Ministry of Misinformation
Good morning all
I just thought I’d take this opportunity to share with the community what is “real” this morning and what is not. This is to prevent a state of panic errupting when everybody wakes up and smells the coffee…and realises it’s not top quality Espresso, but industrial effluent, as sold in the High Streets of our green but not so pleasant land at the moment.
The following businesses are all open:
Supermarkets and other food shops
Pharmacies
Petrol stations
Newsagents
Bicycle shops
Home and hardware stores
Laundrettes and dry cleaners
Garages
Pet shops
Post Offices
Banks
Online businesses are ALL OPEN ! That includes Amazon. Postal and courier services are ALL OPEN
Sports Direct is now NOT OPEN, after they performed a U - Turn (probably based on the fact that Michael Gove said they were not an essential business as they claimed), shows you which planet Mike Ashley is on…and it’s far, far away in a distant galaxy.
The message here is, you as a business, can still trade if you can do so in a safe manner. We are still doing so, despite my 12 week isolation issues. It is being done like this:
-
Anything that can go in a post box is taken to that box as part of the dog walk every day. Everything is in poly mailing bags which have all been disinfected with sanitiser before labelling, handled with gloves and then left out in the open air on a table for three hours to allow anything that still might have been on the surfaces to die. This protects the post collector as much as possible.
-
Anything larger, is handled in the same way and then placed in a large storage box for collection by courier. The courier doesn’t come near me and I don’t go near him. He photographs the notice on the door with my signature of authorisation on it and then off he goes.
This system works.
Keep well and have as good a day as you can !
Ministry of Misinformation
Good morning all
I just thought I’d take this opportunity to share with the community what is “real” this morning and what is not. This is to prevent a state of panic errupting when everybody wakes up and smells the coffee…and realises it’s not top quality Espresso, but industrial effluent, as sold in the High Streets of our green but not so pleasant land at the moment.
The following businesses are all open:
Supermarkets and other food shops
Pharmacies
Petrol stations
Newsagents
Bicycle shops
Home and hardware stores
Laundrettes and dry cleaners
Garages
Pet shops
Post Offices
Banks
Online businesses are ALL OPEN ! That includes Amazon. Postal and courier services are ALL OPEN
Sports Direct is now NOT OPEN, after they performed a U - Turn (probably based on the fact that Michael Gove said they were not an essential business as they claimed), shows you which planet Mike Ashley is on…and it’s far, far away in a distant galaxy.
The message here is, you as a business, can still trade if you can do so in a safe manner. We are still doing so, despite my 12 week isolation issues. It is being done like this:
-
Anything that can go in a post box is taken to that box as part of the dog walk every day. Everything is in poly mailing bags which have all been disinfected with sanitiser before labelling, handled with gloves and then left out in the open air on a table for three hours to allow anything that still might have been on the surfaces to die. This protects the post collector as much as possible.
-
Anything larger, is handled in the same way and then placed in a large storage box for collection by courier. The courier doesn’t come near me and I don’t go near him. He photographs the notice on the door with my signature of authorisation on it and then off he goes.
This system works.
Keep well and have as good a day as you can !
82 replies
Seller_Yja9oH7DLHk2I
I am unclear on one aspect.
Online stores are allowed to stay open - CLEAR
Warehouses that support the online operation - UNCLEAR
I use a third party to manage my warehouse. They are closing down so I can not get any stock out.
Seller_7WLrNxqVNqkN2
What a out if you have to send things tracked and signed? I need a stamp from the post office. Maybe I could go to post office once a week , but is that essential?
Seller_IcGtGTuwjEcXw
thank you for your wonderful updates ;0)
Seller_saK5Ah2SaNYjL
Seller_8XO2tpVvj0ZaV
I rent a unit that I work from.
On advice I can go to that as long as I am not in contact with other people.
I was using it to self isolate as the shop part was closed a week ago as I do not want to catch this virus.
My issue it that by going to the post office I am exposing myself and also under the new guidelines I may be going more than I need. I had dropped down to Mon, Wed, Fri dispatches.
Seller_wRGBSSwJnzaDE
I have “symptoms” (sore throat, cough) so have closed all my online shops. Feel fine to work though so will be working on custom orders and new stock for when this whole s4!7storm’s over.
Seller_AeSYBToQ271lM
I’ve seen on another thread which might be useful for some, you can use click and drop to print off the postage labels and then are parcel drop off boxes in a lot of places all over the UK. You could print the postage off at home, then drop them in a box on your daily exercise walk (parcel size permitting obviously).
https://www.royalmail.com/d8/parcel-post-boxes
Seller_uO041MVHNr3pA
Our local store, which is also our post office closed last night without even notifying Royal Mail.
Now no one can send mail that will not fit in a post box, unless they travel a 22 mile round trip to do so.
I have been fortunate to arrange with our postman to collect from a box I shall leave out for him on alternate days.
However, he stated that their main concern was the fact that they had no protective wear, rubbing shoulders with workmate sorting out mail in the sorting office.
No masks or sanitiser available.
Also they are still been asked to post out advertising flyers for none essential items, such as holidays, bed and sales that cannot even go ahead.
Our postmen and women need to be congratulated on the fact they they are at least still working though what is a difficult time for everyone. They all have families and we should respect this.
Seller_lljyzgTxr5fgI
This is always going to be the problem…some people understand the situation and some need more clarity (and there’s nothing wrong with that). Let me just clarify what I have said and what I have been doing, which will hopefully add some further guidance for those not sure (and you are not alone).
- We are NOT going into any post office, for any reason
- We drop off STANDARD MAIL in the post box, as part of the daily dog walk
- All mail for the box is in poly mailing bags, is sanitised and then left in the open air for 3 hours
- Anything of value or bigger than LARGE LETTER size, is collected by courier
- Parcels for courier collection are lightly sprayed with disinfectant and left outside for 3 hours
- The courier comes to collect the parcels from a large brown box (or on top of it today as it is sunny)
- The courier and myself have no physical contact
- There is a notice on the door for the courier to photograph which has my signature on it and authorises both collections and deliveries on my part
Conclusion: All parcels and letters are still dispatched within 1 working day; there is no visit to any post office; drop off’s to the post box are part of the allowable daily routine and postal / courier collectors are not subjected to any infection risk on our part.
Hope this helps