[Closed] Royal mail have binned my rear shock!

You might no ok, they sent me an email recently, telling me that they'd binned my li-ion battery. I sent off an email to them, they said that they had to 'protect their employees'. It turned up a week later, with a dangerous label on it, minus the wee kettle plug cable for the charger.

Spoke to my local post office owner, and he reckons that they are changing rules weekly, and that even he isn't sure what is ok now. Muppets.

Oh, and this happened pre privatisation, so not really the Tories fault. Unfortunately.

Absolute joke...

I'd think that Brakes may fall under this category as well.

Bubble wrAp falls under that catagory 😉

A long way down the line but post resolution Im up for bidding/leaving neg feedback on those accounts

A long way down the line but post resolution Im up for bidding/leaving neg feedback on those accounts

For ever ago, I shipped via Parcel Force (this was pre demerger from RM)an expensive antique clock back to the auction house in Germany where is came from. The clock was delivered to me via Parcel Force so going back via Parcel Force made sense. The clock had a bespoke heavy duty wooden box made for it with over 10mm of shock absorbing foam between the clock and the inside of the box. Everything was labelled up correctly with the usual "this way up" "fragile" etc. The clock cost over £10k and when it arrived in Germany it was clear someone had stamped all over it and the photos also showed numerous marks suggesting it had been booted about. The damage was extensive and repairs cost over £1,250. RM/PF started out by saying antiques were exempt from claims, then they said goods over £x were also exempt, this nonsense went on for about a week until I sent a letter threatening to sue for breach of contract on the grounds that I had detailed everything clearly and honestly, they had also accepted my additional insurance payment and that they had a duty of care to explain to me all these restrictions before accepting my payment for the carriage and additional insurance. Thankfully someone further up the food chain read the letter and commonsense prevailed and they paid the repair bill. I think you have a rock solid case for full compensation if they cannot locate your shock and I would be surprised in this age of social media if they don't eventually see sense and sort you out, best of luck.

My mate took a delivery in work,

He asked what it was and the courier simply replied "rock samples"

It was actually an antique fire place he'd won on ebay. Sadly, it hadn't been packaged very well and cared for even less on its journey from Scotland to Wales.

Oh how we laughed.

Pooped myself this morning after reading this thread! Last week I posted 2 shocks in a Jiffy bag to Loco, thank god he phoned this aft with my bill 🙂

My postie quite often 'disposes' of my larger post items in my wheelie bin, that's apparently my 'nominated safe place' whatever that is
I've just checked and can confirm the OP's shock has not been disposed of there

cookeaa - Member

OP Have you requested Rm provide you with evidence of the disposal / method/means of "Disposal"...

If they are disposing of items they consider Hazardous they will have a duty to comply with Legislation and Regulations governing the disposal of hazardous materials, they should also have to document any disposal

You're getting confused between items that are legally regarded as hazardous, and items that a private company describe as hazardous, in their own non-legal definition.

Hope you get this sorted OP.

shifter - Member

If they are entitled to charge you for disposal of said dangerous goods then I'd offer to do that for them. I'm assuming they know where it is of course and they should - it's dangerous! Dangerous stuff can't just be lobbed in the bin, there needs to be a manifest and a paper trail to demonstrate their duty of care. Someone at RM must know where this shock is.

This. Actually, whether charging for disposal or not. If they don't have a clearly documented trail of what has happened to it (therefore making it traceable/recoverable) they are in breach of so many laws it's untrue. Duty of care and disposal regs - if it's too dangerous for them to keep then it's too dangerous to simply bin or give away to someone to ebay (as is mentioned above 'may' be the case 'sometimes')

Read the notes above re Exec's beginning to take an interest and STW mods lending a hand with the power of the press. Please let us know how this turns out.

Seriously do people still use RM has no one ever heard of sticking your parcel in a large bottle and dropping it in the sea. Cant be any worse than that shower of shits.

Yes I use them all the time, I have never failed to get anything where I want etc. Sometimes it takes a bit longer than i'd like though I admit.

Very interested to hear how this turns out. Has some quite large implications for the biking community.

Fwiw i'd take them to small claims. I'd recommend another courier but in my experience they are all poor. Collect + is limited but probably the best.

I'd recommend another courier but in my experience they are all poor. Collect + is limited but probably the best.

Dont collect plus use Yodel to deliver. Good luck with that one.

