Opened parcels

Very rarely have I experienced this.

Good luck with that - chasing the postperson and Amazon and the other private deliverers.

Those 5 million parcels going astray must have gone astray from someone - and one is lucky if you haven't been one of them.

DamaskRose

BlueBelle

Never have I had an opened parcel in all my years

Nor me.

Likewise

If opened parcels was a regular problem I would chase the postman up and find out what was happening

Only once. A big envelope had come unstuck and RM had sealed it up in a plastic bad with a note. There was nothing missing, it just looked like there was hardly any glue under the flap. Our RM deliveries are excellent. Don't deal with Amazon, or anyone who delivers through Evri as we had so many problems with them, but the other drivers have been good. We don't order much stuff so don't have many problems.

I remember a few years ago RM had a problem with Christmas staff - one of the postmen dumped bags of stuff in a field rather than deliver it.

Sueinkent

Amazon seem the best service at the moment. Parcels are usually OK. The problem is with all the others.

Are the contents missing?

Unless you're prepared to do all the detective work for them, and name a suspect, they won't be interested.

M0nica

I have only once had anything stolen from the doorstop. A few years ago, a small parcel of clothing I had ordered was not delivered.

When I queried the non-delivery, the seller forwarded a photo of it being put on the doorstep. I can only assume that having put the parcel on the doorstep and taken the photo, the courier then picked it up and walked off with it.

Couriers themselves have sometimes been the thieves concerned. Hence that neighbour of mine that orders a lot of expensive stuff kicked off bigtime when one particular item never turned up - and the courier came back later with that item (and it had obviously been used - ie by him). He was quite clear the courier had stolen it and had only delivered it after all because he'd kicked up such a stink. He returned the, by now, secondhand item and had it replaced by the one he'd actually bought (ie new) and it did turn up that time (ie the courier had learnt his lesson not to mess with him). That neighbour didnt get all that he has got by stroking people with feathers.....

I have only once had anything stolen from the doorstop. A few years ago, a small parcel of clothing I had ordered was not delivered.

When I queried the non-delivery, the seller forwarded a photo of it being put on the doorstep. I can only assume that having put the parcel on the doorstep and taken the photo, the courier then picked it up and walked off with it.

This is probably a very unlikely suggestion - could someone else be using your address (fraudulently) for deliveries? I discovered a complete stranger had opened an account using my address. I imagine the only way they could benefit would be to intercept deliveries.

Luckily I was able to put a stop to it before it got started.

....and I've just been reading a newspaper article - which, if my memory serves me aright, says 5 million people !!!!! in Britain have had packages stolen off them in the last year.

Wondering just how many thieves (as opposed to normal people) there are living in this country....

Amazon seem the best service at the moment. Parcels are usually OK. The problem is with all the others.

My parcels are often damaged, squashed, battered and contents broken or spoiled mostly when they've been thrown over the gates or just left outside under the hedge on wet ground. Most of the time at home, if the delivery person would just ring the buzzer I would go and collect but they can't be bothered.

Yes, until a few months ago we lived in a City, our mail was frequently opened or just never arrived.
Since being in our new home we have not had a problem.

Grinning at your comment of "asking the courier (Evri) if the parcels have been resealed" - as I have a neighbour (who I do get on with) of the very forthright and very intelligent kind - who frequently buys more expensive bits from Amazon (eg expensive computer equipment) and he's been onto Amazon in no uncertain terms whilst they still used those other deliverers and gave Amazon such a kick up the backside about one particular expensive item never turning up that - some days later the (same) courier firm turned up with a badly-packaged item of this that had clearly been used. I suspect he was right that the package had "stopped off" for a few days at the couriers home en route and would never have turned up at all if he hadnt read the Riot Act to Amazon about this sort of stuff keeping happening - and it was always the expensive orders he put in. He duly rang Amazon again to read them the Riot Act and got his new item he'd actually ordered (ie not one the courier had tried to nick en route). He's delighted Amazon are now doing their own courier stuff - as he tells me everything turns up as per plan every time now...

