Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg
a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Did a local drop off point system ever get going? thx E. |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
eastender wrote:
Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. http://www.parcelsafeuk.com/ Not used that but I'm thinking about building something huge out of waterproof plywood board that works a bit like the bank safety deposit chute / US street post box with a swing door that obstructs direct physical entry to an area below where the posted item falls and eventually rests. -- Adrian C |
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Adrian C wrote:
eastender wrote: Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. http://www.parcelsafeuk.com/ Not used that but I'm thinking about building something huge out of waterproof plywood board that works a bit like the bank safety deposit chute / US street post box with a swing door that obstructs direct physical entry to an area below where the posted item falls and eventually rests. Look at clothing recycling points - at least those around here - which have a flap/slot/thingy to prevent removal of stuff once it has been deposited. Might supply an idea or two. -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"Rod" wrote in message ... Adrian C wrote: eastender wrote: Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. http://www.parcelsafeuk.com/ Not used that but I'm thinking about building something huge out of waterproof plywood board that works a bit like the bank safety deposit chute / US street post box with a swing door that obstructs direct physical entry to an area below where the posted item falls and eventually rests. Look at clothing recycling points - at least those around here - which have a flap/slot/thingy to prevent removal of stuff once it has been deposited. Might supply an idea or two. and i bet even if it was painted bright yellow, with 'parcels in her please mr postman' written in the largest and clearest font possible, the postie would still throw the parcel over the fence.... into nextdoors garden not ours, said parcel contained a printer, or it did untill nextdoors big dog discovered it, then ate half and burried the rest under the rose bushes. |
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
On Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:05:40 +0000, eastender wrote:
Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Walk? 1 mile 20 mins, and the excercise will do you good. -- Cheers Dave. |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
eastender wrote:
Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Did a local drop off point system ever get going? I have exactly that problem, never in when parcels arrive. Better now that I can buy from a local Screwfix depot, but still a problem with other suppliers. Our local Parcel Force depot is about 6 miles away. A self locking parcel box is a brilliant idea. I know that, during harvest time, farmers always want combine harvester parts delivered immediately. The local agricultural dealer will have a lockable wire cage in the yard, and the parts supplier will deliver at whatever time in the evening/night & leave the parcels in the cage - I guess they have a key/combination, or it is left unlocked & they snap the padlock. DHL have a partial solution to the problem. They have parcels delivered to a local self employed guy who delivers them evenings & weekends - the problem is you have to get the supplier to use their service. Their must be a national chain who are open 24/7 that could accept parcels anytime & allow collection. Tesco or similar maybe? Petrol stations? McDonalds? -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message om... eastender wrote: Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Did a local drop off point system ever get going? DHL have a partial solution to the problem. They have parcels delivered to a local self employed guy who delivers them evenings & weekends - the problem is you have to get the supplier to use their service. That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations, but also found at tram stops and other easily findable and reachable places, a set of different sized lockers, in the middle is a computer terminal, you insert your dhl card or enter the parcel number, it tells you which locker your parcel is in and opens it for you, same in reverse if your sending a parcel, after you've paid it tells you which locker to put it in and pops it open. i tried to sign up for one of the cards to use the system when i was touring germany last year, but couldent without a german postal addy, the system would have been ideal for me to get things sent out to me, easier than the poste resante service, which is notroiousely bad in germany for some reason, switzerland it the usual model of efficiancy, 2 days from sending in england the package was waiting for me, and i was let know via a text message from the sorting office, with a number to ring if i didnt know what it was. |
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
In message , The Medway
Handyman writes eastender wrote: Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Did a local drop off point system ever get going? I have exactly that problem, never in when parcels arrive. Better now that I can buy from a local Screwfix depot, but still a problem with other suppliers. Our local Parcel Force depot is about 6 miles away. We (one of my companies) have designed such a box which weighs and gives the courier a receipt our current problem is to actually find someone willing to take the design and manufacture it .... it is in hand -- geoff |
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote:
That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... :-) -- Frank Erskine |
#10
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"Frank Erskine" wrote in message ... On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote: That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... Bahnhof Colin Bignell |
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
The Medway Handyman wrote:
eastender wrote: Has anyone put a largish postbox near the front door to take parcels (eg a packet of books that won't go thru letterbox), and if so what models are working out well? Getting fed up with trips to the post office, which is well over a mile away and hard to park by. Did a local drop off point system ever get going? I have exactly that problem, never in when parcels arrive. Better now that I can buy from a local Screwfix depot, but still a problem with other suppliers. Our local Parcel Force depot is about 6 miles away. A self locking parcel box is a brilliant idea. I know that, during harvest time, farmers always want combine harvester parts delivered immediately. The local agricultural dealer will have a lockable wire cage in the yard, and the parts supplier will deliver at whatever time in the evening/night & leave the parcels in the cage - I guess they have a key/combination, or it is left unlocked & they snap the padlock. DHL have a partial solution to the problem. They have parcels delivered to a local self employed guy who delivers them evenings & weekends - the problem is you have to get the supplier to use their service. Their must be a national chain who are open 24/7 that could accept parcels anytime & allow collection. Tesco or similar maybe? Petrol stations? McDonalds? Funnily enough, not currently 24/7, but I always had Post Offices up as a candidate for this sort of service. Initially it looks like helping the competition but better to get a sliver of that cake than lose it entirely (which they seem intent on doing). And at one time everyone had as local PO... :-( (Must admit I fervently hope anything I buy is delivered by DHL or City Link as we have depots for both nearby which we can collect from if delivery fails. Some other companies are as far away as Luton or Watford - towards an hour's drive.) -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Frank Erskine wrote:
