Tag Archives: theft

Postnet Broadacres: Bad example of customer service

Posted by on August 29, 2010 1 comment

In short, over the last 12 months using Postnet Broadacres I had 5000 Euros stolen as 3 separate registered letters with cheque-card, PIN and internet banking codes disappeared as well as lost 11 parcels to theft within the postal system. I would think it is a reasonable expectation, that having experienced such issues, that my first port of call would be the local Postnet branch, only to be faced by no willingness to assist and put all blame on the Postoffice.

The branch could never really explain why we rarely get any parcel notifications and if we do get them, those are either 2nd or final notifications. I guess today I was again frustrated, as I found a 2nd parcel notification in my mailbox and requested comment from head-office as well as the local branch and also wanted to follow up on my previous complaint in May (for which I still await an answer from head-office).

Needless to say, 40 minutes after this email to the Postnet branch:

Incidently, and following up on all the parcels going missing, I noticed today a 2nd parcel notification (dated 18/08). I have not received a first notification and would really like to understand how PostNet tracks parcels and if anything has changed since May. Back then the Broadacres branch did not carry manifests/lists of what parcel notifications they received when and when those where placed in the post boxes.

In today’s case it makes me wonder where the 1st parcel notification has disappeared – this is pretty much in line with all the other theft – either no parcel notification or notifications received so late that the items had been returned.

We will try and pick this parcel up at Bryanston Postoffice, but if it has “disappeared” will now open another case at the Police Station – unfortunately your absolute silence and disregard for any of those complaints is almost a silent admission of guilt.

I get the following response from the Postnet Broadacres branch-manager:

Dear Mr Naschenweng

In terms of our rental agreement with Ms Tascha Els we hereby give notice that we will be invoking clause 2.15 with effect the annual renewal date of 31st January 2011. The box will be locked from that date and post forwarded for a period of 30 days (upon receipt of a new postal address by us forwarded by the boxholder).

Upon return of both keys, the boxholder will be refunded the R50 deposit paid. We recommend that the boxholder begin the process of changing her address in the interim, as, after 28th February 2011, all mail will be returned to sender.

What does this tell you? Although I am still waiting for a formal response from Postnet Headoffice, it certainly appears that their franchises can not cope with customer complaints and stick their heads in the sand by canceling people’s rental agreements. I get the feeling there will certainly be a follow-up post in this regard. Department of Trade and National Consumer Forum here we come….

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

South African Post Office: We steal

Posted by on April 2, 2010 1 comment

I finally managed to understand the South African Post Office’s mission statement: “We will enable the nation to efficiently connect with the world by distributing information, goods, financial and government services; leveraging our broad reach and embracing change, technology and innovation“. Till now I was always of the impression, that the distribution of goods was intended for the recipient of such parcel or postal item.

Our national postal service is not like that. Their workers steal wherever an opportunity presents itself and every person with a postal address in this country will have experienced missing mail or parcels.

Many international eCommerce shops have subsequently stopped delivering via the South African Postal system and I prove a case in point: On 21st February 2010 I ordered 10 items (all PS3 games) from the UK. All items had been dispatched within a couple of days. Out of the 10 items I have only received 4 (all arrived within 2 weeks). The remaining 6 (or 60%) have disappeared. All items have been sent via registered mail and can be tracked to be delivered to South Africa and thereafter disappears.

In another case my overseas bank sent a new ATM card via registered mail in November 2009 and the item is untraceable once it passed South African borders.

There are common rules and etiquette when it comes to privacy of correspondence and documents cannot be read or opened by anyone other than the receiver; for instance, in the United States it is a violation of federal law for anyone other than the receiver to open mail and mail-theft is a federal crime.

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Steve you F! Hope you enjoyed my game

Posted by on June 14, 2009 No comments

I am used to parcels getting lost or stolen by our local Post Office staff, but this one takes the cake:

An order shipped via CDWOW on 17th April arrived today. The envelope was in mint condition, but I was already not impressed when the game was not in its shrink-wrap. Opening the case revealed the little note. After a WTF-moment I laughed, thinking of some guy (who isn’t called Steve) getting the game and still being honest enough to send it on (I wish this would happen to all the other parcels being stolen).

In any case – Steve – if you read this – thanks for being honest. I am also mightily impressed with CDWOW as the had send me a replacement copy (which I received 3 weeks before this one).

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

I have been robbed…

Posted by on March 1, 2008 2 comments

For South African’s the above tag-line is nothing unusual. The crime-rate is quite high and pretty much everyone had a run-in with criminals over the years or at least knows close relatives or colleagues who have been affected by this.

Fortunately I was not a victim of South African crime, but a victim of internet theft. I have been in the consulting business for more than 15 years and have built up quite a impressive CV over those years. I have spent more than two years tweaking it to the state it is, and now enjoy the fruits of my labor by getting #1 Google search rankings when you search for “senior websphere architect“.

It was quite an unpleasant surprise, when I checked my page-ranking the other day and I found this:

At least three people decided to steal (Free dictionary definition: “To take (the property of another) without right or permission.“) not just the layout and color scheme of my website, but also the content.

Many people would think that this is not very severe – but think about this:

  • Due to my Google search ranking I get contacted on average by 5-15 agencies, employers and headhunters a week
  • I do not have to go out and apply for jobs anymore. Over the last 8 years, every consulting position I had was offered to me and for each one I had at least another 2 fallback options
  • Everyone knows that it takes substantial effort to get a high Google search ranking. There are hundreds of SEO (search engine optimization) companies out there making lots of money in helping companies to achieve this.
  • AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: People copying my layout, stealing my content and search optimizations ultimately affect my income – Less companies will contact me, resulting in fewer contracts which ultimately affects my pocket – in my mind this is the same as taking money straight out of my wallet.

Funny for me was, that one of the guys did not even bother to change the favicon – which still shows my picture on his website – see red circle in the picture above – the right tab is my website.

Not to be unfair, at least one of the people responded within 24 hours to my email, took his site down and apologized. The others have not bothered responding.

I am more than reasonable – if you had just asked, I would have allowed you to take some content/layout from my site.

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.13_1145]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)