A Royal Mail postman has shared a simple gesture that could leave your postie feeling appreciated — and it's not offering them drinks or snacks.
Establishing a good rapport with your postman could prove beneficial, especially if you're anticipating frequent deliveries or important parcels. However, it's not about providing them with beverages or treats to maintain their goodwill. Rather, it's something many individuals might not consider offering a postal worker while they're out completing their rounds.
What the postman says
Royal Mail postman Reece Perch shared on TikTok: "If you want your postie to love you and look after your parcels, then ask if they need the toilet."
Most postmen or delivery drivers lack convenient access to toilet facilities because they are constantly on the move, reports the Express. Reece observed: "If I need the toilet, I have to drive somewhere; I can't just walk to the other side of the office or go to my own bathroom when working from home."
Throughout the years, he has developed excellent relationships with residents along his route, describing them as wonderful for allowing him to use their facilities. "Now I can drive round the corner from someone and go for a wee, because I built that relationship with that person," said Reece.
Why the toilet matters more than drinks
He continued by saying that as postal workers, they would receive offers of beverages on warm days or snacks, but "nine times out of 10," your postman requires the toilet. Reece explained: "They'll be more grateful for that than being offered a drink."
He continued: "I promise you that postie will begin to love you, and they'll look after you. They'll put off your parcels in the safest places all the time."
What happens when parcels cannot be delivered
Royal Mail explains that if you're absent when a parcel arrives, several outcomes are possible depending on the item's dimensions and whether a signature is necessary.
Certain parcels are too large for a standard letterbox, which means the postal worker may need to hand them directly to someone. When nobody is available to accept the delivery, Royal Mail typically attempts another delivery on the following working day.
This indicates you might not need to take immediate action, as your package could return to your property the next day. Nevertheless, if the postal worker remains unable to complete the delivery, they will leave a 'Something for you' notification card detailing the situation.
The parcel will subsequently be taken to a Customer Service Point for collection. Recipients can alternatively request the item be redelivered at a time that suits them better.
Items postal workers cannot leave with neighbours
- Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed items
- Items from overseas which require a signature
- Items sent using the ID verification service, which must be delivered to the named individual
- Items sent using the Age verification service if your neighbour appears to be under 25 and can't provide appropriate ID
- Items sent using the Do Not Redirect service
- Citations (which carry the appropriate instruction on the envelope) sent from the Scottish Courts via Royal Mail Signed For
