Is signature on delivery worth the extra cost????

[*sparklz*]

As a buyer I was shocked to see an item I had delivered was showing on the postage label as Signature on Delivery required (seen after I had the parcel handed to me and postie had left) which had also been highlighted by the seller and I was handed the package and was NOT asked to sign for it.

I contacted the seller and let them know this as well.

As a seller if I paid for signature on delivery no matter if it was at the buyers expense or mine, I want to get what was paid for.

Are any sellers being advised by their buyers that no signature was asked for when it had been paid for?

What is the point in charging or paying for it if it is not going to be done by the postie?

[lyndal1838]

Buyers are able to negate the "Do Not Safe Drop" stickers by having an authority in place with the local delivery centre.

I have not had to go to the PO to pick up anything with a sticker on it for years.

[arnl7178]

Sparkles, I agree with you completely.

My postie doesn't even get me to sign for registered post. I don't know if he signs them himself, or what is going on but I know I most certainly don't sign for them.

He also puts my parcels ON TOP of my letterbox.

Lazy sod.

[*new2vintage]

So far I have posted one parcel with SOD with Extra Cover. I should have received a copy of the buyer's signature but I haven't received an email with a copy of it or seen it in the tracking details on Aus Post's site. They are clever because you can't buy insurance without SOD. Maybe the signature is in their system BUT customers should receive what they pay for. I intend to enquire about it before I pay for this invisible service again.

[*sparklz*]

I have had customers message me to say the do not safe drop stickers had been removed as the remnants were still there so now I stick them on the C&S print out label and they are sealed in the pouch so they can not be removed.

[motherbear2003]

I do the same with mine, but they are still ignoredX-(

[ancarswa]

With regard to parcels, AP uses sub contractors to deliver them. Usually a lot of these guys can't be bothered and don't get signatures or treat parcels with care.

When our regular guy left, we had a few different guys do deliveries. One would throw the package over our front gate instead of lifting it over and guiding it down through the grills, like what the other guy did.

Another would ring the bell and then immediately leave before we could get to the gate, leaving the package with no signature for it.

The third would not leave any package if we were not home - even the ones that did not require signature. We then had to go to the post office to pick it up. Sometimes he would not even leave the little card letting us know delivery was attempted. We would only know when the "last reminder' card was left about 10 days later.

Finally when we complained the local post office said its sub contractors and nothing we can do.

My wife found a forum for complaints and its a common problem - seems the sub contractors are not paid enough for them to care.

[arnl7178]

It's not just AP.

I recently had Toll pick up a laptop for me to send to HP. Watched him THROW it in the back of the van, and I do mean THROW it.

[colic2bullsgirlore]

Maybe demanding money back for service not provided would teach them a lesson.

maybe wishful thinking, they would only pass the buck

if you go onto facebook put it on their site

I got mine back twice.

The problem occurred for me the first time because the PO lady did not stick the SOD barcode over the top of the original click and send barcode.

ie. she scanned the c and s barcode to bring up my preentered information then she scanned a generic barcode to produce the SOD cost on my invoice but did not then apply the SOD sticker over the top of the original c and s barcode, then rescan the click and send item as SOD.

If the item does not show up on the delivery scanners as SOD then a signature will not be collected.

The same thing is happening for carded SOD items that are taken back to the PO. When the AP staff scans it if the scanner does not say "get a signature" then the employee just releases it....

The second time it was a prepaid bag and the same thing happened.... different operator

[***super_nova***]

My wife found a forum for complaints and its a common problem - seems the sub contractors are not paid enough for them to care.

..... and I am sure they are given so many parcels that if they delivered them all the way they should, they would work half the night and most of the weekends.  But that is not just AP problem; I recently had a parcel sent from within the same city with well known large courier company,  the driver had my parcel with him for 3 days before he delivered it.  😞

[kustomizer99]

What I'm wondering is do SOD items have to be signed for by the actual addressee on the parcel, or can it be anyone who opens the door to the postie -- or gets the wrong package in their PO box?

Also, does it show on the Austpost website when a SOD has been signed for, and by whom?

If not, I'm not sure why we're paying the $2.95.