Free RM Parcel Collect - Extended to 30/04/2024

Exodi

soolin said:

None of the machines I’ve ever found in a PO can do receipts for pre paid postage. for me it would be a real time saver as my local post office is now getting out of hand again with queues, 40 minutes is now considered normal. Add to that the fact that my local mail centre now have very short opening times and RM is becoming an issue for me. 

Yes, on the few unfortunate occasions I've been forced to queue, this is usually the case.

It is nearly always the same types of people, let's just say similar to those already described in this thread.

During Covid, I remember I was waiting near a banking branch (Santander I believe) who had two staff stood outside, greeting customers and asking what it was they needed to. One such customer was an OAP who wanted to withdraw money, and they steered him to the ATM outside and guided him through withdrawing money there.

It's loosely similar concept with the post office, people that are taking money out, paying bills, sending letters or domestic packages, etc could do so without queuing in the post office (though appreciate practically it's probably hard for a post office employer to advise on using a third party ATM, or advising how to set up a direct debit with someone that can barely see). I also appreciate it's a conflict of interest (e.g. staff advising customers how to do things without them, effectively making their jobs redundant).

I don't know what the answer is, I just vividly remember losing the will to live every time I enter a post office and have to queue behind 7 people who want to check their balance and take out £20 for pet food.

soolin

jon81uk said:

soolin said:

jon81uk said:

zackary71 said:

Just a heads up Royal Mail's free parcel collect service is due to end next Tuesday. 

"Parcel Collect is FREE when you book online between 00:01 on 30.06.2023 and 23:59 on 15.08.2023. Promotion does not apply to customers with an Online Business Account."

It's been extended before, and it would be a no-brainer to extend it given the traffic it generates...from my end at least. Worth factoring in on postage pricing, especially if the days of queuing up behind 5 Senior Citizens getting their pensions returns !!

Just as an FYI there are other options besides the post office queue or collection. You can print the label yourself and put it in a parcel post box (use the app to get proof of posting for small parcel), you can use the QR code or print and go to the sorting office desk. Both of these get the cheaper direct with Royal Mail pricing too. Or if you do go to Post Office, use the self-service machine where available to avoid the old biddy queue.

None of the machines I’ve ever found in a PO can do receipts for pre paid postage. for me it would be a real time saver as my local post office is now getting out of hand again with queues, 40 minutes is now considered normal. Add to that the fact that my local mail centre now have very short opening times and RM is becoming an issue for me. 

Yes I meant if you do go to the Post Office to purchase the postage there. I've not tried pre-paid at the post office as the delivery office is closer to me or I use a parcel postbox.

Thank you for clarifying. I was confused as this thread is specifically about Royal Mail 24 or 48 which is not available from the Post office . I would never use the PO machines for parcels anyway as Post office parcels are more expensive than RM online prices. 

Doc_N

This is currently shown as ending on 31 January 2024. Any inside information on a possible extension?

soolin

Doc_N said:

This is currently shown as ending on 31 January 2024. Any inside information on a possible extension?

I have been watching for news but haven’t seen anything yet. I haven’t checked the RM page today though as I’m away, but I will have a look. It’s a shame if it ends as I rather liked the ability to have items collected if I knew I was going to have a busy day. 

pfpf

what does it cost when it isn't "free"?

soolin

pfpf said:

what does it cost when it isn't "free"?

It’s been so long since they charged that I can’t recall at all. I saw someone on another site say 70p (per item) but that seems a bit steep. 

EDIT I’ve just tried booking a collection for Thursday (Feb) and it still shows as free. So perhaps it has been extended and I’ve just missed the announcement. 

EDIT (2nd) it looks like when they last charged it was 72 p per item. 

RFW

soolin said:

pfpf said:

what does it cost when it isn't "free"?

It’s been so long since they charged that I can’t recall at all. I saw someone on another site say 70p (per item) but that seems a bit steep. 

Looking it up it was 72p.

Business collection can cost £220 plus Vat per year. I'm supposed to qualify for free collections but they never get back to me to arrange anything. The depot I use is near my son's school so it's easy enough for me to drop off most of the time.

soolin

If they do start charging then I will go back to doing a P0 or mail centre drop every day , it was only laziness that made me use the occasional collection. I found I was booking collection about once, sometimes twice a week at most  and mainly when I had large items or a lot of items to go. 

As I mentioned above, if there is a charge going forward we will start seeing a disparity or postage costs again as some people rely entirely on the collection so will have to charge the extra, plus eBay FBFs, and try and compete against sellers who pay less and can drop off. 

vacheron

I've grown very fond of the free RM 24/48 collections especially because I know that our works postman (who I now know know very well!) will always collect during office hours and 95% of the time between 1-2pm. This means I can have my home parcels collected from my work address when I know I will be there, whereas other budget couriers are often trying to knock on a (clearly closed) office premises door at 9-10 in the evening!

They are still also the cheapest option too once you are in the 1-2KG and £20-£150 insured value range, and in many cases it is just easier for me to pay slightly more and have what would have been an Evri drop all collected together by RM as it saves me a parcel locker trip.

If they resort to charging for collections the cost difference beween them and Evri for lighter and cheaper items, will probably mean an end to me doing these "convenience upgrades", however for items valued at between £70-£150 they will probably still remain cheaper even with, say, a sub £1 collection fee compared to upping the insurance value on the other couriers.

Long may it continue!

PS. I think it would be fair if the collection fee is waived for any additional parcels collected from the same customer at the same address on the same day. Not sure if they would consider, or could easily implement, that though?

Money_Grabber13579

vacheron said:

I've grown very fond of the free RM 24/48 collections especially because I know that our works postman (who I now know know very well!) will always collect during office hours and 95% of the time between 1-2pm. This means I can have my home parcels collected from my work address when I know I will be there, whereas other budget couriers are often trying to knock on a (clearly closed) office premises door at 9-10 in the evening!

They are still also the cheapest option too once you are in the 1-2KG and £20-£150 insured value range, and in many cases it is just easier for me to pay slightly more and have what would have been an Evri drop all collected together by RM as it saves me a parcel locker trip.

If they resort to charging for collections the cost difference beween them and Evri for lighter and cheaper items, will probably mean an end to me doing these "convenience upgrades", however for items valued at between £70-£150 they will probably still remain cheaper even with, say, a sub £1 collection fee compared to upping the insurance value on the other couriers.

Long may it continue!

PS. I think it would be fair if the collection fee is waived for any additional parcels collected from the same customer at the same address on the same day. Not sure if they would consider, or could easily implement, that though?

Was it not always 72p per collection rather than per parcel? Apparently you can book a collection for 1 item and then give the postman any additional parcels you may have (although you don’t get emailed proof of postage confirmation of the additional parcels). However, if it was per parcel, I wonder how that would work if they started charging again? Can’t see the postman spending the time to collect the additional money.