Australia Post to Photograph Safe Drop Items.

[sydney-diecast-kingdom]

Q.) What is a safe drop item?

A.) A safe drop item is one that does not require a signature and does not fit in the letterbox.

Safe drop items sometimes have written instructions on the package like:

MAY BE SAFE DROPPED. PLEASE LEAVE IN A SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE WEATHER.

or have very customer specific instructions like:

PLEASE LEAVE ON FRONT PORCH BEHIND POT PLANT.

Other items specifically state:

SIGNATURE REQUIRED. DO NOT SAFE DROP.  IF NO ONE HOME PLEASE CARD TO NEAREST POST OFFICE.

As of Monday 6 June 2016 all signature items which have a non-signature safe drop option i.e. (SIGNATURE REQUIRED UNLESS CUSTOMER NOT PRESENT) will require a photograph from delivery personnel as proof of safe drop. Like a mobile phone each scanner is fitted with a camera.

I realise that it won't prevent all dodgy posties or parcel contractors from stuffing up but it may lead to many being more careful with delivery as they will have to provide proof of correct/safe delivery.

Not sure but in the same way parking officers now take photographs of illegally parked cars as proof for people, Australia Post customers may be able to ask for photographic evidence as proof of correct delivery. This is just a guess. 

[mbselections00]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

It is pretty obvious that none of you have any idea of the capabilities of the AP/StarTrack scanner.....or the length of time taken to implement the various functions.

I cannot say for sure that StarTrack and the AP contractors have the very same scanners but they do use the same software so all sections of Australia Post are integrated.

I might add, it is software that has been superseded.   When StarTrack was issued with their new you beaut scanners my OH was talking to a Toll driver who told him Toll had given that software the flick months ago as it was unreliable.

The scanners do have GPS capabilities which were activated several weeks ago.....the company can track the parcel, the vehicle and the driver....drivers even have to report when they take a toilet break.   Would any of you like to be treated like a school kid while doing your job?

So far the photo capability has not been activated in the StarTrack scanners but heaven help the drivers when it is.  At present there is a 20-25% chance that the scanners will not work properly and everything has to be entered manually.....it more than doubles the time it takes to deliver a parcel and scan it.

StarTrack probably has more Signature Required deliveries than AP contractors but they are getting more Authority to Leave (safe drop) parcels.  At present when they get a signature they then have to enter whether it is a Commercial premises, Private home or Shopping centre, along with several other  buttons to push before hitting Enter to send the information back to base.  It can take in excess of 15 seconds for the information to send.....the delivery has not ended with the recipient signing on the screen.  Goodness knows how much longer a photo might take to send.

And if the information does not send first time the driver then has to manually download it.

So those of you who think it will take 2 seconds to take a photo of a delivery.....maybe get some idea of the processes involved in the delivery of AP mail before you make stupid statements.

And I might add.....if AP made sure that their contractors were paid on time they might get more loyalty from their workers....more of them may go out of their way to give even better service than they do now.

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Whoa lyndal, settle down, no need to be so vitriolic.  Your comments are a bit rich coming from such a long time respected member – no need to be so personal.  I have shied away from the boards on many occasions and chosen not to comment when discussions become one sided, personal and/or heated, but since your comments are clearly directed towards myself and other members, I will respond on this occasion.

 Firstly, I don't read every post you put up, but I do know how supportive of Aust Post and Star Track you are - I think everyone who comes to the boards knows also .  Your loyalty is I guess commendable, but that however  is no reason for you to attack other members who have a different view to you and for reasons I have mentioned, I happen to think the photograph idea would be a good one, at least better than the system we have in place now.  I certainly know how long it takes to get a quick photo on my phone or camera, I know how long it takes for me to sign when I need to sign for a parcel also - agreed I don't know anything about the equipment Star Track or Aussie post use.  Perhaps it needs updating, and on that point you are probably correct.  As for the rest of your comments, I am not going to say anymore, other members can draw their own conclusions.

