Royal Mail: When does a letter become a small packet when posting outside uk?

EdiScot

If you do the same Google search adding 2014, you'll find the new version coming into force on 31st March 2014. There are some changes but the result appears to be the same: that items below certain dimensions are classed as letters whatever the content.

campdave

isthatd4 wrote: »

Hello, Today I sellotaped an SD card inside a birthday card for my brother in canada, the envelope was size C5, was 4mm thick and weighed 29g. I was told at the post office that because of the SD card a customs declaration sticker (CN22) would be required… fair enough I thought. Then I was informed that putting a customs declaration on a letter makes it a small parcel, so the postage then went up from £1.88 to £3.50, is this correct? Can anyone point me towards the royal mail webpage that explains this, as I can't find one. Thanks.

Until 30 March, items can be posted at letter rate. Just buy a £1.88 stamp and pop it in the postbox.

If your item is under 4mm, it could be posted at letter rate even after the changes.

jackhulk

Wow, Royal Mail gets more confusing and of course stupidly more expensive each year.

So the latest Royal Mail Prices 2014.pdf states...

International Letters not exceeding:
Length: 24cm
Width:16.5
Thickness:0.5cm

So what about sending A4 sheets which of course are larger than measurements above? Surely these can't be deemed as small parcel?

campdave

jackhulk wrote: »

Wow, Royal Mail gets more confusing and of course stupidly more expensive each year.

So the latest Royal Mail Prices 2014.pdf states...

International Letters not exceeding:
Length: 24cm
Width:16.5
Thickness:0.5cm

So what about sending A4 sheets which of course are larger than measurements above? Surely these can't be deemed as small parcel?

Fold them in half.

jackhulk

Of course, but not applicable to items that need to remain flat and posted in 'Please do not bend' hard back envelope

campdave

jackhulk wrote: »

Of course, but not applicable to items that need to remain flat and posted in 'Please do not bend' hard back envelope

Then you send it as a small parcel.

The dimensions are clear. The step up is huge, but there are no ways round them.

ballisticbrian

Of course, but not applicable to items that need to remain flat and posted in 'Please do not bend' hard back envelope

arr, yes, now you come to mention it, I feel sorry for all those back street companies selling "English University Degrees"

jackhulk

Yeah, your both right. 'Bummed' again by Royal Mail. Pay even more for your mail getting 'lost', which they then sell on ebay! They are on to a real winner here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-462606/Royal-Mail-set-sell-lost-post-items-Ebay--pocket-profits.html

I know I know, old story, but just means that with Royal Mail losing even more mail now (at least in my experience), they are making even more money selling 'lost' items on ebay than ever before!

BaileyB

Can someone clear it up for me please as a little confused. I send very light items (clothing patchwork) to UK and Europe, and the odd one to USA.

The weight of them is 15-30g

Uk - Normally sent in DL envelope or smaller
EU - Sent in C5

All are under 5mm thick and always fit in the guide for letter.

Now my local PO which was sending it all letter (tracked and signed) now says it is classed as a parcel.

Normally £5.97-£6.47
Now £8.20 which is a huge increase.

So can someone offer what the guidelines say? for UK and EU please.

ballisticbrian

If it goes in an envelope and through the 5mm "slot", I wouldn't confuse the PO staff by telling them it's goods. That's not a comprehensive answer but one that works.