Royal mail consultation on increasing small parcel size

Repeat3Times

Can someone cleverer than me clarify the posting box size rules please? I bought a few last year, ones that previously qualified as small packets. However now I want to post something again, I'm learning that the dimension rules have changed.

Two Postpak boxes, one "small posting box", 264x180x103mm, the other a "Medium Parcel" box, 368x260x160mm. Am I right to understand that both will now count as medium parcels when I take them to the Post Office? And is there any other issue to consider given that the box is going to Austria?

Thanks in advance.

Cornucopia

The Post Office gives this info:-

Small Parcel, Wide option: Length: 45cm, Width: 35cm, Depth: 8cm
Small Parcel, Deep option: Length: 35cm, Width: 25cm, Depth: 16cm

Up to 2kg in both cases.

AFAICS, your first box fits the Deep option, and your second box is too big (will be a Medium Parcel). Don't know about overseas, sorry.

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/small-parcels?intcampaignid=homecar03link1

Repeat3Times

Cornucopia wrote: »

Small Parcel, Deep option: Length: 35cm, Width: 25cm, Depth: 16cm

AFAICS, your first box fits the Deep option

Thanks for this. You're absolutely right, of course...and now I feel suitably thick for not noticing despite having read the same page numerous times. :doh:

soolin

The parcel dimensions stated are for Inland postal prices only and do not apply for overseas postage.

ailey

I've just had a look at my Royal Mail leaflet and for International postage:

Items measuring up to 60 cm in length and weight limit 2 kg. There is also a tube measurement.

Check out https://www.royalmail.com and you can enter your details under 'Get a Price' where you enter the country the parcel is heading to, weight etc.

amjustagirl

vacheron wrote: »

Many months ago, when small/medium parcels first came in, I took a parcel back across the P/O counter when told it was going to cost £15.10 to send a 2.2kg parcel measuring 20x15x10cm without tracking.

I went across the street and sent it for £4.80, fully tracked using Collect+ instead.

The staff mentioned that dozens of people were doing this and they were losing customers "in droves".

I guess it just took a long time to filter back up to the idiots that made that decision in the first place!

I've recently changed to collect plus for larger parcels, sick of Royal Mail rip off prices

Repeat3Times

soolin wrote: »

The parcel dimensions stated are for Inland postal prices only and do not apply for overseas postage.

ailey wrote: »

I've just had a look at my Royal Mail leaflet and for International postage:

Items measuring up to 60 cm in length and weight limit 2 kg. There is also a tube measurement.

Check out www.royalmail.com and you can enter your details under 'Get a Price' where you enter the country the parcel is heading to, weight etc.

Back to being lost again!

Ailey: That price checker is an obvious and good idea but, like much of the RM site, feels incomplete and not quite definitive enough. I can select a country, enter the weight of the box, but the next options have 'small packet' stated, nothing about 'medium parcel'. Perhaps it's too ambitious to suggest they ask for box dimensions, weight and destination on the website?

I feel like I've wasted enough time and killed too many brain cells on this already so I'll probably chalk it off as a lesson (not) learned.

campdave

There's no such thing as a medium parcel abroad.