Aloha

PS At last some sort of admission from you (what it has to do with photographing safe drop items I'm not so sure) :

if AP made sure that their contractors were paid on time they might get more loyalty from their workers....more of them may go out of their way to give even better service than they do now.

[lyndal1838]

MB, maybe you should read a few more of my posts....including the one before yours in reply to Digi.

As for AP updating their equipment.....they have done so.  They are currently implementing software that has already been chucked out by other companies including Toll as it is outdated and unreliable.

Certainly you know how long it takes to take a photo on your phone.....and to sign on the scanner but as I have already said that is not the end of the process for the driver.

I am supportive of AP and StarTrack when I see them being accused unjustly of wrong doing.  There are bad apples in every line of business but for some reason I don't see retail staff being hung drawn and quartered for shoplifting or bank tellers being in all the newspapers when their tills don't tally at the end of the day.   I just try toi tel the other side of the story.

If you had read all of my posts you would know that the reason I have my say about AP and Startrack is because my OH is a StarTrack sub contractor.  Before that he was with AaE when they were part owned by AP....all up he has had in excess of 20 years with companies that have a connection to AP and the current set up is as bad as we have ever known it.  I was also an AaE subbie for 10+ years.

Startrack drivers have even gone on strike over the implementation of the current scanners.

Yes, my final remark was off topic...sorry.  I was just letting off steam about one more reason that the AP top brass needs to be held more accountable....to their workers as well as the general public.

[mbselections00]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

MB, maybe you should read a few more of my posts....including the one before yours in reply to Digi.

etc etc

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Oh lyndal I don't wish to get into an argument here.   I am well aware of your and OH’s long term affiliations with Aust. Post & Star Track (I actually thought it was 25 years, so there you go, I was wrong) and your knowledge &  expertise in this area as I have read many of your posts, hence my previous comment .

My issue here is, you can support them all you like and be as negative as you will about the idea of photographing safe drops, but you won't change my view that it is or has the potential to be, a very  positive move.  Sorry, but that's how I see it.  Sure, I may sympathize with the poor postie or Star Track delivery person having to work with antiquated systems,  but I didn't realize that was the main point of the thread.  And yes, I did read your response to digi BEFORE I replied :

have been clarifying AP delivery processes for weeks now and it seems that no-one takes the slightest bit of notice.  They go off into flights of fancy as to what contractors should do and how long it will take without the faintest idea of the equipment being used.

I was never questioning the equipment being used, just stating that I thought the idea of photographs for safe drops was a brilliant one.

c'est la vie

[southaustraliacardshop]

Lyndal I have had the same Star Track Courier for the past 11 years Him and his wife will make deliveries to me on Saturdays even the odd Sunday if I wasnt Home on the Saturday. I have even told him to leave the package in a certain spot and if it requires a siginature sign it for me just a scribble. I know it is there I will admit he only lives 5 streets a way from me. He Is Great and I trust him. He has been courier driving for over 25 years and with Star Track about 15 years.

Paddy

[thecatspjs]

I think it is a fantastic move. 

Having battled with Aust Post on several occasions over the years over missing parcels that were allegedly safe dropped - photos of the location where the parcels were actually dropped would have been very helpful to all involved - Me, the buyers and the AP customer service reps processing my claims.

I am sure there are lots of diligent AP posites and contracted couriers that will be more than happy to fulfil this new obligation - as it only serves to support that they do their jobs well 🙂

[lyndal1838]

To no-one in particular....you were the last poster Cats.

From my very first post in this thread I have said there will be trade off....if you want photographs, be prepared for delivery times to blow out.

You cannot add more steps to the delivery process without it taking time....and both buyers and sellers are already complaining about the time taken for items to go from A to B.....with full justification IMO.

The only way you can keep up fast delivery times is by having enough staff and again, AP is going in the opposite direction and downsizing....and setting the time when drivers have to stop deliveries.  They are no longer allowed to deliver after 5pm even if they are 2 minutes away from a drop.  The items go back to base for delivery the next day.

