Australia Post customers debate '10 second rule' after delivery fail
An Australian Post customer has taken to social media to complain that her postie is too quick to leave a collection notice after knocking on her door to deliver a parcel.
The woman based in North Lakes in Queensland shared in a Facebook group that she had "rushed down" after hearing a knock at the door but by the time she arrived the postie was long gone and had left a card requiring her to pick up the parcel from a nearby Post Office.
The postie's actions sparked a heated debate in the group about how long was the appropriate time for a delivery person to wait for a customer to answer the door before leaving a calling card, with many claiming they had experienced a similar issue.
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"Same thing just happened to me," another person wrote.
"I had the same issue but my front door was opened and I have a video door bell. A collection note was left with no knock etc. Australia post need to get their act together," one person replied.
One of the members of the group claimed to be a delivery driver and shared that drivers where he works are instructed to wait 10 seconds once they knock, before leaving a collection notice. Although he didn't work for Australia Post many people suggested they may follow a similar rule.
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"We do knock and if you don't answer the door within 10 seconds, then we'll write out a card," the man claimed.
The alleged "10 second rule" did not sit well with many people in the group who said it didn't seem like enough time for anyone to get to their front door.
"10 seconds. That's a joke yeah?" one person asked.
Tactic slammed as 'very discriminatory'
One person said the time limit would be unrealistic for people with mobility issues.
"That is not enough time for a disabled person to get to the door. Then you leave a card and the person might not be able to get to the post office. That’s very discriminatory," a member wrote.
"What about the posties that have the cards already filled out? Not all of them knock, then write them out," one person claimed.
An Australia Post spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia while there is no '10 second rule' for posties, but they are instructed to follow a different procedure for delivering parcels.
"Our posties and drivers are instructed to knock at the door three times and call out before leaving a card or safe-dropping a parcel," the spokesperson explained but didn't specify a time limit.
The spokesperson also explained the family pooch may be the reason some customers never receive a knock on the door and are just left with a collection notice.
"Sometimes our people will leave a card without knocking because of access or safety issues – such as an off-leash dog – and this could happen even when a customer is home."
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