The totally off-topic thread

[markis10]

The big storm is hitting BNE now - BOM site looks interesting: 128 km Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) Radar Loop

Battened down at work and riding it out.

I think your on the right side of the river for round one, BTW love the funny Air Asia office in your street, very LCC

 

[Hvr]

What else do you expect from a government organisation - service???

Aren't startruck couriers a private organisation? And many of them are even worse than useless.

 

[markis10]

Aren't startruck couriers a private organisation? And many of them are even worse than useless.

They are 100% owned by Aus Post

 

[QF WP]

I think your on the right side of the river for round one

Looks like Round 1 is over as the rain has stopped, but think there is a bit more to come. You're on the wrong side of the river - must have looked menacing from your unit

BTW love the funny Air Asia office in your street, very LCC

Hmmm, know about the VA office, but not Air Asia.

 

[Hvr]

They are 100% owned by Aus Post

Well you learn something everyday.

From their websitre:

Solely owned by Australia Post, StarTrack has the credentials and resources to tackle any logistics challenge. Our ability to design and implement effective and innovative logistics solutions, support them with industry leading technology, and commitment to service excellence makes StarTrack Australia’s leading freight and logistics provider.

Still if things go to plan the LNP will privatise AusPost soon and services will be cut.

 

[Flashback]

The big storm is hitting BNE now - BOM site looks interesting: 128 km Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) Radar Loop

Battened down at work and riding it out.

We've still got ferocious storms over here too, wind has been howling all night!

 

[whatmeworry]

Quite intense those storms around Brisbane.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Southeast Queensland (QLD)

 

[NM]

I gotta say startrack couriers are one of the laziest courier companies!

They were meant to deliver a package today and despite 4 people being home, they didn't bother to ring the door bell but rather dropped a card saying to pick up the packet at the post office! Lazy SOB's!

When I have had this, the card has been inserted into the letterbox by the regular postie on his mail delivery rounds. I have had this on multiple occasions when using a courier company that "outsource" the final delivery to Australia Post. Rather than Aus Post pay for their contract parcel delivery driver to deliver the package, they just deliver the "we missed you, please collect from local post office" card.

I have complained to both the original freight company (DHL in my case) and to Aus Post, since I have paid for delivery to my home and have been expected to collect from the post office.

So don't assume that its Startrack's fault. If they use Aus Post for the final delivery, then it may be Aus Post that has failed you (as they did with me) and they may have never actually tried to deliver - just sent the notice with the regular postman. In my area, the Aus post contract delivery driver is great and always comes to the door. I see his van (from my home office window) and meet him at the door, often before he gets to knock. If I am not home, the cards he leaves are blue and the writing scrawled as he is generally in a hurry. The cards left by the regular Aus Post postie when they have not really attempted delivery are red and always very neatly written. I quizzed the Aus Post Contract Parcel Delivery guy and he assured me that he does not have any red cards and those have come directly from the local post office.

 

[QF WP]

The photo on my FB page doesn't do justice to the darkness in the cloud - but the rolling banks of cloud certainly was a bit disconcerting.

Can't post here as there's an issue (being sorted ATM).

 

[Meggsy]

Well that was interesting. I'd forgotten what a decent hail storm on a colour bond roof sounded like. Have just been rudely reminded.

 

[NM]

The photo on my FB page doesn't do justice to the darkness in the cloud - but the rolling banks of cloud certainly was a bit disconcerting.

Can't post here as there's an issue (being sorted ATM).

Here's the weather radar view of it!

 

[Buzzard]

Still if things go to plan the LNP will privatise AusPost soon and services will be cut.

I wait in hope for the day Aust Post is sold. Prices may go up but you would hope that contractors then get paid correctly for the work that they do and then do the job properly. At the moment it's pay peanuts and get monkeys with many contractors and licensees working for a pittance. No wonder they are "not that interested".

