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

blue_monkey_2

Just to add to this, SmartStamp offers proof of postage and it offers up to £32 (or used to, don't know what it is since the new pricing options came in). If you have to claim just print out the page related to the transaction and send it in, you don't have to queue for ages because the point of smartstamp is to stop us with loads of packages clogging up the queues in the Post Office. Do I have to claim - yes, not very often I guess but I do.

Do they pay out - yes, every time. Initially they didn't but I had an argument with several people and in the end got to speak with a 'superviser' and it is now in their terms that they must allow the SmartStamp receipt as Proof of Postage. I asked them what was the point of using Smartstamp if I had to queue and get each parcel checked? Surely that defeats the object - I had initially had 3 packets go missing and I tried to claim and all were returned. Since speaking with the Post Office Supervisor every one has gone through since. The only reason I go is to have my Recorded or Special Delivery stuff stamped, and if you have a really nice Post Office they will give you a mailing sack so you can put it in a sack and leave it at the Post Office to save queuing to get it all behind the counter. Mine gives me a sack to take home and I drop it behind his door ready for the Postie to collect - of course this was all before they stopped showing shop listings and now my 5 parcels a day go quite easily into the Post Box. Right now I hate eBay!! :mad:

zappahey

kitkat101 wrote:

well i just used it. I live in London and it will save me queuing in my lunch for a book only selling for 3 pounds i can just pop it in the box

I just tried it and I'm not sure if I'm reading it properly but I'm sure it said that I need to drop the letter off at the post office and DON'T just drop it in the post box. Unfortunately I've just closed the window, so can't confirm, but if it's correct then it makes it all fairly pointless.

Can anyone confirm?

kitkat101

uh o lol well it was a post office post box ?

maniac886

I don't get this. If i use the special delivery system online, pay the money,print label etc then where do I actually post the item...at a regular post box just like a 1st class letter or do I have to go into the post office and hand it over the counter. It is poorly explained on the website!

Ta in advance!

maniac886

bump....anyone?

Morty_007

Well I'M hoping you can just drop it in any old postbox...cos thats what I did! LMAO!:eek:

mah_jong

maniac886 wrote:

I don't get this. If i use the special delivery system online, pay the money,print label etc then where do I actually post the item...at a regular post box just like a 1st class letter or do I have to go into the post office and hand it over the counter. It is poorly explained on the website!

Ta in advance!

Specials are tracked.... from leaving the PO in a bag , where they are counted before handing over.....

glossy123

Well I can see where it might be useful, but I send all my items first class but not signed for as customers won't support the extra 68p on the overall cost of the item (they can if they want but they don't!) so proof of posting is essential for me.

I am very lucky that i use a rural post office and it is part of the pleasure of my working day to go and have a chat wth a real human - she also sees the volume of my sales and encourages me: she is planning for me to be businesswoman of the year (dream on!!) so she can say I knew her, she came in my post office!

Mind you, 10 days ago I was in the market town and went to the main post office - I walked out again :mad: because there were 15 people queuing and 3 people behind the counters; two of them were doing adminstration, one serving a very complicated client and stuff the other customers!

Kilty_2

Less than £3.50
You can pay using your Online Prepay Account or credit card but no debit cards.

G-man_3

Is it possable to claim for a lost item without a certificate of postage?

I had a £10 PS2 game go missing and will refund the buyers money but can I claim? I used the online print your own (don't think it was the smart stamp, don't pay any extra).
If it is then what do I do? Never had anything go missing before.

Thanks

G-man