PigeonTracker

Having spoken to your customers and advised them of your stance against 6.am pick up (NOT 5.30) there appeared no objection on their part and they could not see a problem in you boxing the birds the evening before and simply handing them over and going back to bed. you'll find that in fact many fanciers are quite happy to get up at 5.30 if it means avoiding a months wait to get the birds to them or to their customers. The issue you raised was put to every single customer on the run you would have caused a delay on by your particular needs and they all agreed without exception that we as a courier company have to balance everyone's needs and not just one. Your absolutely right that we won't pick up or deliver to you again as we reserve that right just as you do to choose another courier, we take your breach of client/courier confidentiality very seriously and it seems you went out of your way to post (illegally I might add) our conversations, which I may add were professional and matter of fact. I simply hope that any courier you now have to find will be able to satisfy your needs unlike we could. As for domestic couriers your missing the picture, these are pigeons which most domestic couriers either won't or shouldn't be picking up as they put the birds in jeopardy. As for side-tracking the issues, there was only one issue, you could not accommodate and we could not accommodate yours. Having spoken and apologized to the person who actually ordered the birds from you he completely agreed with me that both the courier and the fancier have to work together otherwise every pigeon fancier in the UK is soon going to be in trouble. I came into the courier business to help rather than hinder but even I'm beginning to wonder why on earth I should bother when it comes to dealing with people who won't work with us to cater for the disaster Amtrak has left us all in. Many have said it and I echo it, the more you pressure the courier companies like our and insult, badger and harass the less likely we are to want to remain, I for one don't need the hassle and bullying that has occurred on this forum, neither do my staff, if and when I decide to give in that will be yet another courier who's given in, what's it going to be then, complain about someone else until we're all so fed up that your left with none? I have nothing further to say on this matter save to say that your had no right to post confidential material on open forum which I might remind you is against the law.

Warm welcome from Pigeon Tracker Andre, The Navigator (Steve) is a good customer of ours so if there's anything you need let us know.

Thanks, more help than you can imagine as we are building numbers to tackle yours and the dreaded Lincoln roads. Easy to drop into a dyke even on a good day let alone with bad roads. If you can keep us updated on your area then all couriers are sure to be grateful.

I noticed your in Norfolk? How do they look after the lanes up that way? Are they usually snowbound at this time of the year? Thanks

Thanks, means a lot to me. All I want is for couriers and fanciers to work with each other no matter who they are, not always good at getting my messages across in the right way but am going to try a lot harder in future.

Just thinking off the top of my head here but perhaps a good idea has been stumbled upon with this thread that could help fanciers and couriers alike work more efficiently? We had vans stuck in cumbria and yorkshire last wednesday evening when it started throwing it down with snow and roads almost imposible to drive on. We were forewarned of how bad the roads were in Aberdeen/Fife etc so gave extra time for those pickups and deliveries but we never got warned about how bad cumbria was going to be until we were half way into it. So what I'm suggesting is would it be a good idea for this and other forums to set up a special area where we could all report on how the weather conditions are etc? We could even expand this onto local traffic issues and so on, the concepts are endless on this and would definately go some way to improving every courier service. Just a thought.

Its with a great attitude like that which makes you deserved of your status, congratulations from all of us at PT.

Mr. Baker, you only have one contact we could get you on, and that is a mobile phone, 07853 218XXX. Have you not thought for one second that we've actually tried to phone you but not got a answer because you were not in a reception area, your network was down, etc? A lesson learnt here is the need for land lines to be provided along with mobile phones as they provide more of a base for us to contact you in an area notorious for bad connection with mobile phones. As for other posters who've jumped in like pack dogs all I can say to you is you ought to be ashamed of yourselves acting like you are trying to discredit the hard work Pigeon Tracker put in. You've brought this forum down to a standard not befitting its true status and that's not me just saying it, that is many people thinking it but not wishing to say it. If you all think you can do a better job than Pigeon Tracker then simply get up of your backsides and do so instead of spending so many hours in front of the computer critisising the work that we do. If it wasn't for the mess left by many couriers who simply don't turn up for weeks on end we wouldn't be so inundated with work which means we have to be so strict with our scheduling. We don't take glee in this fact and could paint a far different picture of some couriers than certain members on here are doing. The simple point to end this conversation is that if you don't wish to work with a courier company that has gone to extra-ordinary lenghts to make things work for its customers then don't, that will always be your choice. As for the constant mud throwing it has nothing but the opposite effect from what you desire as people see a certain quarter here being nothing short of bullies, and we all know that nobody likes a bully. This forum is not a kangaroo court for a select few on here as much as you'd like it to be and no explanation is needed to any other than the customer himself which we do in privacy and without divulging to the beying hounds. As the primary critics here are not customers they should keep out of other people's business as it quite simply has nothing to do with you. People like you won't be happy until you've badgered the couriers so much that we all get fed up and pack in and then you'll all be in a position that would effectively bring pigeon fancying to its knees, so in that vien either put up by making your own courier service or kindly shut up and let us get on with out work. Regards, Anita For and on behalf of Pigeon Tracker

