Thread: On the Gifkins road

Hi delbs,
I had problems with the delivery person with 2 tracked parcels. I was waiting for the first one no sign of it during the day, but when I got home from walking the dogs at 2030 there was a slip in the mail box to say that he had attempted to deliver it at 1000 and I could pick it up after 1600. So off to the PO as soon as they opened, no sign of it, it didn't turn up till 1600 that day. so 2 days later when the next one came up "on van for delivery" I watched like a hawk, no sign all day but at 1930 a van pulls up next to our letter box and the guy gets out and slips the slip into the letter box, but as we were watching and screamed out the window for him to wait. His excuse was he couldn't see where the front door was. He didn't even try and he should not have been delivering at that time of night.
May be the same Dick Head tried to deliver yours.
Regards

Delbs, I hope you get your new toys soon, I know you'll love them!

It seems were are not alone in this...

I was expecting a small parcel from Amazon recently. My wife witnessed through the curtains the Australia Post delivery van pull up, the driver immediately fills out a slip and proceeds to put it in the letter box. My wife (not being a wall flower) nicely gets his attention (Woke the dead) and he then gets the parcel from the van.
It seems this ploy makes their day so much easier!

Originally Posted by A Duke

Hi delbs,
I had problems with the delivery person with 2 tracked parcels. I was waiting for the first one no sign of it during the day, but when I got home from walking the dogs at 2030 there was a slip in the mail box to say that he had attempted to deliver it at 1000 and I could pick it up after 1600. So off to the PO as soon as they opened, no sign of it, it didn't turn up till 1600 that day. so 2 days later when the next one came up "on van for delivery" I watched like a hawk, no sign all day but at 1930 a van pulls up next to our letter box and the guy gets out and slips the slip into the letter box, but as we were watching and screamed out the window for him to wait. His excuse was he couldn't see where the front door was. He didn't even try and he should not have been delivering at that time of night.
May be the same Dick Head tried to deliver yours.
Regards

generally i have had no problem with australia post but when they stuff up they do it badly

on one occasion i sent a parcel to my brother-in-law at glenhaven ... he was working in the garden next to the letterbox when the contractor (not employee) tried to put the card in the letterbox ... when b-i-l took the card and asked: "well where's the parcel" was told i didn't bring it with me because i didn't think you would be home

another and more disturbing one happened when i sent a letter for personal signature on delivery and the recipient found the letter on their verandah (it would have blown away but for the rain that had made it heavy) ... i investigated through my local aust post who found the contractor (not employee) had signed for receipt ... THIS WAS A GROUP CERTIFICATE which is why i said disturbing

that said, i have had really good service from local employees and contractors


glad the op problem was sorted by the gifkins people


regards david

Yeah i have to admit that this is the first problem i have had with Aus post. I was really paying attention to when this parcel arrived due to the amount i paid for it, the fact that they stuffed this one up is just so annoying why couldnt they have stuffed up the pair of socks or something i got from a relo lol

Col from Gifkins said that he sends the jigs all over the world and has never had one returned due to Aus post. Oh well i can see via the internet tracking that its on its way back up the coast and Col will send it back with a courier to my house. Thankfully to my wife being at home a lot during the day will receive it for me.

For some reason i have never wanted to make dovetail cabinets/draws/boxes as much as i want to now.. Dammit! Will post up pics once it arrives and my first caibnet that i have ready to be joined.

As with all companies that have monopoly, there is absolutely no compulsion to provide good service.

I frequently receive parcels using Australia Post's overnight service and frequently receive the parcel in 2-3 days. I then contact the sender and advise the delivery time and they subsequently receive a refund which they then pass onto myself.

You just have to wonder when Australia Post will wake up.

Been there, worked as a parcel delivery sub contractor for three years.

If the driver cannot locate the address, they must return the package to the depot that day. Depot management staff will attempt to contact the addressee via telephone if they can match the name and address with directories or if the package has a phone number, make enquiries with letter posties in case there are oddities with the location etc. As a last resort the driver may use google maps etc to try and resolve the issue. If the address issue can be resolved, the package will be back in the van next day with detailed instructions on how to find delivery address. If depot management cannot locate the address, the package will be returned to sender. A good driver who knows their runs will detect a funny address before the package is accepted for delivery and try to resolve the issue before loading the van.

If they locate the address, make enquiries at the premises from a responsible person (teenage or older, behind a reception counter etc) and are informed that the addressee is not known at the address, they must record as such and return to depot that day. Package will then be returned to sender.

If they locate address and cannot contact a responsible person, if the package requires a signature it must be recorded as "Attempted delivery - Not present". Card is left outlining details, pickup centre location and time that it will be dropped off there. Package is transfered to pickup location and scanned as transfered to that location. Customer collects and signs for item within 10 days or goods are returned to depot and hence to sender. If the package does not require a signature, in some (but not all areas) it is drivers option to leave the package if they can find a secure location for it, and leave a 'safe drop' card in letterbox or under door indicating that a package was left at location X at time Y. If the driver has concerns about package safety, they leave a card outlining that package has been transfered to pick up centre, location and transfer time.

