Mail not getting through on Ops
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Scotland
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Logistics Loader:
You are absolutely right mate it isn't rocket science
! Why the hell when there are civvy flights bringing civvy mail into theatre can't we just cough up the bucks and accept that sometimes the civvies could do things better than we can. DHL, TNT etc would take on most of the courier jobs and do them a damn sight better than the current mil system, and probably cheaper. Even Royal Mail have a better service!! Agreed that from the logistics hub onwards needs to be mil flights but then give the mail going into theatre a reasonably high priority. It cannot be right if mail and christmas presents could still arrive in theatre after someone has left.
The services brought this on themselves advertising the free parcel post to theatre before christmas and then couldn't match the rhetoric yet again!!
If I end up in theatre again I may just get myself a PO Box out there and cut out the middle man.
I wasn't knocking the people involved just the fact that we seem to be hanging onto an out dated system that is obviously
up.
Then again why doesn't that surprise me...
It aint rocket science....!!! not wishing to sound patronising BUT !!
! Why the hell when there are civvy flights bringing civvy mail into theatre can't we just cough up the bucks and accept that sometimes the civvies could do things better than we can. DHL, TNT etc would take on most of the courier jobs and do them a damn sight better than the current mil system, and probably cheaper. Even Royal Mail have a better service!! Agreed that from the logistics hub onwards needs to be mil flights but then give the mail going into theatre a reasonably high priority. It cannot be right if mail and christmas presents could still arrive in theatre after someone has left.The services brought this on themselves advertising the free parcel post to theatre before christmas and then couldn't match the rhetoric yet again!!
If I end up in theatre again I may just get myself a PO Box out there and cut out the middle man.
I wasn't knocking the people involved just the fact that we seem to be hanging onto an out dated system that is obviously
up.Then again why doesn't that surprise me...
Join Date: Jan 2008
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eblueys take over a week
I presume the Eblueys are printed at Northolt, too? At present, they are frequently taking over a week from pressing send in Kandahar to receiving at home. Do they just sit around for 5 days after being printed? Amusingly, a real bluey used to take about that long from Kandahar (now averaging 12 days).
Incidentally, parcels to Basrah last October were taking 2 - 6 weeks. The posties wouldn't record a lost parcel until 6 weeks after posting, that was their definition of normal transit.
Incidentally, parcels to Basrah last October were taking 2 - 6 weeks. The posties wouldn't record a lost parcel until 6 weeks after posting, that was their definition of normal transit.
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Zulu Mike
Technically the eblueys should be printed off at a location near to the address at which it is intended. At least that what was advertised when the system was set up. I suspect that yet again the MOD has up a system that could be much simpler and better. Lets face it most people have e-mail these days.
However, the receipt of a handwritten letter from loved ones means so much more and is probably the best moral boosting thing that can happen to anyone on the ground.
Being ex navy I remember that mail-runs to the ship were given the highest priority as a way of keeping moral up. It was a good excuse for the WAFUs to get to shore before the rest of the crew just to pick up the mail anyway.
Maybe the MOD needs to remember the idea of Best Practice and not just go for the cheapest option all of the time. We all know that if you want something to last or mean something you don't always buy from cheapest bidder. Unfortunately the accountants seem to know the cost of everything and not the value of anything! I suspect that BFPO has gone down the same route!!
Technically the eblueys should be printed off at a location near to the address at which it is intended. At least that what was advertised when the system was set up. I suspect that yet again the MOD has
up a system that could be much simpler and better. Lets face it most people have e-mail these days.However, the receipt of a handwritten letter from loved ones means so much more and is probably the best moral boosting thing that can happen to anyone on the ground.
Being ex navy I remember that mail-runs to the ship were given the highest priority as a way of keeping moral up. It was a good excuse for the WAFUs to get to shore before the rest of the crew just to pick up the mail anyway.
Maybe the MOD needs to remember the idea of Best Practice and not just go for the cheapest option all of the time. We all know that if you want something to last or mean something you don't always buy from cheapest bidder. Unfortunately the accountants seem to know the cost of everything and not the value of anything! I suspect that BFPO has gone down the same route!!
Join Date: May 2005
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Never been one to kick someone when they are down.....However, one of the most frustrating things I have found with BFPO (other than the stuff taking ages to arrive) is the fact that they will not accept parcels (or letters I assume) that have been ordered from internet sales companies that use couriers that are not on the approved BFPO list. So lets say you order something from sparkies electrical stuff.com and they use a local courier 'smiffies deliveries' - because smiffies deliveries does not have an agreement with BFPO they will refuse to accept it.
When I enquired (repeatedly) as to why a parcel of mine had been returned to sender I finally got the answer that as the courier firm did not have a revenue sharing agreement with BFPO then BFPO refused to accept the parcel. So BFPO seems more interested in revenue generation than supporting froint line - QED.
When I enquired (repeatedly) as to why a parcel of mine had been returned to sender I finally got the answer that as the courier firm did not have a revenue sharing agreement with BFPO then BFPO refused to accept the parcel. So BFPO seems more interested in revenue generation than supporting froint line - QED.
