Royal mail fail with signed delivery

All_Hope_Is_Gone

I posted an item abroad with International signed for last month. The first time they sent it back to me because they confused who it was for/from. Never mind, I posted it again. Now 10 days on, they still have not delivered the item and the buyer is getting agitated. The tracking number they've given me is useless and still says 'come back later' :mad:

Does this mean the item isn't being tracked? What should I do?

Crowqueen

RM items don't tend to be able to get a signature overseas.

It's often a bit of a false economy to send something ISF; either it is worth over £41 and needs proper insurance, or it is worth under that amount and is fully insured with a proof of posting.

soolin

I agree with Crowqueen, RM have no guaraneted service for tracking items outside the UK. If item was under £41 then standard airmail and a COP gives you the means to claim loss from RM, if over £41 you need to send it using an enhanced service plus (and a lot of people don't realise this) the extra insurance payment needs to be made, and if that has been paid the item will be covered against loss.

The one notable exception is mobile phones as they are not covered at all, regardless of service, if over £41 and sent overseas.

EDIT to add Stay in touch with the buyer, stay polite and reassuring that he will not lose out. Try and get them to wait another few day s and then say you will refund. For European buyers maybe a few more days before refunding, and possibly for further afield try and get them to wait another week.

You really want to avoid any sort of claim being opened against you though as they count against you in your seller metrics.

macfly

The only way to insure small packet airmail is to use international signed for or Airsure. So if it's worth over basic you have to send it that way.

soolin

macfly wrote: »

The only way to insure small packet airmail is to use international signed for or Airsure. So if it's worth over basic you have to send it that way.

Unfortunately neither of those guarantee a signature, but i agree that for sellers protection and to enable a claim to be made for loss then yes they must be used for items over £41. Just remember to add the additional insurance payment as well though as both International signed for and airsure only cover up to £41 without an additional insurance premium.

custardy

All_Hope_Is_Gone wrote: »

I posted an item abroad with International signed for last month. The first time they sent it back to me because they confused who it was for/from. Never mind, I posted it again. Now 10 days on, they still have not delivered the item and the buyer is getting agitated. The tracking number they've given me is useless and still says 'come back later' :mad:

Does this mean the item isn't being tracked? What should I do?

who failed?
i dont recall ever getting sent abroad on deliveries
they can only update the tracking if the receiving and delivering carrier gives them the data

[Deleted User]

RM signed for never guaranteed
Even something i sent there is no record of change despite buyer receiving it

d123

custardy wrote: »

who failed?
i dont recall ever getting sent abroad on deliveries
they can only update the tracking if the receiving and delivering carrier gives them the data

I was going to say something similar, the OP is in for one heck of a wait if they are waiting for a RM postie to deliver the parcel if it's to be delivered abroad.

terra_ferma

What country did you send it to?
For some you can track them online through the local mail website, like Italy.
I send a lot of signed for to some countries and it's been 100% reliable and fully trackable online.

Regarding the address, at my PO they told me to put the from address at the back, the abay/PP format is a bit silly, as the two addresses are in the same font and very close to each other.
I cut them and tape the from address at the back, or you can use document enclosed wallets so that the from address does not show but it's there if needed.

HTH

soolin

terra_ferma wrote: »

What country did you send it to?
For some you can track them online through the local mail website, like Italy.
I send a lot of signed for to some countries and it's been 100% reliable and fully trackable online.

Regarding the address, at my PO they told me to put the from address at the back, the abay/PP format is a bit silly, as the two addresses are in the same font and very close to each other.
I cut them and tape the from address at the back, or you can use document enclosed wallets so that the from address does not show but it's there if needed.

HTH

Be careful some countries like Canada require the return address to be top left hand of the label, I assume that is why the paypal labels print like that.

Also, I'd ignore your dodgy PO if they give advice like that, if you print out a label from the RM site and elect to have a return address (which is recommended) ti also prints in the same format as the paypal one.

terra_ferma

soolin wrote: »

Be careful some countries like Canada require the return address to be top left hand of the label, I assume that is why the paypal labels print like that.

Also, I'd ignore your dodgy PO if they give advice like that, if you print out a label from the RM site and elect to have a return address (which is recommended) ti also prints in the same format as the paypal one.

ooops I've learnt something new today....
I think I used to copy and paste the address to print and I put it in the wrong place (on the right instead of left.....)
soo is right as usual
I'll review my packing procedures and write a new 'packaging and postage' policy and instruction manual for my staff... oh wait it's just me now, I have to do all the work myself...


One of reasons I don't use the ebay format is that in a large parcel, like most of mine are, to have two addresses in the middle with 'from' 'send to' written in English, if you send to a non English speaking country may not be a great idea, but it may not apply to all countries, or smaller packets.