Postage

AivarasTR

Hi there,

I have started small business online and I have some questions about postage.

My one item weights around 50grams I fit it into an small padded envelope(letter size), but when I take it to the post office I have to pay postage fee for Large letter.. Why is that? I tried measuring thickness and it seems to be around 5mm, not sure if it's more, maybe a bit in the middle. So what would happen if I would buy stamps for 0.36 second class letter and send them? Should I try it?

Today I tried sending two same items together hoping I will be able to send it as a large letter, but I had to pay for small parcel near the counter..

So are they trying to rip you off when you pay in post office? Or are they just being sensitive to every mm?

beth.stephenson2009

They are rip off merchants in my eyes. Pure and simple.

Also- if you just stick a stamp on it and put it in the postbox, the buyer will have to pay the excess postage before they get it off the postman. I wouldn't be very happy about that.

AivarasTR

hmm, so what should I do when I sent small padded envelope which is less in dimensions than letter requirements and weights less than 100gr.? If thickness is like 6mm and allowance is 5mm would royal mail notice it? Because price difference is like 2x...and ripping off my customer wouldn't be a nice idea..

EDITED: I've found this on the padded envelopes I bought:
Jiffy Gold Size JL000 is classed by Royal Mail as a Letter for slim items (max 5mm thickness) or Large Letter (up to 25mm thickness.

My item is slim and less than 5mm, but padded envelope itself is around 5mm...

chalkie99

The Post Office should have a small perspex stand at the counter with two slots in.

Whether or not your envelope passes through the slots determines if it needs "large letter" postage.

If you don't pay the correct postage your customer will have a card put through their door informing them that an excess payment is due which comprises of the excess postage plus an admin fee of, I think, £1. Worse still, the Postie is no longer allowed to collect these fees so the recipient has to make a trip to their local sorting office.

A sure way to lose customers!

This is something you really should have considered when setting your prices and bear in mind that postal charges increase next month.

beth.stephenson2009

There is nothing you can do about it, you just have to put a disclaimer or something where you are selling? If customers are not happy (although I am sure your not happy about this) they will not buy from you.

Maybe open account at the post office so you get discounted postage?

AivarasTR

Thanks, Chalkie.

I'll ask for perspex the next time I go, because I didn't see any today.

Can you provide a link about postal charge increase?

@beth.stephenson, how can I do that? I know I can register and buy stamps from royal mail site, right, is it any cheaper?

paulwf

What is the item? There might be some specialist envelopes you can use i.e. some are made of super tough material but aren't so padded, perfect if you need something that won't rip but aren't too worried about padding.

AivarasTR

It's gelatin capsules with powder in it. They can be easily broken, so I'm afraid of using non padded ones

custardy

AivarasTR wrote: »

It's gelatin capsules with powder in it. They can be easily broken, so I'm afraid of using non padded ones

http://www.royalmail.com/royal-mail-you/size-weight-formats-mail?campaignid=pip

so what thickness are the capsules?
I would expect them to go beyond 5mm in a padded envelope

chalkie99

AivarasTR wrote: »

Thanks, Chalkie.

I'll ask for perspex the next time I go, because I didn't see any today.

Can you provide a link about postal charge increase?

The business rate increases are mentioned here http://www.royalmail.com/prices2012 but, as I understand it, all rates are going up but they cannot announce by how much until they get official approval. there is talk of quite large percentage increases though.

edit:

There is a thread on the EBay section discussing this and increase dates are mentioned here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3854073 Post #2 -

twinmom04 wrote: »

Prices wont be available until the 27th march, and the increases come into effect on the 30th April.

Hope this helps.

There is a size guide at the front of the counter at all our local offices.

This is a picture I just snagged via Google which shows what to look out for.

twinmom04

postage rates will be anounced march 27th and increases in place from the 30th april.