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late ebluey's
I mailed the customer help on eBluey and recieved a prompt reply which indicated the postie for Tellic was not well and a replacement had been sent out. All my outstanding eblueys were downloaded and printed very soon afterwards. Not a lot of slack in the system......
Join Date: Feb 2003
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mail
SBG...
I read and digest your comment "there was space for a few bags of mail"
Therein lies part of the problem.
Mail is "issued" as a consignment ie 30 bags. Mail is not rountinely split just to get it to where it needs to be...
Would you be happy with only 1 part or 2 parts of a 4 part IKEA flat pack...
I think not....!!
Whilst i always agree Morale in the form of letters is far better than an Ebluey...sadly you do have to make do at times....
The saga of BFPO waiting 6wks i think stems from the fact parcels as i already stated are loaded to the AT Fleet on a fill up basis as they are technically Surface Travel only...!!! If spare capacity is available after Ammo/rations/aircraft spares/forces airmail then they will be loaded.
Hoobie..
Similar probs exist with BFPO 808....
If you requested a PCB from smithiesparks.com to BFPO it wouldnd arrive, but using your AMQ address worked... How could a government dept like BFPO make money...?? RAF owned aircraft !! service personnel carrying out the postie tasks/movers loading unloading mail....raf crews flying it round the world with AAC crews also delivering it...
NavAttack:
How many times have you seen the cheapest option being used and it all goes Pete Tong ??
The problem from your reply was that the MOD were to blame...!! Spot on mate...they created "free parcels" , emphasis on parcels....!!!
See my earlier comments re parcels... therein is the problem..
Yes the BFPO system aint great, what in Forces life is these days ??
Pay being screwed up !!!
Det times getting closer together !!!
Promotion SH 1 T !!
Maybe the Dutch have it sorted... go on Strike !!!
If my pay is stuffed up, simple i dont work til its sorted...
At worst they send you to MCTC in colchester....
Upside , No det, comfy bed, mod cons ......
I read and digest your comment "there was space for a few bags of mail"
Therein lies part of the problem.
Mail is "issued" as a consignment ie 30 bags. Mail is not rountinely split just to get it to where it needs to be...
Would you be happy with only 1 part or 2 parts of a 4 part IKEA flat pack...
I think not....!!
Whilst i always agree Morale in the form of letters is far better than an Ebluey...sadly you do have to make do at times....
The saga of BFPO waiting 6wks i think stems from the fact parcels as i already stated are loaded to the AT Fleet on a fill up basis as they are technically Surface Travel only...!!! If spare capacity is available after Ammo/rations/aircraft spares/forces airmail then they will be loaded.
Hoobie..
Similar probs exist with BFPO 808....
If you requested a PCB from smithiesparks.com to BFPO it wouldnd arrive, but using your AMQ address worked... How could a government dept like BFPO make money...?? RAF owned aircraft !! service personnel carrying out the postie tasks/movers loading unloading mail....raf crews flying it round the world with AAC crews also delivering it...
NavAttack:
How many times have you seen the cheapest option being used and it all goes Pete Tong ??
The problem from your reply was that the MOD were to blame...!! Spot on mate...they created "free parcels" , emphasis on parcels....!!!
See my earlier comments re parcels... therein is the problem..
Yes the BFPO system aint great, what in Forces life is these days ??
Pay being screwed up !!!
Det times getting closer together !!!
Promotion SH 1 T !!
Maybe the Dutch have it sorted... go on Strike !!!
If my pay is stuffed up, simple i dont work til its sorted...
At worst they send you to MCTC in colchester....
Upside , No det, comfy bed, mod cons ......
Would you be happy with only 1 part or 2 parts of a 4 part IKEA flat pack...
I think not....!!
I think not....!!
I doubt many spouses/significant others can write letters long enough to need 4 envelopes.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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MATZ,
I work for one of the US mail carriers and would like to correct you. Outbound mail from the US is not free. I thought it would be as they tend to give a lot to their troops. But, when helping the mechanics get to the on-board spares pack ups it is necessary to remove the bulk loaded parcels and it amazed me how much the postage cost. Perhaps it is free to the troops sending items home, but certainly not from Yankeeland.
There is at least one mail Boeing 747 per day from the US and in the run up to Christmas it could be six. I know there is a lot more US mil but from reading the foregoing it appears the Min of Uncaring doesn't support the folks in the field.
Could say more but don't want one of those 'special flights' to an unknown holiday destination.
I work for one of the US mail carriers and would like to correct you. Outbound mail from the US is not free. I thought it would be as they tend to give a lot to their troops. But, when helping the mechanics get to the on-board spares pack ups it is necessary to remove the bulk loaded parcels and it amazed me how much the postage cost. Perhaps it is free to the troops sending items home, but certainly not from Yankeeland.
There is at least one mail Boeing 747 per day from the US and in the run up to Christmas it could be six. I know there is a lot more US mil but from reading the foregoing it appears the Min of Uncaring doesn't support the folks in the field.
Could say more but don't want one of those 'special flights' to an unknown holiday destination.
