Large Letters and going through the slot....

mrcol1000

I know this has probably been done to death but I wondered if anyone could tell me exactly what the policy is. I am talking about Royal Mail's policy not the lottery that is post office counter staff.

I have an item. I have measured it at exactly 2.5cm which is the max for large letters. In the mail bag it will go through put needs pulling through quite hard to get through. I put my own stamps and post in the post box on so not worried about arguments in the post office.

it really comes down to that this item is probably not viable to sell myself unless it goes as a large letter. However I do not want angry customers who have to pay a surcharge.

Just wondered if anyone had actual knowledge and a define answer to this? Looked on various forums and Google and it seems to be at the will of whoever serves you in the post office.

HappyMJ

What's wrong with sending it as a parcel? £2.80.

If a customer gets a surcharge you will get a negative review. Either reduce your packaging or make it as parcel and include it in your price.

25mm is pushing the limits...they won't allow 25.1mm it must be under 25mm.

ballisticbrian

When it started out, items could not be forced through the slot but had to drop. I think it was just over a year ago, that changed and the item could be put through the slot by pushing it. Some post offices will still tell you the old way. I believe that if you give the PO staff a jiffy bag with loose items in it, they are still allowed to shake them down to one end before putting it through the slot.
Our sensible post office, tells you it goes through but then warns you that you still might get a surcharge.

soolin

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I know this has probably been done to death but I wondered if anyone could tell me exactly what the policy is. I am talking about Royal Mail's policy not the lottery that is post office counter staff.

I have an item. I have measured it at exactly 2.5cm which is the max for large letters. In the mail bag it will go through put needs pulling through quite hard to get through. I put my own stamps and post in the post box on so not worried about arguments in the post office.

it really comes down to that this item is probably not viable to sell myself unless it goes as a large letter. However I do not want angry customers who have to pay a surcharge.

Just wondered if anyone had actual knowledge and a define answer to this? Looked on various forums and Google and it seems to be at the will of whoever serves you in the post office.

Frankly if you are sending this successfully with no issues I would continue - the first time you get a surcharge have a rethink. My local mail centre seem to take anything that will fit through the slot, even if it needs a bit of a hand, my local PO though (now in new hands as they couldn't make a go of it) would barely take anything.

HappyMJ wrote: »

What's wrong with sending it as a parcel? £2.80.

If a customer gets a surcharge you will get a negative review. Either reduce your packaging or make it as parcel and include it in your price.

25mm is pushing the limits...they won't allow 25.1mm it must be under 25mm.

The issue is that the difference between a £2.80 parcel and 74p large letter is enough to make certain items non viable on ebay. When pricing in proportion came in I actually had to give up some of my lines as it just wasn't economically viable to charge as a parcel.

celestius

I have sold around 80 similar items, they go through but they don't slip through, they need a little help (I have one of those cardboard item size guides so it's not perfect)

I have been pulled up on it once and the Ebay buyer contacted me. I apologised and immediately refunded the surcharge and did not get any negative feedback/low stars.

Racheya

I do this all the time, I post a lot of t-shirts and clothes that can be flattened out into a mail bag & fit in large letter size. I use the self-serve machines at the post office so there's never really any argument.

I've always found if you can push/pull the bag through, there isn't really a problem. I've never had a surcharge. I am worried about the clothes bunching up in the bag by the time the postie gets it, but it's not been an issue yet.

mrcol1000

Thanks for your thoughts. This is a new item.which I haven't started selling yet, It looks like it should go through easily but it just has two corners that just seem to right on the limit that make it difficult. It doesn't seem to matter which way its folded.

kalsha

Racheya wrote: »

I am worried about the clothes bunching up in the bag by the time the postie gets it, but it's not been an issue yet.

One way to stop this happening is to wrap the item of clothing round a thin cardboard. I usually use thin cardboard ie from cereal boxes. Cut the cardboard slightly smaller than the mailing bag and when you fold the item of clothing, put the cardboard inside so that nothing moves. When you seal the bag, make sure there is not much room for movement. This way the clothing will not have a chance to bunch up.

princesse_sarah_x

I've had the same argument at my local PO, I use various ones between being at uni and at home, I either use self service machines when i'm at uni or otherwise the staff have never had a problem with large letters. The PO at home on the other hand are very picky and often try to charge me small parcel price when I know they will definitely fit through. I've never had any surcharges though, so I'd say it depends on the staff at your PO but usually they are fine