a sorry tale of an oversized parcel

apprentice_tycoon

I recently posted a box to Australia by the International Signed For service. It was a regular cubed sized box about a foot square, it was close to the 2 kilo limit but just under which was my main concern.

3 days later it was returned to me marked as oversized - I have never, ever checked a box for it's size before, I have posted around 40 parcels per week for the last 6 years - I was vaguely aware that there probably was a limit on wierd shapes but a box that was a foot square didn't raise and doubts in my head at all - nor did it with the PO staff

I took the box straight back to the PO, the manageress measured it this time (with a cracked old plastic ruler, not even a tape measure) it was 32 cm each for the height, weight and depth these added together were 96 cm, the box had to add up to 90 cm according to the regulations she but wanted to try again as it was such a small amount over - you've guessed - 3 days later it was back, as if packed with boomerangs.

I phoned RM customer services, I was told that there is a frame that the parcel must go through to check for size and my box obviously didn't go through so it would never be accepted and I should repack it - great - but what about the £23.70 that it had cost to post? she said that it wasn't a Royal Mail problem and I should take it up with Post Office Counters as it was a training issue. 40 minutes later after being re-directed everywhere on a stupid phone menu I was told that I would be refunded by cheque in a week to 10 days.

So the moral of the story is - normal overseas post seems flexible with the box sizes but International Signed For parcels go to a different depot where they are strict!!!