On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote: That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... :-) Does that drive you mad as well? I thought I was the only one who suffered from apoplexy at the sound of that phrase. Even 'Station' would be clear, a bus stops at a terminal or depot surely? -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"The Medway Handyman" wrote:
Frank Erskine wrote: On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote: That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... :-) Does that drive you mad as well? I thought I was the only one who suffered from apoplexy at the sound of that phrase. Even 'Station' would be clear, a bus stops at a terminal or depot surely? You've never heard of a "bus station"? Surprising, as there's one in Chatham, and one in Maidstone. |
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Rod wrote:
Funnily enough, not currently 24/7, but I always had Post Offices up as a candidate for this sort of service. Initially it looks like helping the competition but better to get a sliver of that cake than lose it entirely (which they seem intent on doing). But Post Offices *do* offer this service. You can set this up at your local Royal Mail delivery office - you specify which PO the packet or parcel is to be delivered to if there's no-one in. The card the postman puts through the door confirms it. I think there is also an one-off option to have an undelivered packet or parcel redelivered to a PO rather than to you. I'm pretty sure this option is offered on the card the postman puts through the door. You just call them and specify which PO. |
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Bruce wrote:
Rod wrote: Funnily enough, not currently 24/7, but I always had Post Offices up as a candidate for this sort of service. Initially it looks like helping the competition but better to get a sliver of that cake than lose it entirely (which they seem intent on doing). But Post Offices *do* offer this service. You can set this up at your local Royal Mail delivery office - you specify which PO the packet or parcel is to be delivered to if there's no-one in. The card the postman puts through the door confirms it. I think there is also an one-off option to have an undelivered packet or parcel redelivered to a PO rather than to you. I'm pretty sure this option is offered on the card the postman puts through the door. You just call them and specify which PO. Indeed - they do have that option for stuff they fail to deliver. Not much help for HDNL, UPS, TNT, etc. And that is what I was really thinking about - hence the 'helping the competiton' comment. (I realise that Mr Medway had mentioned PF, but thought that it really applied to all delivery services.) Never used the PO service as almost everything that would be a problem is delivered by someone other than them! -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#16
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"Bruce" wrote in message ... You've never heard of a "bus station"? Is that the same as a "road station"? |
#17
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Rod wrote:
Indeed - they do have that option for stuff they fail to deliver. Not much help for HDNL, UPS, TNT, etc. And that is what I was really thinking about - hence the 'helping the competiton' comment. (I realise that Mr Medway had mentioned PF, but thought that it really applied to all delivery services.) Never used the PO service as almost everything that would be a problem is delivered by someone other than them! Understood. |
#18
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
In message , Rod
writes The Medway Handyman wrote: Their must be a national chain who are open 24/7 that could accept parcels anytime & allow collection. Tesco or similar maybe? Petrol stations? McDonalds? Funnily enough, not currently 24/7, but I always had Post Offices up as a candidate for this sort of service. Initially it looks like helping the competition but better to get a sliver of that cake than lose it entirely (which they seem intent on doing). Oh, we would if we could, believe me, but sub postmasters are strictly forbidden anything that may be classed as helping their customers ... More seriously, yes, as a sub postmaster in a rural area, it would be extremely handy for me to be a depot for other carriers, but the PO have forbidden any such activity - which helps explain why we are disliked by couriers. They think we are just being unhelpful. -- Graeme |
#19
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Graeme wrote:
In message , Rod writes The Medway Handyman wrote: Their must be a national chain who are open 24/7 that could accept parcels anytime & allow collection. Tesco or similar maybe? Petrol stations? McDonalds? Funnily enough, not currently 24/7, but I always had Post Offices up as a candidate for this sort of service. Initially it looks like helping the competition but better to get a sliver of that cake than lose it entirely (which they seem intent on doing). Oh, we would if we could, believe me, but sub postmasters are strictly forbidden anything that may be classed as helping their customers ... More seriously, yes, as a sub postmaster in a rural area, it would be extremely handy for me to be a depot for other carriers, but the PO have forbidden any such activity - which helps explain why we are disliked by couriers. They think we are just being unhelpful. Good to hear your view. Having once lived in a tiny town miles from anywhere, it is simple sense to do that. And if the PO doesn't, someone else might - but always unofficial and as a favour - which isn't good if anything goes wrong. But I do understand that you are not allowed to... :-( -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#20
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Bruce wrote:
"The Medway Handyman" wrote: Frank Erskine wrote: On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote: That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... :-) Does that drive you mad as well? I thought I was the only one who suffered from apoplexy at the sound of that phrase. Even 'Station' would be clear, a bus stops at a terminal or depot surely? You've never heard of a "bus station"? Surprising, as there's one in Chatham, and one in Maidstone. Bus terminal or bus depot. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#21
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Frank Erskine wrote: On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:51:37 -0000, "gazz" wrote: That reminds me of the DHL drop off and collection points in germany, usually at train stations Arghhh - "railway stations"... :-) Does that drive you mad as well? I thought I was the only one who suffered from apoplexy at the sound of that phrase. Even 'Station' would be clear, a bus stops at a terminal or depot surely? Ah - of course it would. A station of the cross. :-) -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
#22
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
You've never heard of a "bus station"?
