Stop that man... and see if he'll take a letterYou've got an important letter that just has to reach its destination tomorrow morning, but with the effects of the latest postal strike expected to linger throughout Wednesday, can it be done? Sure, all you need are deep pockets or some ingenuity.
Stop that man... and see if he'll take a letterYou've got an important letter that just has to reach its destination tomorrow morning, but with the effects of the latest postal strike expected to linger throughout Wednesday, can it be done? Sure, all you need are deep pockets or some ingenuity.
1. Use a private service. They already deliver mail for organisations including the government and the BBC. There are 17 licensed rivals to the Royal Mail (for a list, see Internet links, right). But before you reach for the Yellow Pages, there are a couple things to consider. Firstly, most firms use the Royal Mail's depots and/or postal delivery workers, so are also crippled by the strike. And those that don't, have a minimum batch allocation of several hundred letters a night. That's a lot of envelopes to lick.
1. Use a private service. They already deliver mail for organisations including the government and the BBC. There are 17 licensed rivals to the Royal Mail (for a list, see Internet links, right). But before you reach for the Yellow Pages, there are a couple things to consider. Firstly, most firms use the Royal Mail's depots and/or postal delivery workers, so are also crippled by the strike. And those that don't, have a minimum batch allocation of several hundred letters a night. That's a lot of envelopes to lick.
2. Use a courier service. They advertise themselves as fast and reliable, offering a same-day service. But if you're the type of person who has baulked at the three price rises in first-class postage in as many years, then steel yourself for the courier's rate card. To send a letter from Manchester to London, same-day delivery, would set you back £245, according to one quote. Even forking out that much cash is no guarantee - some couriers are so busy due to the strike, they won't take new business.
2. Use a courier service. They advertise themselves as fast and reliable, offering a same-day service. But if you're the type of person who has baulked at the three price rises in first-class postage in as many years, then steel yourself for the courier's rate card. To send a letter from Manchester to London, same-day delivery, would set you back £245, according to one quote. Even forking out that much cash is no guarantee - some couriers are so busy due to the strike, they won't take new business.
3. Before couriers got so big, the favoured means of delivering something in a hurry was the humble taxi. In their less cost-conscious days, airlines would reunite passengers with their lost luggage using a local cab firm. The only worry is whether the driver will choose to take the "scenic route" in your absence, with inevitable consequences for the fare. But if needs must...
3. Before couriers got so big, the favoured means of delivering something in a hurry was the humble taxi. In their less cost-conscious days, airlines would reunite passengers with their lost luggage using a local cab firm. The only worry is whether the driver will choose to take the "scenic route" in your absence, with inevitable consequences for the fare. But if needs must...
4. Dust down the fax machine. It's spent a lonely few years in the corner of the office - cuckolded by the infinitely more suave charms of e-mail. But the postal strike could see the fax become the indispensable piece of office equipment it once was in the early 1990s - for a few days anyway. The handy thing about a fax is that it stands up in a court of law. So, prepare for some shrill beeps and flashing lights.
4. Dust down the fax machine. It's spent a lonely few years in the corner of the office - cuckolded by the infinitely more suave charms of e-mail. But the postal strike could see the fax become the indispensable piece of office equipment it once was in the early 1990s - for a few days anyway. The handy thing about a fax is that it stands up in a court of law. So, prepare for some shrill beeps and flashing lights.
They dodged bombs during the war
They dodged bombs during the war
5. Get a carrier pigeon. Pigeons dodged bombs and managed to deliver communications through the war, so a mere postal strike is unlikely to faze the creature. The only drawback is that no company seems to provide such a service, so it might be time to track down a local pigeon fancier. Until recently India had a Police Pigeon Service, which was used to reach isolated communities cut off by floods and earthquakes. Those winged officers might still be looking for new work.