Interlink Express or DPD.. Give you a 1 hr time slot and you can even track the driver.

Great to see STW take an active interest in this - bravo!

Hope you either get the shock back or are suitable compensated.

I wonder what will happen to RM?

All my bills etc are now franked/delvered by a private company and I dont receive anything else by RM.

Well that's it, as you don't get anything delivered by Royal Mail then they're definitely going bust. Just think, you could save the entire company if you used them for all your frame purchases/sales

Of course I should add 😛 😀

I wonder what will happen to RM?

Interesting read, and for once the OP isn't getting a flaming 😆

I have shared this on various forums and on a couple of FB pages to spread the word.

Everything I would like to say has been said but I will be keeping a close eye on this thread to see how you get on. I hope you get it sorted. Best of luck.

i dont know what im more shocked about :

the fact the RM disposed of something that clearly has a high value, and is pretty common on bikes in general and must get posted alot through their network

or the fact somebody here on STW world hasnt blamed the OP in some way and told him its his own fault 😆

im amazed on both counts

or the fact somebody here on STW world hasnt blamed the OP in some way

Pretty sure that they have, to some extent

Seriously do people still use RM

I'm amazed you're amazed.

*everyone* likes to have a bash at RM [i]even more than[/i] blaming people for their own misfortunes.

😉

clubber dont spoil it for me - i thought it was a christmas miracle!

i still cant get over the fact they can just dispose of it, seriously WTF send the thing back to the sender worse case

To be fair I've never had an issue with RM however all this has made me think about what I'm posting with them.

So, what happens if you send a whole bike that has forks, shock & possibly reverb fitted? Could it get binned?

i still cant get over the fact they can just dispose of it, seriously WTF send the thing back to the sender worse case

that would make even less sense.

its too dangerous to ship so we've shipped it back to you?

Well that's it, as you don't get anything delivered by Royal Mail then they're definitely going bust. Just think, you could save the entire company if you used them for all your frame purchases/sales

I thought RM relies on business post/customers for a large chunk of its business. If its all open-season/open to tender along with alot of people sending emails etc etc that 'we are now in profit bollocks' (inflating stamp/sending parcel prices just before sell off) really is going to see RM starting to fall at somepoint (SADLY) and then..who is going to look after their huge pension obligations?

hora - Member

All my bills etc are now franked/delvered by a private company

High chance that they're carried by RM at some point- part of their long-term problem is that they've been required to carry mail for "competitors", at stupidly low prices. So when people say things like "They need expensive infrastructure upgrades" you need to mentally tack on "So they can carry more items for the competition, at a loss". It's all kind of insane.

One outstanding question of privatisation is if they'll still be required to do this once the current agreement expires, which IIRC is in 2016. If not, most of the false competition in the market will probably just end overnight, most couriers can't function without it.

And fwiw, I use Royal Mail a lot, I find them the best courier/mailer for most items, only beat by DPD for large/high value. Nothing's perfect but they do a better job than most.

Imagine if they disposed of a childs face!

I've not gone down the route of complaining officially, trying to make a big fuss, asking for disposal evidence, threatening legal action, small claims court etc etc.

I'd much prefer a couple of polite phone calls and emails to try to get to the bottom of the issue first. Mistakes will always happen afterall. If these actions don't work then taking it to the next level (what ever that may be) will be considered.

You are way more tolerant than I'd be, at present you are ~£300 out of pocket... The longer you let it slide the less of a priority it becomes for them to address your problem, TBH you need to create a fuss...

Out of interest how many shocks does a servicing business like TF/Mojo/Loco receive and dispatch on a daily basis?
it's not unreasonable for you to expect RM to carry the item, there is a lot of precedent I've probably sent/received at least ~15 various similar bicycle suspension items (Forks/shocks/frames with shocks) over the last few years all via RM, normally de-pressurised (like you did), why the sudden exception being made?

Are RM citing [I]"The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009"[/I] by any chance?

I'm still not clear on what exactly RM have done with the shock, they've told you it has been "Disposed of" as it is a dangeous pressurised item right?

Are RM equiped for such disposals themselves?
Having grouping it in with items such as fire extingishers or gas bottles suggests they should just be taking the item to the tip, they need to engage the services of a properly equiped and trained pressure equipment disposal specialist... Have they passed on any of their "Disposal costs" OP or is it a T&Cs bullet point to try and deter you from complaining or claiming?