Admits it helps a lot to have the little tracker thing they use whereby one can see "They're now x number of stops away from you....now less...now less....they're just round the corner".
So - even though the local Post Office did give up playing silly b****s and holding onto my parcels that mysteriously had a tendency to be just sitting under their counter when I went storming in about how late they were compared to elsewhere in the country and they realised to stop doing that eventually - deliveries are working pretty much as they're supposed to now.

I have had the odd previously opened parcel over the last few decades, but usually that has been because they were badly packed and the PO/ Courier has had to resell the boxes! In that case if it’s the RM or similar they add a notice on the parcel! Couriers like Evri don’t do that just use sellotape or similar.
Assuming they are parcels being handed to you I would start chatting to the relevant Courier asking if they know why your parcels have been re sealed and that there have been so many lately you are taking the matter to the Police! If just being left outside…lots of advice from others re this! I too have an Evri issue with the bell being rung/ door knocked …or not! And the parcel left propped up at the door! I live on a terraced house with houses/ office next door and it is open to all and sundry walking past! I usually hear them and get out of bed to collect but they have gone by the time I get to the door. Recently I opened the door to my nice Postie and there was an Evri parcel on the side for me …it had been there since c. 9.30 am!! I get email notifications… but don’t see them if I am asleep! Which I am most mornings ( health issue) …I was lucky!

Quick check with Chat GPT and it confirmed there are distribution hubs there for DHL and Evri. Plus ones like Tesco, Fowler Welch, Marley Tiles, SIG plc, XPO Logistics.

There was nothing about Amazon having a distribution hub there and I know where I am most of my Amazon deliveries now come from Amazon's own delivery drivers (which works better). Though I do still get the odd thing from the Post Office and the DHL and/or Evri.

So - yep...worth a general community shoutout...

That's another possibility of course - ie the distribution hub at fault for employing criminals. Sounds like - if you did put up a post on local Facebook group - you would get a noticeable number of people responding with "Me too" comments.

That would help the police track down just where the thief/thieves are if there turned out to be a noticeable size group of you all saying the same thing had happened to them.

All interesting replies. I have complained to RM but ineffective of course. “ We will look into it” etc etc. I think the police is the next step. It seems all the companies usethesame distribution hubs which in my case is Aylesford. I think the problem may be there. I saw a documentary some time ago where an undercover reporter filmed in an RM sorting office and there were people with ankle tags working there.

Last time I recd an opened package it had come from family on the USA, that was years ago, never had an opened one since

Lots of parcels delivered lately, Amazon, Evri, Dpd etc all on time, delivered to the right house by cheerful delivery drivers. Except Royal Mail, almost inevitably I get an email saying it will be delivered on such a date, between certain times usually at the end of the day, then later on get another email saying unable to complete the delivery and will be delivered on the next working day.

Yes, at one address all sorts was rummaged through. We sometimes had medical supplies posted from the hospital and these too were opened and sometimes the item packaging torn making them useless. It stopped after we moved house - it was only with Royal Mail deliveries but they've been ok since we moved. I've since had terrible problems with other carriers dumping stuff unexpectedly on the doorstep (resulting in items being taken by passers by and left all along the road). This because they were not following instructions about a safe place or not to leave anything if we're out, but they haven't been opening stuff for a rummage like RM used to. Items have gone missing as well but the seller has refunded for that.

M0nica

Report it to the police. There may be a thief in your area targeting a lot of people.

I would second this..if it was just once or twice it might be understandable..just, but happening all the time? Yes I think you do need to tell the police.

BlueBelle

Never have I had an opened parcel in all my years

Nor me.

Is your mail being delivered elsewhere. The recipient then takes a look before passing it on?

My biggest problem with deliveries is that the carrier usually leaves the parcel propped against the door - often without ringing the bell. ( There is a shed next to the porch where he could easily put it).
Luckily I live in a small square and my neighbour opposite with a direct view of the porch rings me to say there is a parcel .