Royal Mail: new online postage service launched (merged thread)

soolin · 19 September 2006 at 8:16AM

I have seen news reports about the new Royal Mail system for printing out postage at home that is launched today (another nail in the coffin for post offices). This isn't Smart stamp, this is a purely buy on a one off basis, details are here:

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump3?catId=400043&mediaId=26800663

I haven't read the terms and conditions yet to see what, if any, protection against loss there is, but it might be useful for some of us.

Soo

gt94sss2 · 19 September 2006 at 8:19AM

The Royal Mail has today launched a new service allowing customers to buy and print their postage online, marking the latest innovation to a stamp-based postal service which harks back to 1840 and the Penny Black.

Customers will be able to pay for their postage by selecting the appropriate amount for their letter or parcel, and paying by debit or credit card or via a pre-pay account. A unique barcode is then printed directly onto envelopes, labels or paper before the item is posted.

"We have launched this service in response to demands from the general public, who want to be able to buy and print their postage online," said the Royal Mail's Marketing Director Alex Batchelor.

"Online postage gives customers more choice and flexibility in the way they pay to send their mail."

The Internet stamps cost the same as normal postage.

Consumers can choose from a full range of postal options, from first class to international services, and can also print out a variety of forms online, such as a certificate of posting or customs form.

More details on http://www.royalmail.com/onlinepostage/

Regards
Sunil

COOLTRIKERCHICK · 19 September 2006 at 9:32AM

on on the fence with this one.....

yes it could be a good idea if you work and cant get to the post office....but can drop your items to a sorting office etc.....

but on the other hand.....the smaller post offices are having a tuff time at the mo..anyway.....

and especially now that after all the fuss about stopping payment books... for benifits etc...and going over to the payment card..... they are now scrapping that in the next 18 months... so you got to get pensions etc paid into a bank account....

i still will be going to my local post office.....and least that way the price of the postage will be right for the weight...

but it could be an ideal option for others

soolin · 19 September 2006 at 9:45AM

A couple of months ago COOLTRIKERCHICK I would have agreed with you as I went out of my way to use my small local sub post office for everything to try and keep them open.

However, since the new pricing in proportion regs came in staying loyal to that PO will cost me as much as £10 a week purely because of the way the post mistress interprets the new rules on size. DVDs and such like which every other post office allow to go as a large letter must go as a package from there as in a jiffy envelope the item touches the sides of the guage and is therefore deemed not to slip though easily. Yesterday for instance i had 32 packages, 11 of which were the same and one of my best selling items at the moment. This item fits easily into a large plastic mailer, that mailer is within the size limit of a large letter, yet my local PO take it as a package as it flops over when you post it through the gauge and won't slip through. I prefer not to say what it is that I am selling, but imagine a thin tea towl folded once and imagine how thin it is and try posting it through the gauge without it touching the sides and see my problem ..and see why I refuse to pay extra to send it as a package.

Anyway, rant over..off to pack some parcels (I mean large letters) now.

frivolous_fay · 19 September 2006 at 10:19AM

You know that game where you have to move a loop along a wire without toughing it, and if you touch, a buzzer goes off?

Think your PO needs to know that that's not what PiP is about.

COOLTRIKERCHICK · 19 September 2006 at 10:25AM

hi..soolin...fair comment....its obvious from your comments...that your post mistress is a bit of a jobs worth..(cant think of another suitable word to post with out being banned )

so then yes i dont blame you....and £10. is a heck of a lot of money to lose just because of the post mistress...

so if i were in that situation... i would do the same...

but i have a lovely sub post office...so and no problems..

so as i said it could be ideal for some people...

is there another post office near so you could go else where ?

rose_sparky · 19 September 2006 at 10:37AM

My little post office is the life-line in our rural village and the post mistress is brilliant (she plays a sort of Generation Game with me trying to guess what's in my odd shaped parcels!).

I know my post office is just a needle in a haystack but I can't imagine many of their customers buying stamps on-line. Most of the "old dears" have trouble finding their purses let alone using a computer!!

frivolous_fay · 19 September 2006 at 10:43AM

I'm very excited! I believe that local businesses should be supported, but I'm afraid I'm no martyr. Going by the monstrous queue in my local PO Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, it's not in any trouble and can well do without my business.

Me, I'm tired of wasting half my lunch hour in the queue.

I take it I'd be stuffed for proof of postage though

lil_me · 19 September 2006 at 10:46AM

Hence why I won't be using it, no proof of postage.

soolin · 19 September 2006 at 10:51AM

lil_me wrote:

Hence why I won't be using it, no proof of postage.

I haven't read it yet but I do wonder if there is proof of postage as it is all barcoded, this is not 'print a stamp' this is print a posting label for a specific item. They are also doing special delivery, which *must* have POP so it may well be worth a read through the terms.

Soo

baffcat · 19 September 2006 at 11:10AM

soolin wrote:

I haven't read it yet but I do wonder if there is proof of postage as it is all barcoded, this is not 'print a stamp' this is print a posting label for a specific item. They are also doing special delivery, which *must* have POP so it may well be worth a read through the terms.

Soo

Having had a quick look, it seems you'll still need to go to the PO if you want POP. The benefit is you'll have a pre-filled certificate for them to stamp. But I can't see your local post master / mistress being particularly happy if you purchase your postage online regularly, then take it in for them to validate though, as they'll be making squat on the deal. I'm assuming, from this, you'll still need to take your SD items into be validated too.

Regards.

Baff

Step 1 – Purchase your postage

* Decide where your item is going and what delivery service you require
* Fill in the recipient’s address - and your own address, if you like
* Choose to print out either a label, envelope or paper
* Log in or register to use Online Postage
* Make secure payments online using your prepay account, credit card (or debit card if you’re spending more than £3.50).

Step 2 – Print your labels

* Print your postage* onto a label (A4, A5 or A6), envelope or paper
* If you have any problems printing you can re-print your postage at no extra cost, as long as it’s before the expiry date of your label.

Step 3 – Send your mail

* Put your postage onto the item you’re sending
* Post your mail by the end of the next working day after purchase
* For International mail, you can print out pre-populated customs forms
* A pre-populated Certificate of Posting can also be printed (you’ll need get this validated at a Post Office® branch)
* Remember: you can only use your postage once.

Royal Mail: new online postage service launched (merged thread)

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