Paypal postage gives automatic tracking.

ravenjet

I use paypal postage for many items but this morning have noticed that both items I paid for 1st class have been given an automatic Royal Mail tracking number. When did this start and does this mean no longer a need for recorded delivery?

soolin

ravenjet wrote: »

I use paypal postage for many items but this morning have noticed that both items I paid for 1st class have been given an automatic Royal Mail tracking number. When did this start and does this mean no longer a need for recorded delivery?

Are you absolutely sure you did not click on 1st class recorded by accident as there is no tracking on standard 1st class even through paypal.

If you have clicked on recorded then make sure when you take it to the post office for the proof of posting to be stamped that you get the orange sticker details added.

ravenjet

No, certainly not sent recorded, I have never seen it before today. When I click the tracking link it gives it takes me straight to Royal mail tracking.

Oliver14

As soolin it will only be tracked if it goes via a post office and they log a tracking number. It sounds like you selected the wrong option. Easy way to tell is put the weight of the item into the RM calculator and see if the price corresponds.

soolin

ravenjet wrote: »

No, certainly not sent recorded, I have never seen it before today. When I click the tracking link it gives it takes me straight to Royal mail tracking.

Do you actually have a tracking number and assuming you have already taken this to the post office to be receipted did they add an orange slip? If you do have a tracking number what does it say when you put it into Royal Mail tracking?

None of mine have any tracking numbers.

ravenjet

No tracking on label so I don't have a clue how it will work.
Parcels still waiting to go to PO.
Paid £1.96 for 1st class packet up to 250g, which is correct.

soolin

ravenjet wrote: »

No tracking on label so I don't have a clue how it will work.
Parcels still waiting to go to PO.
Paid £1.96 for 1st class packet up to 250g, which is correct.

Where is the tracking number then if it isn't on the parcel? Is it only on the paypal page only you say:
"both items I paid for 1st class have been given an automatic Royal Mail tracking number"

ravenjet

My paypal summary page against each postage purchase, under Order status/actions column states, sent and Track. The track is highlighted in blue and is a link to the royal mail website track and trace page. The tracking number is already in the box but I assume because the parcels are still in front of me there are no details yet.
I don't know what is happening, have never seen it before which is why I asked the original question. When I return from the PO I will see what happens but I can't imagine anything will track becuse they don't scan the labels, just type them into the system.
There is a bar code scan box on the label but I can't remember if they always had that.

harveybobbles

I noticed this too this week when I did some first class normal mail via Paypal. It loads a tracing number onto your Paypal account automatically.

soolin

harveybobbles wrote: »

I noticed this too this week when I did some first class normal mail via Paypal. It loads a tracing number onto your Paypal account automatically.

Does it actually track?

(I'm jeaous now)

RFW

They were trialling a simple barcode label that was scanned at delivery (or possibly just when going out on delivery) for some high use customers a while ago, perhaps they're going to introduce a barcode for Paypal.
This is the system they use in the US, normal rate postage there when printed via Paypal has a barcode label, when delivery is made it scans back to Paypal (thus on items with funds held for 21 days they are automatically released and no high rate postage has to be paid).
That said the chances are it is just a glitch, can't imagine Royal Mail managing to be that proactive.