Delivery of BVA journals

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:35:24 GMT

As an aside to the main topic; re undelivered mail.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

It must cost a fortune to store all this undelivered post.

[/quote]

Recently I found in my postbox an airmailed letter addressed to 'The Occupier'. It was from a company that holds some stocks for me, claiming that several letters from them to me had been returned marked 'Gone away''. They huffed and puffed a bit when I challenged them for evidence to put before the local PO, especially when I pointed out that undelivered uninsured or unregistered mail is rarely returned, it is binned. I now await their written explanation.

Tim.

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:19:51 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Is it sent air mail or by boat? I regularly send things to our house in Thailand and it takes 3-4 days.

[/quote]

Previous to the beginning of this year BVA journals were airmailed in transparent wrappers from a European PO, Belgium I think, and they arrived in reasonable time. In fact there is little 'sea-mail' these days and even surface mail for Qatar is carried by air but is then treated very much as second class and sorted according to the whim of the local PO.

This particular problem is neither the fault of Royal Mail nor of QPost because most of the transport is by courier (DHL Global/Deutsch post) which carries it to a hub where it is repackaged into a brown envelope and mailed.. In this region a brown envelope stamped 'Printed Matter' is a death knell for rapid handling and delivery, even to a postbox. However I have just been assured that DHL "are close to an alternative routing". Considering that five months of my subscription is almost passed that is hardly coming a day too soon!

Tim.

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Bob Russell — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:51:29 GMT

It must cost a fortune to store all this undelivered post. I was told some time ago that Royal Mail sent our 2nd class post up to Scotland to delay delivery. Hopefully this is an old wives tail but for some reason we send reminders 2nd class and they often get there next day! Possibly the carbon footprint of 2nd class post got too large!

Is it sent air mail or by boat? I regularly send things to our house in Thailand and it takes 3-4 days. The Thais are not generally renowned for their efficiency but it seems to beat Royal Mail hands down!

Journals should always be sent air mail. My father used to have a publishing company and his post was sent in bulk to Hungary then split up and sent air mail back to the UK. Apparently it cost half as much as sending things out by Royal Mail! Not much logic to all this.

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:27:38 GMT

I used to work next door in Saudi Arabia - VR was routinely 2-3 months late. That was the Royal (Saudi) Mail for you. ;)

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Tim Cheyne — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:26:30 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

I wonder if they would offer a reduced subscription and not get a paper copy? Much as I like it the news would be no good 6 weeks later. You can view the whole thing online for free if you are a member.

[/quote]

BVA offer a reduced subscription? You must be joking, they are almost as bad as RCVS! Yes, often I do view it on-line and have for several years but that is not the same as having a paper copy to keep and it is difficult to read over a cup of tea or in bed. No, this is simply inefficient mailing for which there is no reason; previously, until the beginning of this year, the journals generally arrived no more than ten days late and did so for years. I was just wondering whether any other overseas subscribers were having a similar problem; I don't think that there are any others in Qatar now.

Tim.

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 22 May 2011 23:13:14 GMT

[quote user="Louise Alexander"]

I'm in the UK, my Vet Record comes every week on a Friday or sometimes a Saturday. It's surprisingly regular!

Louise

[/quote]

Same here. I wonder if they would offer a reduced subscription and not get a paper copy? Much as I like it the news would be no good 6 weeks later. You can view the whole thing online for free if you are a member.

Re: Delivery of BVA journals

Louise6732 — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:15:33 GMT

I'm in the UK, my Vet Record comes every week on a Friday or sometimes a Saturday. It's surprisingly regular!

Louise