UK Post Office Blues

[yog]

A while ago I decided to take up Ben at EdgePro’s standard kind offer of a complimentary sharpening to test his EdgePro system, so I sent off a medium sized (3.5”) folder, sat back and waited.
Five weeks later it still hadn’t arrived at Ben’s . Because knives are so expensive over here (UK) I frequently have knives imported and ship out other knives regularly to other users/collectors around the world, every time the package contents are marked "Knife". I know from experience that on average a knife takes between 5-10 days to reach the US, and takes between 3-5 days to ship from the US to the UK, so after 5 weeks I was getting a little worried, the folder was one of my favourites.

I got a “lost mail” form from the post office, filled it out and sent it in. As it happened Ben received the knife the very next day, he sharpened it (VERY nice) and sent it back, it took 3 days to come back.
Two weeks later I got a letter back from the Post Office (was very interested as to what it would say), but it was just the standard “we have received your lost mail form and will look into it”. Two weeks after that I received another letter from the Post Office.
The first paragraph was a basic re-cap of the situation, the second paragraph is now quoted in full :

“I can tell you without making any further enquiries why the contents of your package were removed in transit. Green pocket knife’s are not allowed to be sent to the USA, unless an import licence has been applied for by the addressee.”

The next (and final) paragraph was the basic “thank you for bringing this to our attention ….if you would like further services …... Postwatch exists to represent customers interests”
Absolutely NO mention of the “missing” knife.

My first thought was, well what coloured pocket knives can I post ?
But really this sounds like total BS to cover up a lost package.

Being an easy going sort of person my first thought was, no harm done, I’ll leave it at that. But the more I think about it the angrier I’m getting at blatantly being lied to . I’ve decided to write back and ask what legislation covers exporting knives for re-sharpening as was clearly stated in the letter that accompanied the knife.
If I’m in a malicious mood I might ask for the knife to be returned promptly As I would hate to think of it sitting in some postal workers pocket.

 

[Little claw]

...otherwise this will happen to others.

If you pursue this, they will have to investigate further and at some point you will force them to admit that your knife WASN'T removed in transit and that they lied to you, or at least fobbed you off. Its even possible that they were trying to avoid an insurance claim/admitting numbers of lost packages, which is bordering on fraud.

Then you can escalate it to the level of an extreme failure in customer service, if not honesty (a important commodity when you're entrusting your property to others).

They really piss me off charging £10 or whatever to open up your packages and play with your knives (they used my Spyderco to cut up the Ironstone catalog that was in there!)

Definitely write to Anne Robinson on this one...

Dom

 

[Mindz_I]

I'd get intouch with postwatch mate.

RM / Parcel Farce are a useless bunch that will try and worm out of anything they can unless you press them.

Not related to knives but ......

A while ago I sent an item to a chap (uk - uk) via special delivery, only to have it arrive broken. Contacted the post office and after a lengthy wait they informed me that they were refusing my claim due to 'insufficent packaging'.

I called up the post office and after a many lengthy discussions i was finally told of the existance of 'post watch', towit i informed them of my problems. A few weeks later they refunded me for the damanged item (£250) and the cost of the postage.


I highly reccomend you get intouch with postwatch, not only to prove a point and to get some compensation for your inconvenience, but if in the future something similar happens again you will instantly know where you stand.

 

[Allen E. Treat]

I'd take it from the other forumite(s) and start "making waves" & "steppin' on toes" over this Mickey Mouse bullsh*t. I don't take no crap from the Post Office here in South Florida, let me tell you.
Things may work out though yog. Keep chin up ( and God save the Queen!)

AET (ATE on Spyderco.com forum )

 

[savantuk]

Hello,

The post office will only respond to one thing - pressure. I export, and import quite a number of collectibles annualy, both knives and watches. I am only a collector, so I do not have the benefit of a service contract.

Datapost aka Special delivery GUARANTEES next day in UK and 3 days to US. UK min is £3.65, and USA, about £30 for the average watch or knife.

UK next day is very unreliable, and you will rarely get an apology if delivery is late. UK - USA is much better... most of my packages arrive on time.

Earlier this year, I sent a parcel valued at £100 to USA. 3 days later, it hadn't even left UK. A week later, it was still missing.

I spent the next day on the phone. I made endless calls, never letting them forget that they were at fault, resulting finally in an admission that the knife was missing. They promised a cheque in 3 days. 3 days later, I was informed that the package had been delivered to the USA. I telephoned the recipient, who denied that the package had been delivered to him. I again set to with the phone, spoke to about 1 doz people, and the next day, I recieved a cheque in the post, for the full amount. I have no doubt, that had I left the claim to progress through normal channels, I would still be waiting!!

BTW, never send the original documents to them as they ask... once they have left your hands, your proof is gone!

Regards,

Doug