Royal Mail new prices released

soolin

paulofessex wrote: »

Soolin, can l ask, have you managed to source a new gauge as yet. Have seen a couple on ebay but clearly not official ones.

Regards

I asked yesterday at my mail centre and they told me that RM haven't even got any for the Post offices yet- let alone selling them on. However, that doesn't tally at all with someone whose post office have already received theirs.

I can't see any unofficial ones yet for sale- but I think I broke ebay search a long while ago


EDIT: Just found one on ebay - I think I'll wait for an official one

Kite2010

With that 6-inch cube exception, I'm assuming it's going to be just cubes of 6x6x6 which can go as small parcels and not say a 6x6x5 box?

soolin

Kite2010 wrote: »

With that 6-inch cube exception, I'm assuming it's going to be just cubes of 6x6x6 which can go as small parcels and not say a 6x6x5 box?

I read it to be any box that does not exceed 6 inches on any side. I have bought 6x6x6 boxes as they will be my template for what i can sell before I use MyHermes. I do already have smaller boxes (no sides above 6 inches) that i can carry on using.

Three sizes of boxes I have in stock will now only be suitable for MyHermes as they have at least one side larger than 6 inches. Unfortunately only a few weeks ago I took delivery of new stock of a 7x6x5 box, even though it was not one I used a lot of. I can see my having that stock for years now.

Godness knows how you measure a large squashy item :eek:

custardy

soolin wrote: »

Godness knows how you measure a large squashy item :eek:

I'm about 5' 10"

ballisticbrian

soolin wrote: »

Godness knows how you measure a large squashy item :eek:

I expect it will fall under the "goes through a slot under it's own weight" rule, like a PIP postage slot?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

After wednesday I am only listing thin items of clothing etc ,( so will be under the 8cm guide when packed) until I can get my RM business account up and running.

soolin

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I expect it will fall under the "goes through a slot under it's own weight" rule, like a PIP postage slot?

I was thinking more of items trying to use the exemption of the 6 inch rule (apologies to you young ones, I can't think in cms) , that will not have a slot to measure them against.

So I arrive with say a small cushion something like the weeny ones they use in the US to carry wedding rings, it is in a jiffy bag but too fat to go through the 8cm slot- but I measure it as having all sides less than 13 cms (trying hard with this new fangled measurement now) , but how do your ensure the Post office precisely measure it?

soolin

I am also worried that my earlier optimism about people being aware of these changes is incorrect. Someone on a Facebook selling page asked whether anyone had seen any announcement about post office prices yet, so I posted a link to the PDF.

A small , rather disinterested discussion has started but with a lot of people basically saying that they do not think the PO staff will stick to these limits as they are so daft- so to carry on as normal.

It did make me think though that couriers may be more worthwhile than I had originally thought. I have one item that weighs less than 100g packed but is currently a packet at £2.20, a few of my competitors charge recorded on top, so £3.15. That will now be £2.60 for me but those using recorded will be charged £3.70 . So basically using MyHermes for trackign (and dropping off at a shop) will be around £3 . That is for a very small, sub £10 item weighing around 75g packed.

macfly

phil_jd wrote: »

Small post offices are allowed to refuse parcels on health and safety grounds if they haven't got space for them. So question I'm weighing up is 'Do I pay Royal Mail £775+VAT for collection? If so, do I do it now or wait and see if I have a problem and then have a panic in December when they're refused and have to see if I can get collections arranged then?'

Someone is having you on re health and safety. However, if they can't be held in a secure area, then anything can be refused in any PO.
You should be dealing with Royal Mail direct, as you will be paying them directly. Either collection or drop off.

soolin

The facebook discussion has got interested and I think I'll have to bow out of it as supposedly I am scaremongering. Apparently someone on there who sells soft baby toys (so large and bulky but light) has been assured by her local Post office that these new limits won't apply to her due to the weight of the parcel and that anyone saying differently is wrong as it is both weight and size that need to be assessed, not just size. Apparently being expected to pay £6.75 for 1st class signed for is a misreading of the suggested price increases and in fact in most cases her prices will not increase by more than a few pence. However the majority of goods in this woman's shop are large and squashy, like large soft play balls and those square things that have flaps and pictures and are about 8 inches square unwrapped.

I fear there is going to be a lot of problems in the week or so after Easter.