International Postage Royal Mail - Quirks!

firesidemaid

Hi all.

Just wanted to see if it was me...........

I have a RM International leaflet dated from 31/03/14 which states that for International Signed, Tracked or Tracked & Signed you just add £5.00 on to the postage cost.

Today i have been to the P/O and have had to pay significantly more than this and i'm confused let me explain......

It's going to Spain in the EU which at up to 1.5 kg should be £15.95 for Tracked and Signed, but because this service is not offered to Spain (but it is to Portugal) I have to pay £19.14 for just Tracked.

What is the difference between these services? Why is it more to an EU country than a non-EU european country. Since when did Spain differ? Who else differs and how easy is it to know this and price accordingly?

Also, the leaflet that details all this that the lady in the P/O gave me is also dated 31/03/14

I am really confused Thanks for your feedback in advance

custardy

All the services are listed here

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/international-delivery

firesidemaid

Thanks Custardy.

But, I still can't find an easy list of the countries (33 for one service and 43 for another) that each of the services applies to.

I would appreciate it if anyone does have a link to these specifics, thanks.

custardy

http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/RoyalMail_International_TrackedCoverage_Jan2014.pdf

firesidemaid

Wow. Thanks once again.

Looks like i've been a bit unlucky - Spain is one of the few European countries that doesn't have tracked & signed.

I wonder why just Tracked is dearer than Tracked & Signed? There are some oddities on that list.

I'm trying to think how easy it would be (or not) to put a dearer price for some specific countries on ebay - i would be interested in knowing what other users do.

My main problem is when a sale price far exceeds what i expect and then i require extra insurance - i am usually just grateful and absorb the extra cost myself. It would seem strange to add to the end of a listing....'if the sale price exceeds blah or blah then you will have to pay £x more for postage' - or does anybody do this?

steviebabes

Tracked is the old Airsure and this was classed as a premium service so attracted VAT hence the difference. I always use signed for to Spain and have not had any problems.

TKPeters

firesidemaid wrote: »

Hi all.

Just wanted to see if it was me...........

I have a RM International leaflet dated from 31/03/14 which states that for International Signed, Tracked or Tracked & Signed you just add £5.00 on to the postage cost.

Today i have been to the P/O and have had to pay significantly more than this and i'm confused let me explain......

It's going to Spain in the EU which at up to 1.5 kg should be £15.95 for Tracked and Signed, but because this service is not offered to Spain (but it is to Portugal) I have to pay £19.14 for just Tracked.

What is the difference between these services? Why is it more to an EU country than a non-EU european country. Since when did Spain differ? Who else differs and how easy is it to know this and price accordingly?

Also, the leaflet that details all this that the lady in the P/O gave me is also dated 31/03/14

I am really confused Thanks for your feedback in advance

"Tracked" within the EU attracts VAT, outside the EU VAT is not applicable.
The only Non-VAT RM Service to Spain is Signed For which is trackable on Correos Post