Posted something as a "large letter" but was probably a "packet":(

hermum

My post office has said that it's a machine & clothes can sometimes be a problem as they can bunch up en route, then won't go through the whirly machines. They said that they are apparently like huge drums & so the items get thrown around.
Whether that's true or not we won't know until custardy comes on.

RosieP5

i've had a similar problem this week- but I'm on the receiving end. Bought a phone charger, with 'free delivery', but now have to pay £1.58 at post office to get item (including £1 handling fee). Should I contact the seller?

hermum

RosieP5 wrote: »

i've had a similar problem this week- but I'm on the receiving end. Bought a phone charger, with 'free delivery', but now have to pay £1.58 at post office to get item (including £1 handling fee). Should I contact the seller?

Yes definitely, unless you are happy to pay an extra £1.58 for the item. A seller can only deal with a problem if they know that one exists.

red0209

lin473 wrote: »

They are very fussy at the PO's round me.
It actually has to drop through the large letter slot to qualify.
I was told it goes through a machine which rejects them if they're too fat.

I recently had a white top I thought would go large letter and that was puffed up with air (still went through the guage).
The lady at the PO stabbed it all over with her biro to let the air out ! :eek:

I e-mailed the buyer to let me know if it was covered in ink and explained why but as it turned out it was fine!

Just searched the forum for info on large letters/packets and this thread seemed most appropriate.

I just posted a book, which was borderline large letter/packet because it was close to 25mm thickness. At the Post Office, after it had been weighed, the woman automatically tried to charge me for a packet. I said it might be a large letter, so she got her size guide and it fit through, although it was a little bit of a squeeze (it was in a bubblewrap envelope). She told me that it has to fit through comfortably and charged me for a packet. Is this right? :question: I would've thought that if it fits through the large letter size guide then it's a large letter surely?

charlesb

not 100% but if i recall a previous discussion was the official policy that it had to drop through the slot from above propellled by their own weight and without being pushed or pulled

albeit there's no doubt each post office interpreting it their own way - i have heard of some post offices who have the view it shouldn't touch the slot whilst others don't care as long as you can pull it through the slot eventually

red0209

Ah, thanks very much for that. :T

charlesb wrote: »

it had to drop through the slot from above propellled by their own weight and without being pushed or pulled

If that is the case, my letter/packet this morning was probably 50/50 so as you say open to interpretation, so I won't worry too much about it.

red0209

I just asked the Post Office about this on Twitter, and the response was:

"yes, it has to fit through the slot with ease to be classed as a letter. If it had to be pushed, it's sent packet rate."

plumface

mobile48 wrote: »

I never had a problem myself though the following news story contains a warning:

The surcharges and "administration fee" are imposed by revenue protection staff who pull out items at random to see if the correct postage has been paid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10896007

Fair enough,but i have been told that if you have the 'printed stamp'
(the big square gold type) that you can only get from the person behind the counter after weighing it etc then they (the PO) cannot do anything about it.It is their fault.

red0209

Just need to find a Post Office that gives you the benefit of the doubt then!

RFW

red0209 wrote: »

I just asked the Post Office about this on Twitter, and the response was:

"yes, it has to fit through the slot with ease to be classed as a letter. If it had to be pushed, it's sent packet rate."

They could make it into a game, if it touches the sides it buzzes and you have to pay extra.

As a more serious question, is the large letter size based on anything or did they just make it up?