As a recorded item they [I]should[/I] be able to tell you exactly when and where and why it was identified as a "Hazardous item", a note should be appended to the tracking number in their system, they had contact details for you and the recipeint why not contact either you or them to find out more?

I mean the sorting office must be used to a fair few cylindrical items being sent to Mojo...

I've not read the whole thread .....

Did anybody get a laser aimed into their eyes during this story ?

If not.

I'm out.

I bought some forks off here from the Netherlands i think. Bloke had described them as bike forks containing oil. Got the tracking number so was able to watch them get sent from there to the UK, and then the UK post them back there. Got a mail saying that they couldn't ship them as they were dangerous yet they posted them back to another country.

Bloke crossed out the oil on the note and shipped them straight back no problem. RM are stupid.

Curious. I wonder if you genuinely lost a parcel in their system if it'd turn up/have turned up in these sellers:

sharonj2013
sharonkind123

What comeback you could have? I.e insurance wasn't in place/or pay out but you said 'you found it in your possession contrary to what you said at the time and heres proof'?

that would make even less sense.

its too dangerous to ship so we've shipped it back to you?

not really. If they are deemed to be hazardous at the originating depot then they contact the poster, tell them its refused and to collect it. If its identified as prohibited/dangerous mid-transit at some intermediate hub/depot then its too late, theyve already carried it and exposed their staff to danger, making a mockery of the policy.

Love the idea they sell seized goods on, which no doubt are then posted to the new buyer.

Interesting set of items for sale there Hora.
Worth keeping track of if you ever get something 'disposed'

Lot of nice Lezyne gear going through those accounts. Almost worthy of a bit of investigation by a journalist. RM really aren't the most transparent of organisations, are they?

Lot of nice Lezyne gear going through those accounts. Almost worthy of a bit of investigation by a journalist. RM really aren't the most transparent of organisations, are they?

I'll ask If I can get it before Xmas, if they'll post it RM 1st class. Hang on.

What happens if the shock has been binned but the powers that be decide this shouldn't have happened.

Does the OP only get his £50 compensation back? It was only valued at £50 when sending via recorded service I think.

Double kick in the nuts.. 'we have ruled in your favour here is a cheque for £50' (for your new £300 shock.)

Interesting set of items for sale there Hora.

sharonkind123 'for sale' looks to be almost entirely made up of things RM say are dangerous or banned. Liquids, spray cans etc. Either being bought at an RM auction and sold on ebay or something more sinister. Doesn't seem right at all that RM can refuse to carry things then sell them off at auction.

I'll ask If I can get it before Xmas, if they'll post it RM 1st class. Hang on.

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Doesn't seem right at all that RM can refuse to carry things then sell them off at auction.

And not only that but quoting a postage price specifying RM as the delivery method!

No update as of yet. I'm going to give them another few hours before I make contact/ramp things up.

I'm guessing my shock is more like £500 retail... Fox Float CTD BV with Trail adjust Kashima....what a name!

I was not contacted at any point by RM about my item being disposed of. It was only when I started to track down my item that I started to get any information.

Have spoken with the fine people at Mojo about this and they've never heard of this happening before. They send upwards of 50 shocks a week and receive the same amount (presumably) mostly via royal mail. A few other tuners out there too who must be in a similar position; windwave, fishers, loco, J-Tech, Flowtec etc etc.

I genuinely think I've been lucky and am optimistic about a positive outcome.

Thanks for keeping this going!

[quote=twoniner said]So, what happens if you send a whole bike that has forks, shock & possibly reverb fitted? Could it get binned?

Don't forget the tyres full of pressurised gas - if it's got Hollowtech cranks you're really in trouble.

[quote=whatnobeer said]Interesting set of items for sale there Hora.
sharonkind123 'for sale' looks to be almost entirely made up of things RM say are dangerous or banned. Liquids, spray cans etc. Either being bought at an RM auction and sold on ebay or something more sinister. Doesn't seem right at all that RM can refuse to carry things then sell them off at auction.

If you check the delivery method it's also all RM.

It says Hermes on the bike canisters- If they confirm it in writing that they'll RM it I'll postback.

Hi. These goods are Royal Mail confiscated goods as they are prohibited to send hence why I'm
Sending Hermes. Really sorry.
I can get Hermes to pick up tomorrow and they seem to bevworkingbsaturdays and Sundays st the moment so a good chance of delivery if you're not in the outer Hebrides.