...and nonsense, perhaps? During all this Covid19 lockdown malarkey I've been plodding along on my lonesome tackling the first figures for my Punic Wars project, Legio VI, the "Wolf's Cubs". Since the initial order to Aventine Miniatures I've ventured two further orders to fill out the Legio, as I detailed in an earlier post, and acquire figures for additional elements in the shape of Roman cavalry. Now, despite the disruption of a Bank Holiday, the first two orders arrived in an acceptable time frame all things considered, but the third...? Well, Keith posted it out a week ago last Wednesday. Chatting by email with him on Friday he told me of four orders sent out the same day only one had been delivered to date, in Scotland, while the three to England were somewhere in Royal Mail's system. I stress the 'somewhere' here as when I entered the Tracking details the response was to say that it could only be tracked when they'd tried to deliver it!
While a similar packet from A&A has still to arrive I had more joy with one from Colonel Bill's, some Aventine Etruscans. They were posted this last Monday and arrived on Friday. Just about acceptable I'd say. But as to my order from LBM for transfers, still nothing. I can't help but wonder if a bit more competition is long overdue for Royal Mail. I have a further order almost ready for Aventine Miniatures now, given his two week backlog of casting as a lone worker and the current abysmal performance of Royal Mail, at least in Northern Ireland, that's towards the end of July I'd expect them. Probably just about the time I'd finish those already in stock. Why does all this aggravate me? Well, I guess it's my age, impatient nature and the cumulative effects of lockdown...
On a more positive note to end: Aventine Miniatures figures are first class, a joy to paint, and Keith's service at all stages is very good. Can't help but wonder if Royal Mail's performance is hindering him though in discouraging orders and needed cash flow. Also, I've just noticed I've accumulated over 250 Followers and made over 700 posts since I started this Blog. I hope it survives Blogger's planned platform change later this month. Old dog, new tricks... Cheers!
I have tentatively been experimenting with the new interface, but you know me and Blogger. It could well be curtains for my blogging future😯
ReplyDeleteYou give up more times than the French!
DeleteI was speaking with someone in Royal Mail and they are pretty much overwhelmed by the volume of packages coming through the system from online buying.
ReplyDeleteSame number of staff minus Covid absenteeism times a huge demand in people buying off the internet. RM are probably doing pretty well in the circumstances.
Maybe shops opening will reduce some of this.
Yes, Norm, my chum Kevin said much the same to me the other day. Seems the management aren't up to snuff to me.
DeleteI have found the service from Aventine to be excellent I imagine the delays are as Norm says... all the people by stuff from Amazon and the like...
ReplyDeleteI have also given the new interface a try...
There are certainly visual and layout differences... which I fail to see the point of other than making things look a bit more like Gmail...
It also felt a bit clunky... but that could also be because I need a new laptop.
We will see...
All the best. Aly
Yes, clearly no blame attached to Keith as I thought I'd made clear, rather the sluggish performance of Royal Mail in NI particularly.
DeleteI'm of an age now where I'm beginning to dread updates and changes to my tech...
You had made it clear David...
DeleteI was agreeing with you 😁
My feelings on updates are the same as yours... my first thought is always....Why!
Indeed, why...?
DeleteBlogger changing their platform?? Md that David and already Im stressing. As for the post. I have two brilliant posties who have worked their bollocks off throughout the whole crisis unfortunately they clearly cant cope with the work and can only do deliveries every couple of days or so. Ive had more problems however sending stuff form E Bay and had to reimburse two customers whose stuff simply disappeared into the ether.
ReplyDeleteBad luck with those PayPal refunds Robbie! Clearly management not up to the task, not anticipating an upsurge in on line business.
DeleteBit worried about the Blogger changing myself to be honest, they always seem to bugger it up!
ReplyDeleteIndeed they do have a sad record of poorly thought through changes. 🤞
DeleteMy only beef with the new interface was attaching pictures, it seems to me you had to do them one at a time or it would put them all in the same place. Royal Mail Tracking, which isn't really tracking, it only gets entered into the system when it gets there and is signed for, not like the others where you can track the progress of the parcel, that is still beyond Royal Mail. A parcel will have a label and not a stamp, this label has a number, if you have it you can enter it on RM site and find out if it has arrived for no extra charge. The Signed For option is not worth it but people think it is a proper tracked system and RM will not disabuse you of that. On the other had yes, parcels have increased enormously over the past three months, my little office can put out four bags of these in a morning when I normally put out one for the day, and that's in Brig-a-Doon. They now deliver parcels only on a Saturday to try and move things along.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inside information George. As a shareholder I'm disgusted by our poor performance. Management needs sweeping changes I think.
DeleteYou will have that number on your receipt by the way.
ReplyDeleteDo I have a receipt when I pay by PayPal?
DeleteNo only the person actually doing the posting.
DeleteThanks for that info George.
DeleteAn update: my Aventine Miniatures order and my A & A order finally arrived this afternoon (Monday). I got an email at the same time from LBM saying my order had been processed.
ReplyDeleteAlls well that ends well. Just thing in the old days you had to write a letter !
ReplyDeleteAs for the blogger I had stopped to the new format, certainly seems to have messed up the loading of photos but I don’t think I am the only one 👍
Now I know the score I've ordered more from Aventine Miniatures and from A&A! Mid July for delivery I've supposed.
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