Is Recorded Delivery a waste of money?

TheHolly

For the 3rd time in the last few months I have just come home to find a Recorded Delivery envelope on my doormat that was delivered when no-one was in and therefore no-one could have signed for it.

I use Recorded Delivery myself quite often for items I want to ensure have been signed for - if the Royal Mail/postman are treating these just like any other mail that can be stuck through the door then what's the point in paying extra for recorded?

Azari

It's worse than useless.

The last time I checked:

The compensation is no better than you can get with a certificate of posting but the fact that it's 'recorded' means that if the postie (or anyone else) signs for it RM will refuse a claim an the grounds that it has proof that it was delivered.

morganedge

I've had a few people this week saying they've not received the items I sent.
With this thread in mind, Is it fair to say that we should send ALL ebay items (no matter the cost) using 'special delivery'?

George_Michael

Is it fair to say that we should send ALL ebay items (no matter the cost) using 'special delivery'

Only if you want to see your ebay sales plummet or are willing to absorb the cost and not pass it on to your customers.
No buyer in their right mind would be willing to pay for Special Delivery for a low value item, apart from the fact it would mean that they would either need to wait in for the postie or make a special trip to the delivery office to collect it.

Either stick to recorded delivery (which does sometimes work), or use standard mail and get a COP, both of which should allow you to claim for loss if the buyer claims that their item didn't arrive.
Only use SD for items over £46 or if the buyer specifically request it if they want something with guaranteed next day delivery.

Mindless_Clone

morganedge wrote: »

I've had a few people this week saying they've not received the items I sent.
With this thread in mind, Is it fair to say that we should send ALL ebay items (no matter the cost) using 'special delivery'?

For anything worth under £46? No. Just get proof of postage and if it doesn't arrive at destination, refund the buyer and claim from Royal Mail. Its a pain in the backside for you but assuming most people are basically honest, it's not going to be like you'll be making claims week in and week out.

soolin

TheHolly wrote: »

For the 3rd time in the last few months I have just come home to find a Recorded Delivery envelope on my doormat that was delivered when no-one was in and therefore no-one could have signed for it.

I use Recorded Delivery myself quite often for items I want to ensure have been signed for - if the Royal Mail/postman are treating these just like any other mail that can be stuck through the door then what's the point in paying extra for recorded?

I see no point at all in using recorded.

KxMx

My success rate this year is two signed for, two delivered and not signed for, and one lost.

Others on the forum seem to have better success rates but I do think it is a waste of money.

yangptangkipperbang

Azari wrote: »

It's worse than useless.

The last time I checked:

The compensation is no better than you can get with a certificate of posting but the fact that it's 'recorded' means that if the postie (or anyone else) signs for it RM will refuse a claim an the grounds that it has proof that it was delivered.

I do wish people would read the Ts & Cs for what they are buying ! Why do people complain when what they bought doesn't do what they thought it would, when they can't even be bothered to read about what they are buying ? If you want "compensation" (THAT word again !!) pay for that service.

You could probably have "compensation" on all mail if you (and everyone else) were willing to pay £5 for each second class letter.

It is RECORDED delivery - NOT special delivery, insured delivery, overnight delivery, tracked delivery or any other sort of delivery.
Read the Royal Mail website - it tells you what exactly each type of delivery encompasses.

Start here:- http://www.royalmail.com/delivery/personal-delivery-options-uk

soolin

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

I do wish people would read the Ts & Cs for what they are buying ! Why do people complain when what they bought doesn't do what they thought it would, when they can't even be bothered to read about what they are buying ? If you want "compensation" (THAT word again !!) pay for that service.

You could probably have "compensation" on all mail if you (and everyone else) were willing to pay £5 for each second class letter.

It is RECORDED delivery - NOT special delivery, insured delivery, overnight delivery, tracked delivery or any other sort of delivery.
Read the Royal Mail website - it tells you what exactly each type of delivery encompasses.

Start here:- http://www.royalmail.com/delivery/personal-delivery-options-uk

Actually even standard post has compensation against loss or damage if the item is allowable. Recorded is no different, it has neither more or less 'insurance'.

Azari

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

I do wish people would read the Ts & Cs for what they are buying ! Why do people complain when what they bought doesn't do what they thought it would, when they can't even be bothered to read about what they are buying ? If you want "compensation" (THAT word again !!) pay for that service.

Calm down, calm down.

I'm afraid your post merely indicates you haven't understood what was being said.

I wasn't complaining about the compensation per se, simply pointing out that you pay quite a bit extra and actually lose out because, whereas with an ordinary letter and COP, you can claim if the letter isn't delivered, if you fork out for RD they can turn your claim down so long as they have some signature.

So there is no extra compensation and the recording is all but useless because anyone can sign the slip (including the postie).

You could probably have "compensation" on all mail if you (and everyone else) were willing to pay £5 for each second class letter.

You really don't know much about RM, do you?

You can already get compensation for no more than the cost of a second class stamp.

NBLondon

Depends if you are the sender or the recipient...

If you are sending something and you suspect that the recipient will falsely deny receiving it then it may be worth a bit extra to get the signature.

When I used to sell light stuff on eBay (comics for example) I would include RD for that reason. The genuine buyer was prepared to pay and I was prepared to refund and chase RM if it was genuinely lost. Plus the PayPal rules insisted on a signature if you needed to defend against a false chargeback.

If it was a customer I already knew and trusted - then COP was enough.

Yeah - the signature could be complete rubbish and you'd have to collaborate with the recipient to challenge RM that the signature had been forged. A genuine buyer would do that - a chancer wouldn't bother, they just liked to chargeback quickly and have goods for free.