late payers and postage increase

soolin

I've got a couple of potential late payers and as one is in Australia the postage rates if I post after Monday go up enormously.

When does the paypal postage update? I have in the back of my mind that last time it was possible to print postage at the old rate until midnight on the day before the postage increases, which means I could (assuming they have paid) get my stuff stamped monday night at old rates and still post out on Tuesday.

Otherwise I suppose I just have to hope they pay before 5 ish on Monday and I can run it round to sorting office after work.

The other one is a UK large letter so I can easily absorb the additional postage, but this Australian one is going up a large amount.

ravenjet

I thought rates went up from Monday so paypal will still have old rates Sunday til midnight.

soolin

ravenjet wrote: »

I thought rates went up from Monday so paypal will still have old rates Sunday til midnight.

Oh bother, I jumped a day on my calendar, yes you are right they increase on Monday not Tuesday.

So, fingers crossed this Australian buyer pays before Midnight Sunday.

kurgon

I don't understand how you can pay for the postage on Sunday and use the same amount to actually send it on Monday. As Sunday is not a working day, all collections would surely be at the higher cost, and there would then be an excess to pay at the other end?
Or perhaps I am confused.

RFW

If you can post the item on a Sunday then you pay the old price, if you can't post until Monday then you would have to pay the new price. That said if there isn't a collection until Monday morning no one would really know if you posted a minute after midnight on Monday morning!

kurgon

So doesn't that count as posting on Monday?

soolin

My local PO who abided by the rules however much it inconvenienced the user was happy to accept PayPal postage on the increase day.

The postage cost is hidden and since it all goes to be sorted and they cannot be sure whether the item was posted before or after midnight (they emptied the post box at same time) the was never an issue- and the PayPal postage page tells you it is valid as long as posted before end of next working day (although of course that ignores the price increase).

I think it is all immaterial anyway, I don't think either of my buyers are going to pay, I just had a odd feeling as soon as I saw what they both bid (both items went for more than I had anticipated). I will be cross though if the Australian does pay before I can get the NPB closed as it is going to cost me a lot more to send it than she is paying.

worbikeman

If it's of any help, last year when the postage went up, I somehow forgot (wasnt MSE-ing much then:o) and had been unknowingly posting items in the pillar box with stamps on at the old rate up to a whole 8 days after the new rate had come into force. It was only on the Tuesday after I had just put another 20 items in the box and took one item to get a COP that the PO staff reminded me I had the wrong amount on as it had gone up the previous week Monday:eek:. I was in a panic for about a week, there were items to UK (mostly NVIs thankfully), EU and worldwide, all without a COP (cos I had got lazy). As it happened every one arrived safe and I got +FB on every item. Lucky, maybe, but I guess they must allow a bit of leeway at the sorting office.

porto_bello

As I understand it, the only disadvantage with workbikeman's proposal (assuming RM don't charge the recipient the difference) is that you haven't got any certificate of postage, so you can't make any claim is something goes missing.

loulou123

I messed up with this last year....and printed the labels off paypal on the Sunday without realising postage increased next day.

As I wanted proof of posting I had to pay the extra on every item at post office next day. But if your prepared to 'risk' not having proof then you should just be able to pop them in post box today or early tomorrow.

porto_bello

loulou123 wrote: »

I messed up with this last year....and printed the labels off paypal on the Sunday without realising postage increased next day.

As I wanted proof of posting I had to pay the extra on every item at post office next day. But if your prepared to 'risk' not having proof then you should just be able to pop them in post box today or early tomorrow.

The other way around the additional expense and to obtain a certificate of postage is to buy books of 2nd class stamps at 36p per stamp today, and take them along to the post office tomorrow, where the value of each stamp will have gone up to 50p each.