[Howardlong]

Not sure why the CAA don't do Special Delivery on this. Is there a different service level that FedEx UK are offering?

To counteract other posters re: FedEx. FedEx Express, the international arm of FedEx, as opposed to FedEx UK (which used to be called something else before being bought by FedEx a couple of years ago) have transformed my business. 95% of my shipments are outside the UK - and I send thousands PA. I won't bore you with the details, but end to end global time definite tracking is key, and I don't spend half my waking hours aimlessly tracking packages around the planet as I did with Royal Mail for foreign deliveries.

Having said all that, I still use RM Special Delivery within the UK, it's a cost and time sensitive option. Maybe Fedex UK demand more ID than Special delivery do.

[stevelup]

Have a look at UPS for your UK stuff. It depends on volume, but for us, it's way cheaper than RMSD and a much better service.

[Jim Jones]

Within the UK the serviced offered by the Royal Mail meant that a failure to delivery had your package left for collection at a very local dept, called the Post Office. You could even specify that as the destination and collect it at a time and place that was more convenient than an industrial estate in another town.

That was back then of course and privatisation has resulted in a much better competition-driven, customer-led service. Just ask yourself, who is the customer here?

[Keef]

Post Office works for me. We know the postman, he delivers. End of story. So it was with my EASA licence.

Daughter 2 is often out when the postman calls. He leaves a card, and leaves the item in the village pub 100 yards down the road.

I had one delivery from one of the American outfits, who suggested I wasn't at home when they called (I was) and that I should drive to their depot (best part of an hour away) to collect. We had a little "discussion" and they delivered (properly) the next day. Apparently the "you weren't in" trick is not unusual in these rural parts. The giveaway is that they don't put a card through the door (because they didn't come to the door).

[avtur3]

A couple of months back I applied for a Visa to visit Saudi Arabia (at rather short notice) I used the Visa application specialist company which my client uses, when it got the point of specifying delivery options I specifically stated that I did not want the 'default courier option' because I know some have draconian delivery criteria, instead I specified "royal mail" because I live about 1 mile from a main sorting office.

Well of course my preference for Royal Mail was totally ignored and delivery was made by a courier who can only be contacted online, no telephone available.

It goes without saying that the couriers first attempt to deliver occurred during a 20 minute widow when I was out of the house, though there had been no communication to advise me of this.

Following multiple emails, and very public complaints via the couriers 'Facebook' page I received my Visa 48 hours after it was originally scheduled for delivery.

For me I have to say that sometimes the service at Post Office counters can be dire, unprofessional and just sadly lacking in customer responsiveness. However when it comes to using the local sorting office as a pick up point, then they certainly have a huge advantage over any of the courier services.

[greggj]

I'm still waiting for my licence.
I didn't pay for the courier, as it makes little difference in London. At least with post office here, I can tell them to deliver it somewhere else, or pick it up myself within walking distance. Fedex, I would have to drive 5-10 miles, which is like 1h in London.

[stevelup]

My above was to something that someone wrote, but then deleted.

Ah well, if you'd quoted (and possibly encountered the wrath of Aerbabe), it would have been preserved for posterity!

[Gertie]

The giveaway is that they don't put a card through the door (because they didn't come to the door).

In cities they usually do put the card through the door because they can't be **** to locate the package in the back of the van. But they tiptoe up to the door and put the card though very quietly, so you don't hear them do it even if you're in the next room with the door to the hallway open.

[cockney steve]

^^^^^ Had exactly the same with Parcel Farce andPost office
out here in the sticks.....PF failed to deliver 2 mountain bikes shipped back from Argentina...then claimed they were "on the van" though tracking claimed otherwise.... when I tried to arrange to collect them from Manchester.....after a robust "discussion" they were found dumped in a corner of the warehouse give them their due,they did deliver the following day which was a Saturday.....several times I've had the card from local PO but been in and heard theletterbox rattle....too late to catch them! drawback of a short garden path!

[Keef]

If you have a regular postman (we do), catch him and agree how to operate.

Ours opens the back door and puts the post on the fridge where we can't miss it.
If we're out, he puts it through the letterbox.
If if won't go through the letterbox, he puts it in an agreed place out of the rain, outdoors, and a card through the door.
If it's "sign for", we have an agreement.

Only fails when he's on holidays.