[digital*ghost]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

OK Digi, point taken, but I have been clarifying AP delivery processes for weeks now and it seems that no-one takes the slightest bit of notice.  They go off into flights of fancy as to what contractors should do and how long it will take without the faintest idea of the equipment being used.

And yes, the equipment does leave a lot to be desired but that is the fault of the top brass, not the contractors who have to make it work.

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I can't speak for anyone else, but whether it makes any difference or not, I didn't actually think the scanning devices would have the camera function (reading back, I now see it was mentioned in the OP - I overlooked that, but my comments re: the time it takes to take the photo were with a simple digital camera in mind). 

Your posts regarding the delivery processes don't go ignored, and I think almost everyone here has had some measure of experience (even if limited) with the devices not functioning efficiently, but at the same time, I was more thinking along the lines of that if no one is present to provide the signature, the process to take a photo would be instead of going through the motions of capturing the sig rather than in addition to it (with the above in mind), so I just wondered whether the delivery time would significantly increase because of it (but as I said in my first post, I readily admit I can only speak as a recipient, having never been a delivery driver). 

(PS I'm an ebay seller - I know what it's like for the "boss" to introduce requirements because they seem to presume I'm incompetent and untrustworthy 😉 ). 

[lyndal1838]

Digi, the photo function is on all the scanners (AP contractors as well as StarTrack) but so far StarTrack has not activated it....obviously the AP contractors have done so.

This will be the third time an extra function has been activated and my OH is definitely not looking forward to it.  Each extra function has seen weeks of the scanners malfunctioning and the drivers having to enter everything by hand.

As for the time factor....these scanners are large, cumbersome, inefficient.....and they will never win prizes for speed in activating any of the functions that are available now so I don't see that the camera is going to be any different.  Definitely not point and shoot.  It will have to be entred, saved and then sent back to base.  While that may not be too much different to the current time to collect and send a signature there is also the extra time to find somewhere to leave the parcel safely and a note to the recipient telling them where it is.

Thankfully the camera function will rarely be used by my OH....his permanent delivery run is in the Sydney CBD so 95% of his deliveries are to businesses such as the ATO, the Passport Office and the Law Courts....everything is delivered to a mail room and signed for.

The few private deliveries are to Unit blocks and most of them have a concierge who will sign if the addressee is not home.

The only time he may have to use the function is in the afternoon....once his delivery run is finished he get a few deliveries to private homes....anywhere from Vaucluse to Randwick to Hurstville.  So far he has either found the recipients at home or has an Authority to Leave.

[thecatspjs]

Interesting commentary Lyndal.  But as a big consumer of AP as a sender and receiver still think its a great change.

A quick google indicates that this type of policy and operational change has been on the cards for a few years now.

http://www.itnews.com.au/news/australia-post-spends-71m-on-new-tracking-service-359874

I am not swayed by the possilble system "bugs" or "erratic" technology, I continue to think its bout time AP made further steps into the digital era.  Its in line with consumer expectation and prices charged.

Not so sure why the lamenting about the additional task that will be expected by AP deliverers - contracted or otherwise - if the job is too hard, those doing it should find another one.  Systems, responsibilities and tasks will continue to change more rapidly than ever before - its progress. 

Sure these types of developments and changes may slow some (individulas / mail items) down, but will the system collapse or a signficant increase in post time all round occur - doubt it.

[lyndal1838]

Did you read my post where I said that the new you beaut system that is being introduced by AP has already been superseded....it has long ago been tossed out by the likes of Toll as it is inefficient and slow.   When a Toll driver asked what software was on the new scanners his reaction was "good luck with it...it's c**p."

AP is talking up a system that is never going to provide the outcome that the consumer believes they are getting....and of course the drivers are going to be blamed as being inefficient etc.   They can only be as good as the equipment they are provided with.