Why does Royal Mail sell tracked postage online if it still needs to be taken to a post office ?

r0b0c0p

I bought and printed out Royal Mail 'signed for' large letter postage online yesterday for some fairly valuable items. I usually just take things & pay at the post office but my local one has just closed due to CV19.
I figured I could just put them in the pillar box, which I did and they have been collected. But to my dismay I just discovered that the tracking part of 'signed for' postage only starts if you take it to a post office to begin its journey. So as far as I can see my items will not be tracked or covered to the level that I paid for..
I was just wondering why royal mail can't start the tracking process for things that have been put in a pillar box. I mean, they still go through sorting offices where things get scanned. It's annoying as I figured it was the perfect answer in the current situation while going to post offices is way more awkward, seeing as some of them are closing and the queues are a nightmare. Seems so stupid that Royal Mail wouldn't let us take full advantage of using pillar boxes for these reasons at the moment.

Just venting really haha. Has anyone found good alternatives to Royal Mail for tracked postage that is around the same price? Hermes does envelopes now, but they charge a lot more than Royal Mail of you want insurance of say £50 on an item.
Cheers!



I

 

KxMx

Signed For doesn't track throughout. 
Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 

https://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/signed-for/what-tracking-do-i-get

You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

Spoonie_Turtle

You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation.

r0b0c0p

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

Spoonie_Turtle

r0b0c0p said:

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

This is true, unless it goes missing before the first scan (unlikely but not impossible). It would be interesting to hear what RM think, definitely - might be worth asking them on Twitter, perhaps?

custardy

r0b0c0p said:

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

It gets a scan at the delivery office. It has pretty much finished its journey at that point.
Why do you want to speak to a Post Office representative? Why do you think its impossible?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

custardy said:

r0b0c0p said:

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

It gets a scan at the delivery office. It has pretty much finished its journey at that point.
Why do you want to speak to a Post Office representative? Why do you think its impossible?

But I'm sure you know the 2D barcodes can be scanned at the mail centre.

Royal Mail want proof of posting in order for a claim to be valid (beyond offering a book of stamps), if you don't have a COP but the item was scanned during it's travels it would be obvious it was posted.  Getting Royal Mail to share that data is the difficult part given they fob you off at the best of times... 

custardy

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

custardy said:

r0b0c0p said:

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

It gets a scan at the delivery office. It has pretty much finished its journey at that point.
Why do you want to speak to a Post Office representative? Why do you think its impossible?

But I'm sure you know the 2D barcodes can be scanned at the mail centre.

Royal Mail want proof of posting in order for a claim to be valid (beyond offering a book of stamps), if you don't have a COP but the item was scanned during it's travels it would be obvious it was posted.  Getting Royal Mail to share that data is the difficult part given they fob you off at the best of times... 

Of course I do.
I also know not all mail centres have parcel sorting machines and not all mail is manually scanned.

soolin

custardy said:ft

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

custardy said:

r0b0c0p said:

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

It gets a scan at the delivery office. It has pretty much finished its journey at that point.
Why do you want to speak to a Post Office representative? Why do you think its impossible?

But I'm sure you know the 2D barcodes can be scanned at the mail centre.

Royal Mail want proof of posting in order for a claim to be valid (beyond offering a book of stamps), if you don't have a COP but the item was scanned during it's travels it would be obvious it was posted.  Getting Royal Mail to share that data is the difficult part given they fob you off at the best of times... 

Of course I do.
I also know not all mail centres have parcel sorting machines and not all mail is manually scanned.

Mine being one of them. If I take signed for to either the counter in the mail centre or drop it off in my bags I don’t get any scan until delivery. If I want something scanned earlier then I have to take it to a Post Office .

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

soolin said:

custardy said:ft

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

custardy said:

r0b0c0p said:

KxMx said:

Signed For doesn't track throughout. Just at the Post Office, then a signature on delivery. 
You are still getting what you paid for, a signature on delivery. 

OK that makes sense (although in my experience 'signed for' does still show useful progress through the network when you check the tracking number, and shows no answer at door etc), the other thing that 'signed for' offers is insurance up to £50 instead of £20 for normal post. Do you think that is still in place without Post Office proof of postage? I will be interested to see if a copy of the signature still shows up on the tracking page after it's been delivered too.

Spoonie_Turtle said: You need to post them at a PO for proof of postage; without that, anyone could buy postage, not post it, then claim the item got lost when in fact it's still in their possession. Not that this helps you, of course, but just by way of explanation. 

I get this to a point, but the thing is, signed-for has a barcode and associated number on the label. As soon as this barcode gets scanned at a sorting office, then surely that should link the purchase of the service to evidence that the item has actually entered the postal system. so that would be evidence that it has been sent and entered the system, even though it did not start at a Post Office.

It would be nice to speak to a post office representative of course, but that is nigh-on impossible at the moment.

It gets a scan at the delivery office. It has pretty much finished its journey at that point.
Why do you want to speak to a Post Office representative? Why do you think its impossible?

But I'm sure you know the 2D barcodes can be scanned at the mail centre.

Royal Mail want proof of posting in order for a claim to be valid (beyond offering a book of stamps), if you don't have a COP but the item was scanned during it's travels it would be obvious it was posted.  Getting Royal Mail to share that data is the difficult part given they fob you off at the best of times... 

Of course I do.
I also know not all mail centres have parcel sorting machines and not all mail is manually scanned.

Mine being one of them. If I take signed for to either the counter in the mail centre or drop it off in my bags I don’t get any scan until delivery. If I want something scanned earlier then I have to take it to a Post Office .

The scan referred to is not visible to you as a customer, it's an internal acceptance scan of the 2D barcode and as far as I know applies to all mail with a 2D barcode (where scanned), rather than just Signed For mail. 

It certainly applies to RM24/48 (CRL codes) and I've once squeezed data out of customer services for standard over the counter 2nd Class purchased via the consumer Click and Drop site. 

Point being it's proof of posting but only Royal Mail, famous for doing their best to get out of paying claims, can see it.