Royal Mail IT strikes again!
Discussion
A minor foul-up on my part has revealed some impressive stuff by Royal Mail.
Posted a parcel two weeks ago using online-generated Royal Mail QR code. Delivered fine.
Posted a second parcel last week, intended for a different destination but accidentally got the previous QR code scanned at the post office. Address label is generated directly from the code and stuck on at the counter, so I didn't spot the incorrect delivery address.
This parcel was ALSO delivered (although not where I wanted it, of course). No check at any point that the code had already been used. Tracking # of course is identical.
Given the fuss over "counterfeit" stamps you'd think reusing unique QR labels would be easy to check!
Posted a parcel two weeks ago using online-generated Royal Mail QR code. Delivered fine.
Posted a second parcel last week, intended for a different destination but accidentally got the previous QR code scanned at the post office. Address label is generated directly from the code and stuck on at the counter, so I didn't spot the incorrect delivery address.
This parcel was ALSO delivered (although not where I wanted it, of course). No check at any point that the code had already been used. Tracking # of course is identical.
Given the fuss over "counterfeit" stamps you'd think reusing unique QR labels would be easy to check!
Riley Blue said:
I've been expecting Royal Mail to deliver an Ebay purchase this week, it was due between the 11th and the 14th.
I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
That is a recorded delivery service which only gives proof of posting and proof of delivery, otherwise untracked.I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
GasEngineer said:
Riley Blue said:
I've been expecting Royal Mail to deliver an Ebay purchase this week, it was due between the 11th and the 14th.
I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
That is a recorded delivery service which only gives proof of posting and proof of delivery, otherwise untracked.I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
Riley Blue said:
GasEngineer said:
Riley Blue said:
I've been expecting Royal Mail to deliver an Ebay purchase this week, it was due between the 11th and the 14th.
I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
That is a recorded delivery service which only gives proof of posting and proof of delivery, otherwise untracked.I had a tracking number but whenever I checked it the message was 'We cannot provide tracking information until we have made a delivery.'
Why does anyone use them?
Signed For gives a proof of delivery and is not tracked.
Special gives proof of delivery and is tracked.
Both services issue a reference number to the purchaser for the transaction. The purchaser can put that reference number in to the eBay transaction as a tracking number. If that reference number is for a Signed For transaction, it doesn't magically turn it in to a tracked service just because the seller added it as a tracking number.
Special (the tracked service) is next day by 9am or 1pm so the fact that your delivery promise was "between 11th and 14th" suggests to me that your eBay seller used Signed For, which is not a tracked service.
Not Royal Mail's problem, you need to take it up with your seller if you paid them for a tracked service.
Edited by 48k on Friday 15th November 12:12
A500leroy said:
So you've messed up and your blaming royal mail?
Maybe if you'd given the correct code it wouldn't have gone wrong.
As it is they've delivered the parcel correctly to the code and therefore address you've given them.
Yes, I messed, up, and no, I'm not *blaming* RM. Just gobsmacked that their systems didn't perform a basic check of "has this code been already used?" when it was scanned at the PO. Maybe if you'd given the correct code it wouldn't have gone wrong.
As it is they've delivered the parcel correctly to the code and therefore address you've given them.
Actually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
EmailAddress said:
Does that mean they would have delivered it for free?
Weird internal system for generation there!
What I am thinking is if you send stuff to the same address on a regular basis my assumption is that after the first payment you can re-use the QR code again and again and as you say it was delivered free.Weird internal system for generation there!
Maybe the OP had to pay at the counter, but what he is saying is that there should be a check to confirm whether the QR code has been used, is the QR code just the address and sorting offices or does that cover payment also.
silentbrown said:
A500leroy said:
So you've messed up and your blaming royal mail?
Maybe if you'd given the correct code it wouldn't have gone wrong.
As it is they've delivered the parcel correctly to the code and therefore address you've given them.
Yes, I messed, up, and no, I'm not *blaming* RM. Just gobsmacked that their systems didn't perform a basic check of "has this code been already used?" when it was scanned at the PO. Maybe if you'd given the correct code it wouldn't have gone wrong.
As it is they've delivered the parcel correctly to the code and therefore address you've given them.
Actually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
silentbrown said:
Yes, I messed, up, and no, I'm not *blaming* RM. Just gobsmacked that their systems didn't perform a basic check of "has this code been already used?" when it was scanned at the PO.
Actually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
But it's not "their" systems, you posted the item at a Post Office. Horizon is a Post Office system, not Royal Mail.Actually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
Not IT related, but this Xmas will be interesting for RM.
Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
silentbrown said:
Yes, I messed, up, and no, I'm not *blaming* RM. Just gobsmacked that their systems didn't perform a basic check of "has this code been already used?" when it was scanned at the PO.
Actually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
Horizon is the Post OfficeActually, given Horizon, maybe I'm not that gobsmacked.
Royal Mail != Post office.
Freakuk said:
Not IT related, but this Xmas will be interesting for RM.
Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
Totally agree. My parents (70s) normally post 20-30 cards, majority in the UK but some Thailand / Oz / Japan / etc. have said they arent posting any at all this year given the price increase of postage and its just not worth it for the recipients who they dont hear from other than a christmas card once a year.Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
I do wonder how many other Boomers will be taking the same stance ... it could add up VERY quickly.
Freakuk said:
Not IT related, but this Xmas will be interesting for RM.
Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
You can't just shut down something of the scale and breadth of RM 'in a year or two'. Despite how badly they are perceived, they still deliver upwards of 7 billion items a year. Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
EmailAddress said:
Does that mean they would have delivered it for free?
Weird internal system for generation there!
Yes, the second parcel was actually delivered 'for free'. (But not 'free to me', as the QR code intended for that parcel was paid for, and has now expired!)Weird internal system for generation there!
Photographic proof from RM of the parcel on the unintended recipients doorstep.
Freakuk said:
Maybe the OP had to pay at the counter, but what he is saying is that there should be a check to confirm whether the QR code has been used, is the QR code just the address and sorting offices or does that cover payment also.
You buy the QR code from RM online (in this case, integrated with Vinted's platform). The code contains sender/recipient names and addresses, tracking code, weight, service, 'post by' date, and a long hex string which I assume is a unique ID/CRC code to prevent counterfeiting.You take the unlabeled package (and code on your phone) to a post office. They scan the code, print out and attach a label, and give you proof of postage. You never get to examine the actual label stuck to the package.
The second parcel was posted a week after the "Post By" date on the QR code...
Freakuk said:
Not IT related, but this Xmas will be interesting for RM.
Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
You must be joking. Mrs. 48K's office already has something like 23 extra vans in the depot ready for xmas. They'll be manically busy and she'll be going in extra early.Given the cost of a 1st class stamp now and only really the older generations still sending cards I can see them having a really poor Xmas and unless the government props them up I doubt RM will exist (for normal letter postal services) in the next year or two.
ChevronB19 said:
What a weird comment, you’re blaming them for not checking whilst at the same point you’re saying you didn’t check? T
As above, no: I'm just very surprised.You'd be surprised if the system allowed you to post a cylinder head using the "large letter" service, or if the code for a free Greggs coffee also allowed you to send mail. I'm surprised it allowed a label with an unique code to be reused, a week after it should have expired.
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