5. Get a carrier pigeon. Pigeons dodged bombs and managed to deliver communications through the war, so a mere postal strike is unlikely to faze the creature. The only drawback is that no company seems to provide such a service, so it might be time to track down a local pigeon fancier. Until recently India had a Police Pigeon Service, which was used to reach isolated communities cut off by floods and earthquakes. Those winged officers might still be looking for new work.
6. Send it by "solicitor mail". Years before the idea of privatising the Royal Mail, the legal network used its own closed mail system, known as DX, which set out to provide a more reliable overnight delivery service. To side-step the laws of the day, those using the system had to be members. Today, DX is just one of several rivals to the Royal Mail. But, according to Postcomm - the postal watchdog - it's the only one that operates completely independently of the normal mail for small delivery loads. It will even deliver just one letter, under its premium "secure" service. The drawback is that it won't deliver to your door. Instead, it has 4,500 drop-off and pick up points across the country - many in the foyers of solicitors'' offices. Drop a letter off by 1830 and it promises to deliver it to any other box by 0930 the following morning.
6. Send it by "solicitor mail". Years before the idea of privatising the Royal Mail, the legal network used its own closed mail system, known as DX, which set out to provide a more reliable overnight delivery service. To side-step the laws of the day, those using the system had to be members. Today, DX is just one of several rivals to the Royal Mail. But, according to Postcomm - the postal watchdog - it's the only one that operates completely independently of the normal mail for small delivery loads. It will even deliver just one letter, under its premium "secure" service. The drawback is that it won't deliver to your door. Instead, it has 4,500 drop-off and pick up points across the country - many in the foyers of solicitors'' offices. Drop a letter off by 1830 and it promises to deliver it to any other box by 0930 the following morning.
7. Get one of the office staff to do it. It's fair to assume the post-room boys will have a bit of time on their hands in the next few days. Failing that, what are work-experience students for? In terms of responsibility, it's a step-up from making the tea.
7. Get one of the office staff to do it. It's fair to assume the post-room boys will have a bit of time on their hands in the next few days. Failing that, what are work-experience students for? In terms of responsibility, it's a step-up from making the tea.
8. If you want a job done, do it yourself.
8. If you want a job done, do it yourself.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
If it's just a letter, what about e-mail? If it's bulky documents, encode them as a PDF and send them electronically. Letters are just so 20th Century!Sam Tana, Preston
The lighter side of the strike is all well and good but for many small businesses the postal strike at this time of year will cripple many small businesses. Our own business is a small internet toy store and this season is obviously where the majority of our sales are taken. We have to rely on the Royal Mail nearly 100% for delivery of our small packets. These delays are causing us a massive headache and could even affect the profitability of our business. With many firms just getting by, extended strike action could be the last straw for some.Richard Avery, St Albans
Well done for undermining legitimately striking postal workers BBC News website. Don't you think the BBC has a duty to stay neutral rather than advising on ways to break the strike? And the humour is as weak as the objectivity.Laura Nere, Southampton, UK
Work experience students are not for making tea OR delivering letters thank you!Kyle, Dover
Or...you know...you could just not be such a plonker and use email1) it's free2) everyone has it3) if you get a confirmation or email receipt (also free) then its legally binding!Pete Collinson, Dundee/ Scotland
Great story, with some very informative tips. Many people talk about privatisation as the solution to postal problems, but I fear that it could create problems similar to those on the bus network, i.e. an even more fragmented and patchy service with each company playing by its own rules. Karl Chads, London, UK
There are two further ways: drums and smoke signals.John Gibbard, Leicester
Or, don't do any of the above, just grumble at your (already) overworked secretary (as if it's somehow her fault the strikes are happening) and still expect your letters to get posted.London-Lass, London, UK
I am a postman from West Wales and have for many years given Royal Mail hundreds of unpaid hours in extra work. starting well before my due time because of pressures of work, not taking full meal breaks plus breaking health and safety laws while driving just to try and get back at a reasonable time. People do not realise what many posties have to do just to keep the public happy. Finally i have worked for over 26 years and signed an agreement to have a pension payable at 60 at final salary. This is now under threat. Herms, Haverfordwest
