It's supposed to be a business, and a convenience. Yet, the blinkered manner in which courier companies operate can leave you with the irritated feeling that it is better to rely on your postman instead.
Earlier this year, rediff.com yoga columnist Shameem Akthar was not handed her husband's debit card by the courier delivery boy because she does not share her husband's surname. Even after speaking to her husband on the phone, the courier company refused to hand over the delivery to a blood relative, saying they could accept the signature of a blood relative but not that of a wife who does not share her husband's name. So, after dropping a 'Sorry, we missed you' note, the courier went back.
More recently, a lady who is renovating her home came up with this shocker. She had stuck a huge notice outside requesting that mail be delivered to the neighbours. She had handed over her home to the decorators, and was living elsewhere for the duration of the repairs. Yet, when the courier arrived -- despite the notice and clear evidence that no one could be living in the under-renovation house -- the delivery boy dropped the 'Sorry, we missed you' note and left. He refused to listen to the neighbours who told him they were authorised to receive the mail.
She called the courier company and was told the only solution was to tell everyone who was sending her a courier using that particular company to deliver to the neighbours. Which, she told them, was impossible how was she to know who would send her mail? The voice on the phone said it was not his problem, they had rules to follow and there was no alternate solution.
She asked to speak to his supervisor. The supervisor said she could leave a letter with the neighbours, saying they were authorised to collect her courier deliveries. She heaved a sigh of relief and thanked him. Then, he said they would need individual authorisation letters for each delivery. She explained the renovation would take at least four months and she could not possibly leave hundreds of authorisation letters with the neighbours.
At which point, she lost her cool. And then -- voila! -- came the solution. "Madam," said the voice at the other end, "please leave two letters with your neighbours -- one for us and one for our head office! We will deliver the couriers addressed to you."
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