run by fraudsters and Royal Mail have assured customers that it would never send a text message of this kind and would use a grey card instead to tell people if any fee was required.

How can we be sure then that our details are safe when we purchase goods online so that they do not get into the hands of unscrupulous individuals who are out to steal our identity and details?

There are some really simple ways to shop safely online that everyone should be aware of. Firstly, research retailers online to make sure they are legitimate. Check the company name carefully as some companies change the name of a reputable company slightly to fool buyers into using them thinking that they are using the original company.

During the Covid pandemic lockdown periods, the postal and courier services have been massively affected. Not only have they had to deal with staff shortages due to shielding, isolating or illness but they have also had to cope with a massive increase in demand. When we first went in to lockdown in March 2020, many people turned to online shopping to get the items they wanted or needed. This initially caused quite a number of large delays as the companies were just not ready to deal with this surge. Parcels were getting lost and delayed all the time and there was nothing to do but just wait. Shops had to close their doors which meant all clothes shopping was done online and many retailers started to offer some pretty enticing offers to get people to still spend their money with them.

As lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease, it appears that the postal and courier services are now able to help. Many of them have had to take on additional staff to copy with the demand. They have also had to change the way they work to make it Covid secure and to ensure that parcels and letters are handled as little as possible. It is right to assume that many of these processes may well be here to stay for at least a good while if not permanently. 

Letter writing had been something that had seemed to go out of fashion and the number of letters being sent has massively recued over the years, but when people were not able to socialise out of their household at all, many turned back to letter writing to allow them to communicate with others in the outside world. This was especially the case for many elderly people who live in a home and were not able to have any visitors for a long period of time. Our postal services have been at risk over the last few years as companies now do much of their correspondence online through digital statements etc, but hopefully this little boost will be enough to keep them going for a few more years yet. The cost of stamps has significantly increased over the lats decade with a first class stap now costing eighty five pence compared to forty one pence ten years ago. This may be the reason less and less of us are using the postal service.

If you are sending a birthday present to someone through the post you obviously want to make sure that it gets there undamaged and securely. The postal service you use has a responsibility to take care of your parcel and fulfil their obligation to deliver it on time and in good order but what can you do to ensure that this happens.

How you package the contents of the parcel is an important part of this process. If you are sending more than one item in the parcel each item should be wrapped separately and any breakable items should be wrapped in bubble wrap if possible. Try to fill any spaces in the box with crumpled up paper so that the contents cannot move around.

When the contents are secure, turn your attention to the container. It should be securely fastened with parcel tape on each opening edge so that it cannot come open in transit. The address label should be clear and on the reverse of the container a label with the sender’s name and address should be attached.

Obtaining a proof of posting from the post office is a good way to have evidence that the parcel was sent and should be kept until the parcel has been successfully received by the recipient.

In the tech savvy era that we live, the writing of letters seems to be dying out which is a shame as the excitement of receiving a handwritten letter through the letterbox or an invitation to a party is second to none. The bills and advertising literature that land on the doormat do not have the same impact.

Most businesses seem to prefer to conduct much of their communication through email which is understandable as it is quicker to receive an answer through this method. The problems arise when these companies are dealing with people who do not own a computer or smart phone. They are often reluctant to send out paper copies of documents as they have to shoulder the printing costs, but some people still prefer to receive communication and documentation in this way.

Instant messaging has also become a popular way to communicate with friends and family in recent times as more and more of us have access to smart phones and tablets. Many older people are discovering and using this modern way of keeping in touch with loved ones and quickly learn how to input a message by using a keyboard or by voice commands. However, sending and receiving letters through the post is still an enjoyable way of communicating so think about sending that letter or note and make someone’s day.