Recorded delivery and 'track and trace'

pinkshoes

custardy wrote: »

unfortunatly many people seem to think RD is fully tracked.
however the service costs 70p and is called recorded delivery.
it provides proof of delivery and nothing else.

Actually, in practice it provides either proof of delivery, OR confirms that RM have lost it, which seems to happen rather alot nowadays!

RadoJo

I think it is a little misleading, because the service is called 'Track and Trace' whether or not that is possible. For Special delivery, it really does track and trace the item, but for recorded (which, as someone rightly pointed out is just first class with a signature) it can only report a signature. The fact that they call it the same thing regardless is a pain in the bum, as it does imply that the same service is available for both - maybe a little pressure could be exerted on RM to make the distinction clearer?

custardy

so calling the service 'we put the confirmation of delivery here' would make people think its not tracked?
i dont think so.its called recorded delivery and it does just that.
yes i know people think its fully tracked but changing the name of the tracking system will not change that IMO

PBA

RadoJo wrote: »

I think it is a little misleading, because the service is called 'Track and Trace'

Repeating something does not make it fact. Track & Trace is used for Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked. Recorded Signed For (a different service, and what the OP chose) is available for first or second class mail.

http://track.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400145&mediaId=15400383

RadoJo

PBA wrote: »

Repeating something does not make it fact. Track & Trace is used for Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked. Recorded Signed For (a different service, and what the OP chose) is available for first or second class mail.

http://track.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400145&mediaId=15400383

Sorry - I can see from the link you have provided that I didn't explain myself properly! What I meant is that when you go onto the website, the page that you go to is called 'Track and Trace' whether you have a recorded delivery or special. I know that they don't call it that when you send the item, but when you go to check the progress, it gives the impression that the system is the same for both methods of posting because you enter the number on the same web-page with the heading 'Track and Trace'. I presume that this is becuase they use the same technology for both, but if you are already unsure about the differences between the two delivery methods, this compounds the problem by making them seem as though they are both dealt with in the same way.
Hope that has cleared up any confusion about my initial post!:beer:

custardy

end of the day its not secret that RD isnt tracked.
the expanation of the service is given on the rm site and (i hope) most PO counters could expain the differences.
as ive said before you cant get full tracking for 70p

RadoJo

I think that's the problem though - because the difference in price is so much greater between Recorded and Special than it is between 1st and recorded, people think they are saving money on the service, which works perfectly until the odd occasion when something goes missing!
In reality, no matter which method of delivery you have opted for, it is a real pain when something isn't delivered as expected and the sender, naturally, wants to find someone to blame. Even though RM may make it clear that the services aren't the same, effectively there is no absolute guarantee that nothing will happen to your package in transit, even with a courier or if you take it yourself, so you are paying for the peace of mind that you will be compensated if the package goes missing or is damaged. With a birthday card, it may be annoying if it isn't received, but is it worth paying the extra to guarantee it? However, with items of sentimental value, no amount of compensation from RM would really make up for a loss, so you have to balance out the pros and cons.

In the same way that your insurance is based on the level of risk you are prepared to accept yourself. With postage, you think you have got a great deal for the 99% of times that things work out well, but when things go wrong, you have to make do with the cover you paid for!

katiekittykat

Recorded delivery is not guarenteed to be next day it takes 1- 2 working days ( i know it took longer with yours!)

Info:


http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400028&mediaId=500201

It doesn't say "track and trace" anywhere on that!!!!


This is guarenteed next day:

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400028&mediaId=400026

rhodod

i bought a ps3 2 weeks ago from a woman online. She had problems posting it and eventually posted it last thursday. Now she gave me a tracking number and when i enter it into royal mail it suggests its a recorded sign for track and trace, however i cant find out any information as it hasnt been delivered yet.

So either

a) Royal mail are slow or lost it

b) She is lying and has ripped me off.

Either way im out of £255.00 and no ps3

any ideas on what i should do?

smcaul

Recorded (signed for) or Special Delivery? They are 2 very different products. Recorded (or now called signed for) just collects a signature from the delivery address (remember that RM deliver to addresses not people), it gives no guarantees for delivery times and lost items are restricted to £36.

Special delivery is a by 1pm or 9am if extra is paid and has built in £500 compensation. So you really need to find out which one she used. Either way it is up to her to chase the item if it has not been delivered as RM will deal only with her as she posted the item and as such the contract for delivery is between her and RM.