Re carding without attempting delivery, AP consider this to be fraud and will investigate all cases reported to Customer Service. Same with not loading package into vehicle, then carding. Package must be loaded for appropriate run and delivery attempted that day unless the package has been transfered to depot management for some reason. No Signature Required packages can be left in mail box if accessible and able to accomodate the package without interfering with ability of posties to lodge general mail. If an NSR package will not fit in mailbox, cannot be safely "safe dropped" or signature is required, the driver must knock on door and give the residents a reasonable time to respond. This is typically around 20-30 seconds, but may be longer if the driver is aware of particular circumstances (eg disability) with the recipient which limit the ability to respond quickly. If there is no answer, the package is carded and transfered to a pick up centre.

At the depot I worked, delivery could occur between the hours of 7.00am and 6.30pm, but deliveries to business could not be carded before 9.00am. Final unload and transfer to pick up required by 7pm. Normally runs would finish by 4.00pm, but in leadup to Christmas, or after Easter break or other long breaks, we would go later as required. I would typically come off road around 7pm in Christmas leadup, unload carded packages to a secure area, and complete transfer documentation next morning (5am). This varies from depot to depot. Packages not allowed to be left in van overnight, either at AP or contractor premises.

Its helpfull to have a contact phone number on the package, but drivers are not obliged to phone before delivery. Number can however be used by depot management if problems arise.

So bit of an update, The jig has finally been returned to Coffs harbour Jetty. Gifkins Have re-boxed it and sent it back down via a courier this time instead of Aus post. While it was on its way back up i asked the 2 receptionists we have if they turned away any parcels from anywhere not just Australia post in the past week and they hadnt. I dont know who supposedly Aus post driver spoke too to determine i wasnt at the address but im having trouble finding out exactly whos fault it was.

When speaking with Col on the phone he was looking at the original label he sent the parcel with. It didn't include the business name or the fact it was ground floor ( out of a 4 story building) when i specifically put Business name ground floor blah blah rest of address in the address field when i purchased it online. Now if Gifkins had put the full address on there i suspect it would have arrived normally as every other parcel i have ever had delivered to my work has.

The sad thing is is that when i was on the phone with him (Col) he just said he was going to put it through on the card again as he still had my details. I thought to myself that if i were him and a customer was spending a significant amount on money i would take care of him to ensure he continues to be a customer. The fact it was their fault it got returned in the first place and i then had to pay for the 2nd attempt of shipping dissapoints me. I didnt bring it up with him but im thinking that i should (not to get a refund but just to mention it out of principle). I just want my damn jig at the end of the day i dont really care about the logistics but being told to pay for someone elses stuff up isnt really my cup of tea either. Hopefully jig should be here this week sometime

Originally Posted by delbs

I just want my damn jig at the end of the day i dont really care about the logistics but being told to pay for someone elses stuff up isnt really my cup of tea either. Hopefully jig should be here this week sometime

I wouldn't be happy either,in fact I wouldn't pay for someone else's stuff up.

Not good publicity for them either.

Peter.

I'm by no means at all trying to n name or shame anyone or any company as i seriously cannot wait to get this jig but im just thinking about who's at fault. Oh well, will announce when it all arrives

So today i get a call from the courier saying hes at my front door, turns out my wife stepped out for a sec so wasnt there to sign for it. I asked him if he could just put it in my courtyard if he could lower it over the gate. He replied with a hesitant "uhhh yes ok no problems".

Then i come home this afternoon to find a funny situation, he grabbed a stick from a tree and tied it magyver style to the gifkins jig box to safely lower it the pavement haha, love it
IMG_6577.jpg

Once i went through the parcel i found a box of marking out squares and hieght adjusters for the jig. Worth like $90!, was quiet suprised to see this thrown in on the receipt with a "no cost" next to it.

Will post photos and review once i have a chance to setup and make some boxes

Hey great to hear you got it in the end. We all make mistakes, it's how you fix them that counts probably fairs fair and a good response from the company. I think the first project is a dovtail box to hold the jig...

Originally Posted by BrettC

I think the first project is a dovtail box to hold the jig...

Funny you mention that, this weekend i am starting a smaller cabinet to hold the router bits and a larger cabinet with a few shelves to hold the jig itself. I still have my older Sherwood jig that only does half-blind dovetails, since i found out the gifkins doesnt do it i now have a few dovetail styles covered off

Its gods way to tell you to have a go at cutting it by hand.

So this is everything i got in my jig. I got "the lot" Includes everything i need to get started making all sorts different sized through dovetails and then the finger joints too.

Gifkins1.jpg

This is the freebies Gifkins threw in which im exremely grateful for. very accurate. Still havent used the 2 height adjusters but im sure i will at some stage

Gifkins3.jpg

First dovetail box made with the B cutter on 19mm radiata offcuts. This was straight out of the box so i will need to add in a shim or two so the cut will be a great fit. I deliberately set the height of the cutter a little over the thickness of the board which made the doves protrude a little but i like using the block plane to get them smooth anyway. Will post up some photos of the small cabinet im making to hold the Gifkins on the bench along with all accessories

Gifkins2.jpg