Printing your own post labels

jennyjelly

OK, this might sound like a bit of a naive question but it's something I've been wondering for ages.

If you sign up for the post office's 'print it yourself' stamps, what happens about getting proof of postage? Surely you would still have to go to the PO for that, which defeats the object. Or would the label you print also print a proof of postage, and if so how would anyone know that you actually put the item in the post box?

I would be scared not to have a record of posting in case things go astray.

hesjane

Hi

You can print a certificate of posting as well, but yes you have to take it to the post office to get it stamped. I do all my postage online now. You can send without proof of posting if you want (not that I do for ebay), but it's really the ease of having the labels all printed, return address on them, knowing the price and having an account on line to manage my postage that are the biggest benefits for me.

hesjane

Should have said....you also need to take to the post office and fill out the usual recorded/special delivery forms if you want to use those services. I just keep a stash of the forms at home and then when I go to the post office everything is ready just to hand over. It's still a lot quicker

neilwoods

Ahh the death knoll rings for the small post office.

pinkgem

i use royal mail online postage because i used to often spend 20-30 minutes in my small local post office with a long angry queue forming behind me

now i just have everything printed out and just need to get my certificate of posting, recorded and special delivery stamped and special delivery items scanned, so much quicker and easier for me

as for proof of postage, instead of printing out one for each item each on an a4 sheet (it's such a waste of paper imo) i fill in the small post office certificates of posting at home as you can fit 10 items on there

hesjane

pinkgem wrote:

as for proof of postage, instead of printing out one for each item each on an a4 sheet (it's such a waste of paper imo) i fill in the small post office certificates of posting at home as you can fit 10 items on there

My printer lets me select multiple pages on 1 A4 sheet and duplex - so I print 4 on one side and 4 on the other. The thing I like about the printed versions is it details not only the addressee information, but also the service used....and it saves me writing it all out. But I do agree 1 COP to an A4 sheet....Royal Mail need sorting out on that one!

pinkgem

hesjane wrote:

My printer lets me select multiple pages on 1 A4 sheet and duplex - so I print 4 on one side and 4 on the other. The thing I like about the printed versions is it details not only the addressee information, but also the service used....and it saves me writing it all out. But I do agree 1 COP to an A4 sheet....Royal Mail need sorting out on that one!

i would like to print multiple COPs/POPs on one a4 sheet if possible but royal mail only seem to let you print one at a time

hesjane

pinkgem wrote:

i would like to print multiple COPs/POPs on one a4 sheet if possible but royal mail only seem to let you print one at a time

I am assuming it's an option from my printer management software. I can't get back to check until I try to print some more, but I'll make a note when I next do it and let you know.

pinkgem

hesjane wrote:

I am assuming it's an option from my printer management software. I can't get back to check until I try to print some more, but I'll make a note when I next do it and let you know.

thanks that would be much appreciated

i will have a play around next time i need to print some proofs

i would normally be printing them today to post tomorrow but at the moment i am stuck at home due to the snow and don't know yet if i will be able to get to the post office tomorrow

nightswimmer

jiggaman wrote:

a bit off the topic but if i send something by placing it in the postbox and it goes missing, can i still claim compensation if it gets lost?

Nope, you have to get a Certificate of Posting at the Post Office.