Post Office Charges

[Smowball]

I had to pot 3 parcels yesterday 2 about size of a bg book and one the size of a tennis ball. She weighed all 3 and said £2.70 for each of them.I queried the little one as it weighed practically nothing. She said it was because the shape wouldnt fit in through the plastic window which measures envelopes and so had to be weighed as a parcel. Still wasnt happy so didnt post that one.
Went home, opened little parcel and re-laid contents so they were flat and in envelope shape, and thin. Got to P.O today and it was man serving. He said to put parcel on scales, before I could ask to measure it as an envelop and he said 90pence please. Exactly same contents as yesterday, just re-arranged. How odd!

[DTCwordfan]

They have got a stronger postie to deliver it, hence the lower charge.

[Prudie]

As you say, they charge on shape as well as weight. Considering we don't get charged for distance travelled I think postage charges are pretty reasonable.

[Smowball]

But on the scales the shape doesnt come into it - just the weight, I asked him. And the weight hasnt changed.

[wendilla]

http://www.ryman.co.uk/help/envelope-sizes/

[wendilla]

•Packet
If the item is larger than a ‘Large Letter’ then it should be considered to be a ‘Packet’.

[Smowball]

wendilla - it wasnt measured in the pricing ruler you just showed, which does indeed depend on size. It was weighed on the scales, which go purely on weight. He couldnt explain why the lady yesterday qouted me 3 X what he did. Oh well ol

[wendilla]

In my postoffice there is an envelope scale that shows you the size of envelopes that you are charged for. Still don't underestand it . lol. Just a rip off as usual.

[Canary42]

They only measure it using the window if it looks marginal - obviously before rewrapping it looked well beyond the limit and on second try looked within the limlt so first time weighed as Packet, second time as Large Letter.

[TOWIE]

Smow, this happens to me when I send my Ebay parcels - you could have three parcels which vary in weight by, just say, 2grams, and they will charge to the nearest price, (if that makes sense). I have digital scales at home and always weigh my parcels. I do wonder sometimes if the PO scales are that correct. I know the main big PO have digital scales, but if you go to a sub-PO, they still have the old type, and I often wonder how accurate they are.

[Smowball]

Maybe , but just shows how changing the shape affects the price!

[Smowball]

TOWIE _ thats what my parcels were too - Ebay lol.

[Georgiesmum]

My son sent a small package to France, thirteen days ago and they finally received it today! In the 1960's i iused to get letters fron my pen pal in India and i would get them within three days. Something wrong there somewhere!Mind you, i know Royal Mail have laid a lot of staff off.

[factor-fiction]

I've started posting some things in envelopes that I used to post in parcels.

[hc4361]

RM can't be responsible for French post!

[knowabit]

Georgiesmum, that could be the fault of France though... Royal Mail may have had it in France the next day? I send things to Australia and they usually get there in 3 days... send something from or to Spain and it could take a fortnight, that's the Spanish though, not Royal Mail.

[Kiki-frog]

That envelope measurement device really annoys me. I had to pay to receive a birthday card earlier this year because it was one with a badge attached to it, and therefore it didn't fit in the measurement gauge thingy. I wouldn't mind but the badge said 'Over the hill and out on the pull', so I wasn't going to wear it anyway!

[Smowball]

lol, I know just what you mean - they've made it very complicated!

[TOWIE]

I have sent my Ebay parcels all over the world and never have had any problems, so far. When I send them to London, they arrive late, or never arrive or they arrive in bits..........

[paddywak]

In regards to the delivery times, We are participants in a postal survey which involves posting and receiving test items ranging in size from small letters to large parcels and logging the posting times post mark dates and times etc. Most items, even when posted second class, are delivered with in twenty four hours. All test pieces are in plain envelopes and wrappings so there is no way to tell them from normal mail.

[windywillow]

It's all to do with the way the mail is sorted by the machinery. A standard letter will pass through easily and be sorted mechanically.

Slightly bigger envelopes will be rejected by the machinery and have to be sorted manually. That is why they cost more to post.

I bought a Royal Mail sizing guide (the rigid plastic one that they use in the PO) and it has probably paid for itself. The counter staff know I have one and don't automatically try to charge me Large Letter or Packet rate.