New Royal Mail OBA customer

Dalglish1968

Soolin, please could I ask for your help? I'm a new Royal Mail business account customer and use click and drop. I'm getting really confused as to what items go in each mail sack. I've looked at the Royal Mail videos and they're confusing me even more.

Can all 2nd class letters, large letters and small parcels go in the same mail sack and can all 1st class letters, large letters and small parcels go in the same mail sack as International Standard letters, large letters and small parcels?

I drop off all my mail at the local Post Office and what they have advised seems totally different to the Royal Mail video guides.

Any help would be very much appreciated as I'm sinking without a trace.

soolin

I've moved this to a new thread.

I think it depends what system you are in, I use the non VAT system not averaged weight and have to use separate bags for everything. Then another 2 bags for large letters, another 2 for parcels and finally an overseas one.

Dalglish1968

Thanks ever so much for the reply. I too use the non VAT system and it sounds like what I've been doing is right but it just seems needlessly complicated. At this rate I'm going to be going through 70 bags a week!!

soolin

Dalglish1968 wrote: »

Thanks ever so much for the reply. I too use the non VAT system and it sounds like what I've been doing is right but it just seems needlessly complicated. At this rate I'm going to be going through 70 bags a week!!

It's really annoying. I'm a fairly low volume seller and can often have 5 bags all with no more than 2 things in each !

I did once accidentally put a parcel in a large letter bag and got a curt note on my account a few days later saying that if I did it again then I may be charged an inconvenience fee.

charlies_mum

Is the non VAT one using CRL and STL ? If so, that's what I use and I put all my first class into one bag and second class into another regardless of whether they are parcels or letters. International ones into a separate bag.

soolin

charlies_mum wrote: »

Is the non VAT one using CRL and STL ? If so, that's what I use and I put all my first class into one bag and second class into another regardless of whether they are parcels or letters. International ones into a separate bag.

From memory I think my codes are BPL but now I've written that I'm doubting myself!

The bag tags I have though have tick boxes for letter, large letter or parcel .

charlies_mum

I've just checked and my codes are BPL but if I have a heavy letter, I send it STL to stop the average being over 100g

soolin

charlies_mum wrote: »

I've just checked and my codes are BPL but if I have a heavy letter, I send it STL to stop the average being over 100g

I don't use an average system- can you mix them then as I was told I couldn't (but then they don't seem to actually understand all their schemes).

Mine are all fixed prices, they don't vary so each large letter up to 100g is a certain price and over 100 is another. I do have STL1 and STL2 as an option at the end of my available codes but have never used them.

When you look at your invoice breakdown how does it show any discounts for switching to STL? I might give them a ring after New Year and see if they can review my usage and explain how I can switch between schemes.

soolin

Incidentally, this is the guide I was told to use for my BPL prices;

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Royal--Mail-business-price-guide-mar-2018--40966142.pdf

Page 7 shows the fixed prices for UK BPL

This is the other scheme for STL mail

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Business-Mail-rate-card-March-2018-33822111.pdf

Then in that leaflet it says : † In order to qualify for a price based on number of items, items must be of the same service, class and format, and be contained on a single sales order

That also suggests that VAT is charged on the stated prices"Prices in this table exclude VAT, which is charged at the standard rate."

To be honest I am thoroughly confused andevery time I phone RM, assuming I can actually speak to someone who has a clue what they are doing, I just get more confused. I definitely don't want to be paying more than I need to though.

charlies_mum

I mix them and haven't had any problems. I just assumed it was based on averages as my manifests show


Service BPL01
Declared Average Weight 100g
X items

soolin

charlies_mum wrote: »

I mix them and haven't had any problems. I just assumed it was based on averages as my manifests show


Service BPL01
Declared Average Weight 100g
X items

My manifests show the different bands, so many at 100g so many at up to 250g etc (although once again I'm doubting myself now).

What does your invoice show, my monthly breakdowns show the exact prices for each individual item, so 70p for my large letters up to 100g for instance. Several pages of invoice all showing the individual cost of each package or letter I send

I definitely don't want to be paying more than I need to and it looks like I may need to place a call in the New Year to make sure I'm not missing out.

Hopefully other business sellers might be able to shed some light on the different schemes so I'm prepared when I talk to them. Although looking at the second price list I posted above I might not be a big enough seller to benefit as the price difference was slim for low volume sellers and by the time I added VAT onto the STL prices I might be worse of. Perhaps that's why they didn't suggest it for me as it looks like I would need several hundred over 250g packages per annum as an absolute minimum with no real benefit until I got into the 500g band, and that's a rare one for me.