Ebay - Printing postage from eBay and sending via Royal Mail

retireby35

I used the 'Print your label now' capability from eBay at the weekend as I had lots of packages to send. Printed my Royal Mail package labels (it auto put a tracking number on the packages) and took them to the Post office. They asked me if I wanted proof of postages for these parcels, but I thought I already had through the barcodes and tracking references?!?! Most of the parcels I sent was the £2.95 2nd small parcel (not signed for). Thanks!

soolin

retireby35 said:

I used the 'Print your label now' capability from eBay at the weekend as I had lots of packages to send. Printed my Royal Mail package labels (it auto put a tracking number on the packages) and took them to the Post office. They asked me if I wanted proof of postages for these parcels, but I thought I already had through the barcodes and tracking references?!?! Most of the parcels I sent was the £2.95 2nd small parcel (not signed for). Thanks!

Yes you need proof of posting in case items are lost or you need to defend a PayPal claim for fraudulent use. Proof of buying postage is not the same as proof of postage, that requires the Post Office to confirm you have actually posted the items. 

One other thing, standard parcels do not have tracking, they just have delivery confirmation assuming items arrive. I understand why people use the term tracking, but we really need to have a different phrase to refer the delivery confirmation number. 

retireby35

Nooooooooo!!! I hope they aren't lost en route!! Thanks for the reply - it really isn't clear!

custardy

Is it not the case you get a proof of posting sheet when you print your postage?

soolin

custardy said:

Is it not the case you get a proof of posting sheet when you print your postage?

I think you can opt in to print a sheet that the PO stamp when you drop off. When I used to use it in the past I would just fill out the usual multi line POP sheet and get them to stamp that, rather than waste paper doing one sheet per order. 

Spoonie_Turtle

custardy said:

Is it not the case you get a proof of posting sheet when you print your postage?

You do but it's not valid unless the Post Office stamps it.

custardy

Spoonie_Turtle said:

custardy said:

Is it not the case you get a proof of posting sheet when you print your postage?

You do but it's not valid unless the Post Office stamps it.

Yes I know. More if its there just  print it with postage and get it stamped nice and quick.
Personally I avoid the POs and  drop off at delivery offices where possible. My local rarely has more than 1 or 2 in the queue.

Chekov_42

OK to reply to several threads at once, if you print out Royal Mail postage at home yes you do get a 'proof of postage' on the sheet, but unless you get it stamped at a post office it's not valid, as 'custardy' said. The general reference you get on a Post Office receipt is just that, general, you can't track the parcel with it, a proper 'tracked' service costs extra.

On a good note, since lockdown eBay have been offering Hermes collection at no extra cost (it's normally about 60 to 80p extra rather than taking it down to nearest Hermes drop off point) This is a time limited offer but over the last two weeks or so as a serial eBayer I have noticed they are charging stupidly low prices? Have sent many items of late for £1.45 for up to 2Kg. It all appears to be above board I have all my eBay receipts and screenshots saved and have had feedback on delivered items so they've definitely got there. Software glitch maybe? They will spot it soon surely, make hay while the sun shines...!

Kontro

Chekov_42 said:

On a good note, since lockdown eBay have been offering Hermes collection at no extra cost (it's normally about 60 to 80p extra rather than taking it down to nearest Hermes drop off point) This is a time limited offer but over the last two weeks or so as a serial eBayer I have noticed they are charging stupidly low prices? Have sent many items of late for £1.45 for up to 2Kg. It all appears to be above board I have all my eBay receipts and screenshots saved and have had feedback on delivered items so they've definitely got there. Software glitch maybe? They will spot it soon surely, make hay while the sun shines...!

Not a glitch. There's a half-price offer on postage from eBay through Packlink - applies for Hermes, UPS and DPD. Your hay can be made until 30th June.