Recorded delivery a waste of time?

Halloway

There is an interesting article on The Guardian website today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/consumer/story/0,,2164235,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

As someone who tends to use recorded delivery for the occasional CD sale, I am not sure I'll bother in the future. The article contains a quote which is a definite contender for 'Quote Of The Week':

""It is operationally impossible to keep records of items sent by recorded delivery," says a spokesman with unintended irony."

frivolous_fay

There's really no point using RD for anything ebay related... you're not insured any more than standard mail, and you can't guarantee you'll get a valid tracking number that paypal will accept!

frivolous_fay

'Anyone who needs to track the progress of a letter should stump up even more and choose registered post.'

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

abc

Halloway wrote: »

There is an interesting article on The Guardian website today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/consumer/story/0,,2164235,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

As someone who tends to use recorded delivery for the occasional CD sale, I am not sure I'll bother in the future. The article contains a quote which is a definite contender for 'Quote Of The Week':

""It is operationally impossible to keep records of items sent by recorded delivery," says a spokesman with unintended irony."

To be honest if I see someone sending by recorded delivery on a relatively low value item like a CD I would avoid the auction.

Like most people I would be at work during the day and it is inconvenient having to go to collect the item from the Royal Mail depot, I much prefer items that are just put through the letterbox!

If the seller charges higher postage fees to cover the recorded fee that is another thing to put me off the auction.

custardy

frivolous_fay wrote: »

'Anyone who needs to track the progress of a letter should stump up even more and choose registered post.'

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

the old definition of special delivery.
still referred to as 'regis' in the depots

tbh the biggest users of RD letters are debt companys who send out a 1st class and a 1st class RD letter(both the same) to make sure a copy is delivered.saturday its court citations however no red card are left for these if no answer.

one thing i will sayy in answer to the article.most large establishments like tax offices dont sign individually for RD's/SD's.
instead they get a print out with all the item numbers for that days delivery and sign this.
no signature will be uploaded onto rm's site for these

frivolous_fay

abc wrote: »

To be honest if I see someone sending by recorded delivery on a relatively low value item like a CD I would avoid the auction.

Like most people I would be at work during the day and it is inconvenient having to go to collect the item from the Royal Mail depot, I much prefer items that are just put through the letterbox!

Don't ever buy anything on ebay worth more than £32 then

RFW

Just posted something similar on another thread, but receiving/sending recorded is fairly pointless as far as I can tell, unless its for a legal letter that you need to know someone has received, even then in my experience that wouldn't always work.

As others I am not in when post is delivered, so a while ago postman asked if I wouldn't mind him signing for letter and putting it through for me.... I answered that wouldn't be a good idea, and I didn't mind collecting from post office, I go past it twice a day, its not a problem.

Next recorded, he left at a neighbour and got them to sign (and never told me!), this happened about 5 or 6 times and I complained every one, receiving the free book of stamps. I have also had a couple that have been returned to sender as they only hold for 7 days (even if the post office is closed for two of those days whilst on strike!!) and I was away for some of that time.

I don't see the point of anyone sending a cheque by recorded delivery unless speciically asked to do so (don't know why anyone would), you have a record of cheque clearance from your bank, there shouldn't be a problem knowing it has been received, a little more understandable with postal order but even then keep the order number and there shouldn;t be a problem. You only need to be able to trace the payment, not the receipt of payment!

Contains_Mild_Peril

I would tend not to bid on lowish value eBay items which would fit through the letterbox if the seller insists on Recorded delivery. As has been mentioned, as well as the extra expense it's much more convenient for customers if the item can be delivered whether or not they're at home.

custardy wrote: »

one thing i will sayy in answer to the article.most large establishments like tax offices dont sign individually for RD's/SD's.
instead they get a print out with all the item numbers for that days delivery and sign this.
no signature will be uploaded onto rm's site for these

That's a little worrying (as is the Guardian article). I've taken to using RD to communicate with HMRC since I've had problems in the past with them losing my paperwork then claiming it's my fault for failing to send it.

custardy

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

I would tend not to bid on lowish value eBay items which would fit through the letterbox if the seller insists on Recorded delivery. As has been mentioned, as well as the extra expense it's much more convenient for customers if the item can be delivered whether or not they're at home.

That's a little worrying (as is the Guardian article). I've taken to using RD to communicate with HMRC since I've had problems in the past with them losing my paperwork then claiming it's my fault for failing to send it.

it should still update as delivered on the RM site though.
trust me i have daily dealings with companies/customers saying they didnt get x item and more often than not once ive followed the trail they have/had it.
had another RM dept telling me they hadnt got a special delivery.i knew i had sent it myself.
after 3 days of bouncing back and forth they found it on someones desk. however had i not recalled the item i wouldnt have been able to argue my point so strongly