Parcel Postboxes

custardy

Saw this on RMs Twitter

https://www.royalmail.com/parcel-postboxes

No idea on the reason for the test area,likely to do with the collecting mail centres set up.
Pretty sure the only MC with the new parcel sort machine covers that area.

ballisticbrian

Not sure about fragile goods with such a system. They already take a big drop and "thud" going into a franked mailbox, but with those, you could end up with heavy items thumping on top as well.

custardy

ballisticbrian wrote: »

Not sure about fragile goods with such a system. They already take a big drop and "thud" going into a franked mailbox, but with those, you could end up with heavy items thumping on top as well.

Well then your packaging isnt up to the job.
Your item could end up at the bottom of a sleeved york with parcels being sorted on top. far more than that box can hold

NaughtiusMaximus

Surely you wouldn't get proof of postage with that which would rule it out as a viable option for ebay sellers (by far the biggest potential market).

ballisticbrian

Well then your packaging isnt up to the job.

It's strange the number of people that try to tell us what is or isn't up to the job, but we know exactly what is required to get something through the post in one piece because doing so economically is our business.

custardy

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

Surely you wouldn't get proof of postage with that which would rule it out as a viable option for ebay sellers (by far the biggest potential market).

was asked and yet to be answered on Twitter.
I note is specifically mentions barcoded parcels. So I wonder if bthey have considered handling them differently
Though I think it unlikely

custardy

ballisticbrian wrote: »

It's strange the number of people that try to tell us what is or isn't up to the job, but we know exactly what is required to get something through the post in one piece because doing so economically is our business.

Well then it will be fine going into the post box then????

mandy44d

Custardy why aren't online postage purchases treated as proof of posting? Surely they get scanned sometime when they're in the system just to confirm postage was paid, that must be logged somewhere and other than weight I'd assume that should be proof the item entered the postal chain.

soolin

mandy44d wrote: »

Custardy why aren't online postage purchases treated as proof of posting? Surely they get scanned sometime when they're in the system just to confirm postage was paid, that must be logged somewhere and other than weight I'd assume that should be proof the item entered the postal chain.

Proof of posting though requires some sort of proof item was posted-it isn't the same as buying postage.

mandy44d

Surely once that postage barcode is scanned by the system to confirm valid postage that'd be proof an item was posted. Only thing they'd do different at a PO would be to give you a receipt, not sure they re-weigh pre-stamped items when I've sent things before.

custardy

mandy44d wrote: »

Custardy why aren't online postage purchases treated as proof of posting? Surely they get scanned sometime when they're in the system just to confirm postage was paid, that must be logged somewhere and other than weight I'd assume that should be proof the item entered the postal chain.

you need to keep in mind RM is slow to modernise for various reasons.

So parcel scanning is relatively new.
I note the state barcoded parcels,so it possible parcels are segged and scanned at the mail centres.
Really it's not a big stretch to fit a postbox with solar panels/mains power and add scanners/data connections.
So you could have your items scanners before its dropped in.
you will note RM are simply using meter mail boxes at present,so little investment at this point.

An issue with relying on network scanning for POP is 2D barcodes are susceptible to poor printing/application rendering them unscannable.