Fumbles22

If you've ventured over to the "classic and vintage thread", you might have read a post about my plan. I intend to get a rusty old frame from a skip and do it up so it looks like new.

I decided the best place for me to look would be at my local sorting office. I went down there today and asked them if I could buy one of their bikes (there were tons there, and in great condition, so I deviated from my initial mission plan).

Apparently, they're going to scrap all their bikes from the 1st of July. Every last one of them! The weird thing was this sorting office was completely PACKED full of bikes. There were about 7 car park spaces, but an area double this was filled up with bikes. There was more space round the back, so there must have been even more there.

I asked if I could buy one after the 1st of July. I wouldn't mind if they held back a really nice one (which doesn't cost them anything) and then charged me £150. They said they weren't allowed to do this so I said "thanks anyway" and left.

On my way out I saw this skip. This postie was nearby so we struck up a conversation. He told me more about the bikes being scrapped (which was apparently for safety reasons). I then saw that, under all these inner tubes and mail delivery bags (these are the canvas ones that were also worth a fair bit!), was a frame. I could see the metal part of the front basket (I don't know what it's called. The "metal support" for the front plastic basket).

Since we'd struck up a bond, I fished it out and put it to one side. It didn't have wheels, chain or a seat. There was rust on it too, but I probably could have scrubbed it off. I'm making it sound like a fairly easy fix, but it wasn't. It would have taken me a while to do everything I wanted to with it.

Then, I saw another frame under it! I thought "S**t, this is going to be great! TWO F*****G FRAMES!!!". As this frame was further in, I got really excited and was practically head first in the skip trying to get it. I mean this literally, my feet were not touching the floor.

As I was fishing out the other frame this guy comes running out of the sorting office with a real "stop-that-man!" demeanor. He was one of those skinny guys who wasn't really important anywhere, but this was his chance to be the authority figure. He wasn't going to miss this.

He charged over to the skip like a terminator wanting the toilet (lol). Oddly though, he then waited patiently for me to climb out of the skip and say "hello, I found this great frame and i'm going back for another one" before he started talking.

"We can't give those out to the public y'know".
"Really? This one? It's in a skip!"
"Company policy i'm afraid. It comes from above me" <----(great job shifting responsibility btw)
"I'll pay you for them....or donate money to charity"
"No, I can't let you have it"
"What if I paid you.....cash?" <----(read this as "here's £20 to look the other way)
"No, i'm afraid not".

At this point I realised I was defeated. I had to leave the sorting office empty handed.

Bummer.

I'm not sure what I want to do now. My current plan is to go back and see what company is written on the skip. They might be a bit more lenient (anyone know what company it is?). We have gypsies who leave near us and deal in scrap metal. They aren't exactly known for following company guidelines.

apollored

Couldnt you go back after working hours and get them or are they open 24 hours?

Fumbles22

They have a large fence surrounding the complex. The skip is inside the grounds.

On the way out, I did "case the joint" to see if I could come back and get it later.

Also, I phoned Royal Mail customer services and asked them about it. They told me to go here, choose "I would like to comment on Royal Mail staff" and put in a "request" to have some.

At the sorting office the answer was a resounding "no" (as you've probably just read). The man on the phone gave the impression that I could request more than one, maybe even all of them. I decided to request only one since I didn't want to sound greedy.

steve0257

Let me get this straight. Somebody is scrapping a bunch of bike due to manufacturing defects/safety issues and you're upset that they won't let you take one. One of the first things I would want to know before going any farther is what is the specific issue causing them to be scrapped.

Fumbles22

Royal Mail are scrapping bikes since too many posties are falling off them and suing. It doesn't have anything to do with the bikes, people ride older postman bikes with no problems whatsoever.

The bikes I saw in the skip looked okay. They had probably been scrapped since they were the older model (like this) instead of the newer model .

EDIT: Here's an article

Although they've cited safety issues as the problem, it reads more like they want posties to use trollies so they don't have to return to the delivery office.

J.C. Koto

what's a "skip"?

Fumbles22

One of these.

It's like a "dumpster" but for more industrial purposes.