 

[drron]

Our adaptable wildlife.Where we stayed in the Southern highlands there were 2 large walnut trees.The fruit has formed but a covering over the developing nut and shell which the coughatoos just love.Stopped by every morning and evening making quite a mess.
first they strip the covering and then eat the immature nut-

.

.

.

And then look quite content-

 

[Flashback]

Well, Royal Mail went public recently... so perhaps Australia Post will follow suit.

 

[NM]

Well, Royal Mail went public recently... so perhaps Australia Post will follow suit.

And I am always amazed at how cheap it is to send a package from the UK to Australia with Royal Mail. Way cheaper than sending in the other direction!

 

[Buzzard]

And I am always amazed at how cheap it is to send a package from the UK to Australia with Royal Mail. Way cheaper than sending in the other direction!

Mind you, what would it cost to send .5oog (half kilo) 4,000 kilometers?
In Australia it costs less than $7.00

 

[NM]

Mind you, what would it cost to send .5oog (half kilo) 4,000 kilometers?
In Australia it costs less than $7.00

Probably not much more than 4 quid.

and once the package has to leave the bounds of Oz, the price skyrockets.

I just paid less than A$15 to have a 1.5kg book delivered from UK to Aus, complete with tracking reference, ordered on-line the afternoon of 31 December, arrived at my doorstep this morning. And ordered two other book from the UK that have free delivery world-wide. Total weight of those two will be about 1kg and total price for the two books (and free shipping) was A$40.46, which is at least 25% less than local on-line bookstores and the local stores wanted about A$20 delivery charge!

 

[Buzzard]

Probably not much more than 4 quid.

and once the package has to leave the bounds of Oz, the price skyrockets.

I just paid less than A$15 to have a 1.5kg book delivered from UK to Aus, complete with tracking reference, ordered on-line the afternoon of 31 December, arrived at my doorstep this morning. And ordered two other book from the UK that have free delivery world-wide. Total weight of those two will be about 1kg and total price for the two books (and free shipping) was A$40.46, which is at least 25% less than local on-line bookstores and the local stores wanted about A$20 delivery charge!

So where is it all going wrong?

Certainly not at the grass roots level with the pay they get?

 

[whatmeworry]

When I have had this, the card has been inserted into the letterbox by the regular postie on his mail delivery rounds. I have had this on multiple occasions when using a courier company that "outsource" the final delivery to Australia Post. Rather than Aus Post pay for their contract parcel delivery driver to deliver the package, they just deliver the "we missed you, please collect from local post office" card.

I have complained to both the original freight company (DHL in my case) and to Aus Post, since I have paid for delivery to my home and have been expected to collect from the post office.

So don't assume that its Startrack's fault. If they use Aus Post for the final delivery, then it may be Aus Post that has failed you (as they did with me) and they may have never actually tried to deliver - just sent the notice with the regular postman. In my area, the Aus post contract delivery driver is great and always comes to the door. I see his van (from my home office window) and meet him at the door, often before he gets to knock. If I am not home, the cards he leaves are blue and the writing scrawled as he is generally in a hurry. The cards left by the regular Aus Post postie when they have not really attempted delivery are red and always very neatly written. I quizzed the Aus Post Contract Parcel Delivery guy and he assured me that he does not have any red cards and those have come directly from the local post office.

I got the yellow card from startrack at 10 am and the postie didn't come till 1pm. Just another lazy courier I reckon.

I also got sms updates. 8am: your package is on its way. 10am: Sorry we missed you. 12pm: Your package is ready for pickup, not at your closet post office but at the the really busy post office 2km away.

 

[NM]

I got the yellow card from startrack at 10 am and the postie didn't come till 1pm. Just another lazy courier I reckon.

I also got sms updates. 8am: your package is on its way. 10am: Sorry we missed you. 12pm: Your package is ready for pickup, not at your closet post office but at the the really busy post office 2km away.

Ouch. No fun at all!