Royal Mail new prices released

paulofessex

I am currently trying out myhermes and the 4 items l have sent over the last 6-7 days have arrived no later than 3 days. I must add however that l make use of the parcel shop to drop the parcels off, luckily l have 4 within my local area.

I am very dis-trusting of having couriers collect from the house anymore, too many missed-collections and the knock on effect this has on my customers.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

I'm an occasional ebay seller - just having a clear out and selling off a few bits here and there. Trying to make sense of the new RM prices - I've looked on the website and am totally confused. Am I right in thinking that a small packet will have to be less than 20cm long?

If I'm reading that correctly, that would mean a fairly light item (say, 400g) that will currently go 2nd class for a couple of quid, will no longer be eligible for small packet? I can't make sense of the website (despite the big friendly letters saying 'parcels made easy' :undecided ), but I'm thinking I will have to use a courier in future? I've used parcel2go a few times and their prices have worked out around the £3/£4 mark. Is this what RM see as the way forward?

alx2013

Small packet will have to be 450 x 350mm and maximum thickness 80mm.
Which is a pain when you are selling a large light item!

soolin

alx2013 wrote: »

Small packet will have to be 450 x 350mm and maximum thickness 80mm.
Which is a pain when you are selling a large light item!

Unless you use either of the exemptions, one for tubes and one for cubes 6x6x6 inches. Both exemptions are printed on the PDF but neither are on the guides issued by Royal Mail with the new size gauges.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

alx2013 wrote: »

Small packet will have to be 450 x 350mm and maximum thickness 80mm.
Which is a pain when you are selling a large light item!

That's larger than the guidelines I saw. I'm sure the bit I read said 20cm x 20cm. I told you it was confusing. Do you have a link to that page please?

soolin

*Rainbow*Warrior* wrote: »

That's larger than the guidelines I saw. I'm sure the bit I read said 20cm x 20cm. I told you it was confusing. Do you have a link to that page please?

1st post has the PDF link.

Small parcels can measure up to:
Length: 45cm Width: 35cm Depth: 8cm Weight limit: 2kg

alx2013

*Rainbow*Warrior* wrote: »

That's larger than the guidelines I saw. I'm sure the bit I read said 20cm x 20cm. I told you it was confusing. Do you have a link to that page please?

I just looked at the template I was sent, which I ordered here: http://www.royalmail.com/parcel-template-order-form

soolin

alx2013 wrote: »

I just looked at the template I was sent, which I ordered here: http://www.royalmail.com/parcel-template-order-form

The instructions that come with that template are incorrect in that they ignore the exemptions.

lovinituk

phil_jd wrote: »

I was told it was a single up front payment

It is unfortunately.

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

OK, I have not read all the thread so apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick here but I have just opened a business account with Royal Mail and there are no size restrictions. I have just started migrating back to eBay too following the introduction of Google Shopping's introduction of charges.

There is no parcel size with the RM account - just weight - so under 1kgs, 1250g, 1500g, 1750g and under 2kgs. As an example, I can sent a 1kg parcel (no size restriction) for £2.38 plus 2.5% fuel surcharge and VAT. As I am VAT registered it means I actually get postage for much less than I am paying now. I can access all other services and yesterday got a big box with all my Airsure/ISF/Recorded Delivery/Special Delivery labels. I still have to receive the software etc.... but I think they are completely overwhelmed with people asking for accounts ATM.

If you look at page 2 here...

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/RoyalMail_BusinessContractServices_April2013d.pdf

The non-RM24/48 service shows 'Small Parcel' and 'Medium Parcel' in the table therefore must be subject to the sizing restrictions. It is the RM24/48 services that are not subject to sizing which I already mentioned previously.

There is no software to install for an OBA, you just log on via the internet.

mrs_sparrow wrote: »

Just to pick up on this, I have been given a standard business account for 1000 parcel pa and my info tells me I am able to use all RM services including Letters/LL/RM24/48/RD/SD/SP/AS/ISF.... I just have to choose the service I want online from the account manager.

I was referring to the non-RM24/48 as the standard business service as that does not have the quantity requirements.

thewrongtrousers

custardy wrote: »

I warned people many times they wouldn't like whats coming
every time something changes.
folks are up in arms
did you really believe the hype that strikes etc were just about money?
Also to make it clear. If you want to compare prices then compare like for like.
Collect+ is a courier. with none of the legal/contractual ties of RM
Im not saying the price structure is how I would have done it(I would have went with a tiered tracked service personally) but this is what you have

And who should I compare them with?

They carry my parcels from A to B same as any other other parcel carrier, if they choose to be classed as something different that is their own doing not mine, I will compare them with others that provide the same or similar services e.g. Collect Plus, Myhermes etc.

Despatch Bay is reasonable priced if you send more then 2/3 items a day and they are all within the 16x16x16 size but they use RM for their small packet service so the sizes will be tied in exactly the same way.

The other thing with RM is the Next Day SD 2kg-10kg is £25.80 how can they justify there not being another band in there. Now don't get me wrong I understand the need for price rises but they have to be realistic. The way they have done it with the size restrictions has meant the cost of some items has almost doubled for me!!!

My local Parcelforce guy mentioned they were taking on at least 20mill parcels from the 100mill RM were losing, the other couriers will get the rest. It will be sink or swim for some of them if they can cope then there may well be some proper competition to Royal Mail in a few years.