Hi Steve, Anita here, It was my responsibility to phone this person back Steve and we invariably do. On this occassion this gentlemans e-mail (which he's published) was read prior to our call back, and, after reading this, together with the demands within Jamie did in fact immediately telephone the customer knowing we could not satisfy these demands subesequently advising that we would not be able to be his courier on this occassion. Hopefully Alan can get a courier that can meet his needs as on this occassion despite the best will in the world we couldn't. As a customer on that route yourself, (including today), I'm sure you understand that we pretty much have a strong system in place where we get to each customer in as best a manner as we can without causing too much inconvenience, and as in your case you as with most are happy to work with us to accomodate early calls, some people we do understand can't. Regards, Anita

Not sure if you've already actually booked couriers? Have sent you a p.m regarding this and if your stuck we can certainly help you out.

01443 775485 - 07719650553 Someone over with you as we speak?

Your welcome Steve, you have some crackers there mate, was even finding it hard to prise them out of our lofts to give them back to you. ;D

My last post on the matter after speaking to Gemma. I've not threatened anyone, I've stated facts. I'd be happy to discuss any issues people have with me face to face, nothing wrong with that.

Okay

Yes, I learnt quickly that some will take, take and then take some more with little or no concern for whether the courier can afford to keep up to Amtrak's legacy. I don't give away free boxes now after the first four so am learning all the time.

There's nothing suspect at all except for those who seem to have a problem with a courier who'll go out on a limb to get the bird from point A to B. Amtrak's owners wouldn't have done it that's for sure. Just for your info we don't employ all the drivers on a full time basis but as and when we need them and as this was the case here we didn't have anyone insured to drive the vans so sent someone who was insured to drive my car.

Good because quite honestly I couldn't keep up with the amount of free boxes you'd expect and the fact I'd have to wait half hour for you to box the birds. Good luck Debbie, quite frankly your welcome to this type of customer, they'll take, take, and then take more with little consequence as to whether you go into debt to please them.

There are some schools of thoughts that think replacing electrolytes is actually a bad thing, take a look of this interesting article and make your own mind up. http://www.racing-pigeons.org/electrolytes-good-or-bad

Surprised and dissapointed you couldn't get a courier Steve, we have a base or two up there and we send vans up and down each week without fail regardless of numbers, we could certainly have helped you out, never mind you've got it sorted now which is the main thing. Just to keep you up to speed with what' happening in the courier world in Scotland from the messages we're getting. Some of the couriers are waiting on getting numbers to justify the long haul up there which is understandable if not always good for the fancier, some are just not up to the task and make empty promises which has in many cases ended in lost sales for people, and well the others, they just shouldn't be carrying the birds period. The one thing we can put your mind to rest on is Scotland won't be needing to worry about a courier for the future as there's plenty of planning going on for when the season starts. Good luck with your choice. Jamie

Yes, we do Scotland to England every week pretty much without fail, more than once when the demand requires. Send me a p.m if you need any more info. Thanks for the recommendation Alex. Jamie

Just found out more about that, and looks like time won't let me get to enjoy it. Will be there for the show though which is the maint thing.

You should soon be able to tell if it is anemia as the birds get dizzy and lose balance just like us humans would. Worth looking into though.

Thanks, I just looked and saw there was some kind of shindig in the evening made me think it might be a follow over. Spoke to Richard about it the other day, likely I'll get to put face to names etc same time which will be something I'm looking forward to. p.m's Richard if he's about.?

Is it a full weekend or is it just the one day?

I recall reading about the grey tongue in pigeons being a result of the birds inability to deal with the by-products of protien and lactic acid. From my readings its not harmful for the bird but a sign they get tired quicker than birds with normal colouration. Hope this helps.