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. 

[thecatspjs]

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

Did you read my post where I said that the new you beaut system that is being introduced by AP has already been superseded....it has long ago been tossed out by the likes of Toll as it is inefficient and slow.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.

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I have read your posts Lyndal. They speak for themselves

Not sure but I think maybe you have lost your eBay perspective here. ??

I remember a time not so long ago, when parcels were not tracked.  The policy promises made by AP have certainly delivered in spades for eBay sellers who send their goods by parcel post.

Tolls logistics needs are very different than APs.

[lyndal1838]

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@thecatspjs wrote:

Tolls logistics needs are very different than APs.

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Not all that different to the needs of StarTrack...they all need speed and reliability.

[thecatspjs]

Of course, but they also need customer confidence and satisfaction 🙂

[lyndal1838]

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@thecatspjs wrote:

Of course, but they also need customer confidence and satisfaction 🙂

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Yes, AP is very good at spin doctoring...tell the customer what they want to hear and keep 'em happy until they wake up to the fact that AP is not delivering what they promised.

[englishrosegardens]

Even if it takes longer to do photos of safe drops, surely that means less parcels sent back to the PO to be sorted and later collected, so even though one stage of the process will take longer there'll be time (and space) savings in other areas. If less staff are needed to double-handle the undelivered parcels AP could put on more delivery drivers without it costing them any more, and delivery times wouldn't alter at all.

[lyndal1838]

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@englishrosegardens wrote:
 AP could put on more delivery drivers without it costing them any more, and delivery times wouldn't alter at all.

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That is unlikely.....they are constantly downsizing their delivery fleet and cutting back on driver's hours.   They are expecting more deliveries from fewer drivers working fewer hours.

[mbselections00]

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@englishrosegardens wrote:
Even if it takes longer to do photos of safe drops, surely that means less parcels sent back to the PO to be sorted and later collected, so even though one stage of the process will take longer there'll be time (and space) savings in other areas. If less staff are needed to double-handle the undelivered parcels AP could put on more delivery drivers without it costing them any more, and delivery times wouldn't alter at all.

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Great points - just not too sure Aust Post would go the extra mile and put on more delivery drivers, otherwise I totally agree with your comments

[dekimaja]

What do they do with the photo of the customer and parcel. Is the photo of the customer used for fake identities

[transport-posters]

They take photos of the parcel being left by itself at the address, to prove it has been safe dropped and to show where it was left.

[lyndal1838]

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@dekimaja wrote:
What do they do with the photo of the customer and parcel. Is the photo of the customer used for fake identities

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The photograph is not taken of the item being delivered to the customer....it is taken of the items that are being Safe Dropped.  The photo has to be taen in such a way as to identify where the parcel was left and that it was the correct parcel for that address.

How could a photo of a person be used for a fake identity?