RM Charges can be so annoying

lovinituk

MyOnlyPost wrote: »

I suppose I should clarify, I don't have a problem with paying for them to go small packet, and no evidence to suggest I would sell more if my postage was 75p cheaper. It's just the inconsistency of the charging which was bugging me.

Thanks for all the replies, some very useful info there!

What are you charging for P&P at the moment? I would be surprised if a reduction in what you are charging didn't have at least a small impact. At least you would get the consistency from using the PIP boxes although they are a little more fiddly to put together than just sealing up a mailing bag.

MyOnlyPost

lovinituk wrote: »

What are you charging for P&P at the moment? I would be surprised if a reduction in what you are charging didn't have at least a small impact. At least you would get the consistency from using the PIP boxes although they are a little more fiddly to put together than just sealing up a mailing bag.

Yes I agree it may have an impact, but I have no evidence to say it definitely will.

The listing is a multi one so with half the parcels theoretically costing me £1.72 and the other half £2.16 I set the postage charge at £1.99. I wonder why you can't have different postage prices for your items in a multiple listing? I figured even with a £1.72 stamp most buyers wouldn't begrudge 27p for a mailing bag and the other buyers are getting better than cost.

Working the costs, a box will weigh more than a bag, this will take all the mentioned parcels over 250g. The postage cost would be a consistent £1.23 so it depends what I can source the boxes for as to whether it's worth switching. I could probably get my postage down to say £1.69 but whether this would encourage more sales, who knows?

I have tried selling the items at £2 more with free p&p but found they sold less.

Thanks for that question lovinituk as it's really got me thinking :beer:

Obviously_the_best

These are reasonably cheap PIP boxes, as long as you order over £150 worth, otherwise delivery is £7.95
http://www.davpack.co.uk/postal-packaging/quick-postal-boxes/brown-pip-boxes.htm

custardy

MyOnlyPost wrote: »

My understanding when the current system was introduced was that a small packet will not go through a standard letterbox. The guide they use is supposed to represent a letterbox and the staff are only allowed to push it through, as the postman would not be able to pull it through when delivering.

As for the charges, two items may weigh the same but a small packet will cost more than a large letter. My understanding was that delivering something that won't fit through a letterbox is more time consuming hence the extra charge. Therefore an item which is charged as a small packet should not be forced through a letterbox risking damage to the contents.

PIP was brought in due to the increased handling costs of larger items (delivery is just one part of that)
whereas a simple weight based system didnt account for that
eg company sending balloons in massive boxes that weighed very little

macfly

MyOnlyPost wrote: »

My understanding when the current system was introduced was that a small packet will not go through a standard letterbox. The guide they use is supposed to represent a letterbox and the staff are only allowed to push it through, as the postman would not be able to pull it through when delivering.

As for the charges, two items may weigh the same but a small packet will cost more than a large letter. My understanding was that delivering something that won't fit through a letterbox is more time consuming hence the extra charge. Therefore an item which is charged as a small packet should not be forced through a letterbox risking damage to the contents.

Who on earth fed you that line? It's got nothing to do with letter boxes. Its 25mm. The reasons are as custardy pointed out. It's actually based on the size of a standard letter. Less large letters and pavckets can be carried in a postman's bag, hence the charges start higher for the wieght.

macfly

lovinituk wrote: »

I use these all of the time and can highly recommend them. OP - you should definitely consider these as the clothes will not push the box out of shape (unless they are too thick to start with) so they will always be large letter. You can purchase a single one from Defendapack as a sample to try out.


Anything like this is going to be expensive in small quantities. I buy these 100+ at a time so the unit price is much better.


From my experience, Post Office staff will only accept it as a large letter if it falls freely through the slot. Through some investigation I actually discovered that an item will go through the system successfully as large letter even if it requires a 'reasonable' amount of force to get it through the slot. As someone once said - "If the postman can get it through a letter box then I can bloody well send it as a large letter". The only problem if you use a Post Office is them not accepting items unless they 'free-fall'!!

Thoes PO staff are doing it correctly. An item must pass easily through the slot.

lovinituk

macfly wrote: »

Thoes PO staff are doing it correctly. An item must pass easily through the slot.

I have sent hundreds of large letter sized packages that would not drop freely through the slot and would therefore not be accepted at a PO and have never had one picked up for underpaid postage.

macfly

Can't argue with that then What do I know? I only ran a Post Office for ten years.

soolin

lovinituk wrote: »

I have sent hundreds of large letter sized packages that would not drop freely through the slot and would therefore not be accepted at a PO and have never had one picked up for underpaid postage.

I've had to pay excess on 4 items in the past year that have been paid as large letters but come with an excess that equates to upgrading them to packets.

One was a newsletter from a charity that was actually just too thick when I tried it through my gauge. 3 were ebay items and two of those sellers were surprised as they explained they would just go through the slot if I sort of smoothed it all down and pulled really hard (both similar items that usually arrive as a packet) . Obviously I got my money back from all 3 sellers so I wasn't out of pocket but they were.

macfly

It is a bit more hit and miss with parcels in soft wrapping. With over 50 million pieces of post a day mistakes are often made.
I have a mate who regularly drives home from the pub. It's less than a mile. Well over the limit. Never had an accident, nor has he been pulled up after hundreds of journeys. But it's not an example to follow.