Local PO counter (in a Tesco) refuse my pre-paid parcels.

matchlesspat

I can see that this has been going on since at least 2017 but is it legal for them to refuse pre-paid Royal Mail 24 or 48 labels? they will not give me a reason, or show me a directive or memo! I only send one or two small parcels a week and had no issues until around 6 months ago! I generally book using parcel2go as it is great for me to be able to compare postage costs, insurance etc. I personally that Tesco are trying to run down this PO counter and reuse the space for food display! Is it legal for them to refuse my Royal Mail post? 

km1500

complain to.Post Office

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/contact-us/in-branch-customer-experience

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

matchlesspat said:

-paid Royal Mail 24 or 48 labels? t I generally book using parcel2go as it is great for me to be able to compare postage costs, insurance etc.

As above report to the Post Office.

As an aside if selling something worth more than £50, P2G only seem to offer £50 cover on Royal Mail Tracked 24/48 where as buying from Royal Mail directly

https://send.royalmail.com/send

gets you £150 cover.

matchlesspat

Thanks, I have reported it more than once but never seem to get far, I reported it again yesterday, and spoke to the Tesco manager, he emailed the Tesco department who oversee their PO franchises and I was expecting a reply by today, I will be raising it at our Parish Council meeting tonight, I am a Councillor..... one interesting thing from the conversation with the Tesco manager was his reaction, or lack thereof when I said that I suspected that they were running the PO business down prior to closing it down as food shelving would make more cash! 

RFW

matchlesspat said:

 one interesting thing from the conversation with the Tesco manager was his reaction, or lack thereof when I said that I suspected that they were running the PO business down prior to closing it down as food shelving would make more cash! 

I'd be surprised if the manager knows what the PO makes compared to food but the chances are they get nothing for handling the pre paid parcel so anything that increases on nothing would be better. Part of the idea of the POs in store was to provide a service and get more people in store, so it was never totally about profit anyway.

That said there are a growing number of drop off points and new parcel lockers. You can find them here https://www.royalmail.com/sending/parcelpoints
You can also check if the Tesco is on there, if it is you have more cause for complaint but you may also find somewhere else to drop off. I found a couple of local ones that I didn't know were there.

mirko

Going into a post office is just too much hassle, I avoid it wherever possible as there are always long queues, issues or the counter is just closed. Easier to drop off parcels straight into parcel boxes. That's what I do these days!

soolin

mirko said:

Going into a post office is just too much hassle, I avoid it wherever possible as there are always long queues, issues or the counter is just closed. Easier to drop off parcels straight into parcel boxes. That's what I do these days!

I’ll do that for a couple of low cost items, but I do prefer to get proof of posting just in case I need a claim. I admit I rarely have to make a claim anymore, but if it does happen then I’m covered.