Why do you need proof of post when you have proof of delivery?

chompie

Hi, i have had several occasions where i have sold something on eBay posted with RM and misplaced the proof of post, that was for items that were either lost or had no tracking updates.

As i made a claim for those items i understood fully that RM could only offer me stamps to the full value of postage (even though they tend to give more than that)

However, recently i sold an item and sent it using tracked 48 (which i mostly use now) 
The item was received damaged and feedback left to that effect.
When i went to complain to RM i couldn't find the proof of post, but figured the fact that the tracking shows it was received and feedback shows it was damaged that i would get the full refund/cheque.

However i just got stamps.

It's not a big deal as the item was just a few £ above the stamp value, just seems a bit off that they know it was delivered but somehow that is not proof it was sent 

TimeLord1

They often give the value of lost or damaged items in stamps sometimes you may get a cheque a lot of it is how specific your claim is and the cover you used / purchased. But most people rarely get full cover and proof of postage in a delivery office or post office because it's extra cost to yourself. Some delivery companies are ridiculous to even make a claim people just give up.

soolin

TimeLord1 said:

They often give the value of lost or damaged items in stamps sometimes you may get a cheque a lot of it is how specific your claim is and the cover you used / purchased. But most people rarely get full cover and proof of postage in a delivery office or post office because it's extra cost to yourself. Some delivery companies are ridiculous to even make a claim people just give up.

There is no cost attached to getting proof of postage for RM items  regardless of where you drop your items. If I take my items to a PO then they scan all my labels and give me a till receipt that states it is POP and it shows the postcode, service and cost of item. If I go to the mail centre they don’t give till receipts but I use a bulk POP that I download, and they stamp and sign that. 

The bulk POP I use is here

https://www.royalmail.com/business/system/files/Royal-Mail-Bulk-Certificate-Posting-Standard-editable-Sept-2016_0.pdf

So far, I’ve not had to claim for an item collected by RM, but on other eBay seller sites they are saying a screen shot of the email confirmation works as POP and a claim has been successfully made. 

As for couriers generally, I’ve always received some sort of proof of posting or handing over the counter, at no extra cost to myself. 

TimeLord1

They have sometimes stamped the old style 48 labels that you yourself would print on a couple of those that went missing dumped by a dustbin etc I had to claim on and refunded with a postal order cheque.

TimeLord1

Parcel force website to claim is a minefield I paid for a quick delivery abroad but they failed to send it using this service so said I could claim the cost back the form and back and constant emails it was ridiculous and then. They refused to pay up and they told me to claim it originally.

TimeLord1

 Can you fill that bulk form online and print or just a form to print and fill out ?

  I've broken my arm so typing is taking forever 🫤

soolin

TimeLord1 said:

 Can you fill that bulk form online and print or just a form to print and fill out ?

  I've broken my arm so typing is taking forever 🫤

Oooh,I don’t know and that’s a thought, It does say it can be edited . I tend to print a few at a go, and print labels as I go along and add them at the same time to the POP. I’m doing a mail centre drop on Monday and will start printing labels tomorrow to save time Monday morning , add anything to the POP on Monday that sells overnight Sunday and get to MC before I go out for the day. 

TimeLord1

You would think that this feature would exist in the account in some form, especially if it's a large business. I've also known people who drop Royal Mail sacks at post office with a contents printed form attached and simply walk out and simply check their account later for any updates so there has to be a page to manually input the forms without writing in pen. Or cross list feature if you're purchasing postage via their website.

soolin

TimeLord1 said:

You would think that this feature would exist in the account in some form, especially if it's a large business. I've also known people who drop Royal Mail sacks at post office with a contents printed form attached and simply walk out and simply check their account later for any updates so there has to be a page to manually input the forms without writing in pen. Or cross list feature if you're purchasing postage via their website.

If they are using RM sacks then it is likely they have a business account and use a manifest. I technically still have one of those, but don't use it as it became cheaper to print labels from ebay or RM. However with the sort of business account I had there was no compensation at all for lost packages, I would print all my labels, separate them into bags (2nd class parcel / 2nd class LL etc) and then attach a manifest sheet to the neck and fasten them and just leave them.

There was someone on here a while ago who had an arrangement with a friendly Post office where they would drop a bag of parcels with a POP in the morning and pick up the stamped POP the next day when they dropped the next bag off. However, I can't imagine any of my POs being that helpful!