Surprising, as there's one in Chatham, and one in Maidstone. Bus terminal or bus depot. Well they were known as stations when I used to wander around them looking at the Mud & Dust stock in Maidstone, Chatham etc in the 1950s and 60s. And the OED's happy enough with station. Perhaps it was different in the big smoke. -- Robin |
#23
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
In message , Owain
writes The Medway Handyman wrote: Bus terminal or bus depot. A terminal has to be the end of the route. If buses pass through the bus station then it's not a terminal. Bus node? Bus depot is where the buses live overnight and where the drivers get their tea. no that's a bus tepot -- geoff |
#24
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
"The Medway Handyman" wrote:
Bruce wrote: You've never heard of a "bus station"? Surprising, as there's one in Chatham, and one in Maidstone. Bus terminal or bus depot. There is no such thing as a "bus terminal". A "bus depot" is a place where buses are maintained and/or stored, and usually has no public access of any kind. Nice try, though! By the way, both Chatham and Maidstone Bus Stations are called exactly that: bus stations. Official ... The one in Chatham is apparently due for relocation from the Pentagon Centre to a site at Globe Lane/Military Road. Medway Council consulted on its relocation proposals and reported on the consultation in November 2007. The Cabinet's report on the consultation is entitled "CHATHAM BUS STATION PROPOSALS - RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE" and contains 30 instances of the term "bus station". It's a .pdf document: http://tinyurl.com/6n5cxl or http://ww2.medway.gov.uk/FTP/Cabinet..._1278_1895.pdf |
#25
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Bruce saying something like: There is no such thing as a "bus terminal". Yes there is. It's where the bus route terminates and the driver sits with his feet up waiting for the next scheduled run to start in the opposite direction. In the older days it was where the driver and clippy could be found upstairs, doing the nasty. |
#26
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Bruce saying something like: There is no such thing as a "bus terminal". Yes there is. It's where the bus route terminates and the driver sits with his feet up waiting for the next scheduled run to start in the opposite direction. In the older days it was where the driver and clippy could be found upstairs, doing the nasty. I think you mean a "bus terminus". I repeat, there is no such thing as a "bus terminal". But you can invent the term if you like. ;-) |
#27
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
External parcel box
Paul Matthews wrote:
The Medway Handyman wrote: Their must be a national chain who are open 24/7 that could accept parcels anytime & allow collection. Tesco or similar maybe? Petrol stations? McDonalds? To be useful it does nor *need* to be 24/7, just open a long time. Most supermarkets are douing 12 hours at a shift most days. That would be a big improvement. Order something, get reference from order. Go to local Tesco/Sainsbury/Coop or whatever after noon the next day to collect. Unfortunately, for me at least, going to Tesco/Sainsbury/whichever other major supermarket involves car journey plus parking. So the cost in petrol and/or parking charges would make that hopeless. And that is aside from the supermarkets almost all being in or on the other side of town - hence traffic. Petrol stations sound better - but in reality, many of them are at the supermarkets... :-) That is the appeal of an organisation with lots of small local branches. Hopefully walkable distance and even if not, often free for very short term parking. -- Rod Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious onset. Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed. www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
external cabling | UK diy | |||
external gas meter box | UK diy | |||
Can you acquire a portion of a parcel? | Home Repair | |||
Splitting a land parcel - how? | Home Repair | |||
Thermecon 50/80 External | UK diy |