New postage rates for parcels from 2nd April 2013

[veggiechicken]

Saw this by accident but can't track down the rates on the Royal Mail website. I have never found a more difficult to understand website than theirs
Anyway - this is what I've had from GreenMetropolis:-
Our friends at the Royal Mail have been at it again, announcing changes to the way we send mail from 2nd April 2013 - but for once it's not all bad news!
Prices for 'Large Letters' remain unchanged. 'Large Letters' must be less than 25mm thick and will continue to cost £1.40 (up to 500g) and £1.90 (up to 750g) - ideal for sending thin books! 'Packets' are being replaced with a new simplified 'Parcel' option consisting of Small, Medium and Large. All thick paperbacks will fall into their new 'Small Parcel' category, and will cost £2.60 to post (2nd class small parcels up to 1kg).

It may affect the VSP postage - I dunno

[Hazel at the Hill]

I agree with you about the website!

As business customers, we've had a sheet through (the post!) from them with the new rates/sizes on. I don't think that it will affect the VSP as it's only 'packets' which are being rejigged (i.e. anything over 25mm in thickness).

Hang on, I'll try and scan the relevant bit and put it up here......

[Aberdeenplotter]

AS far as I'm led to understand, metered franking rates are being increased as well. They weren't increased last time at least so I am told.

[Hazel at the Hill]

AS far as I'm led to understand, metered franking rates are being increased as well. They weren't increased last time at least so I am told.

I don't know if that is the case (and can't be bothered to go and check!), but if there is a change in charges for metered mail this won't affect the VSP.

You send a SAE to VC with your swaps and requests, so unless you're sending out your personal mail using a franking machine, this shouldn't be an issue!

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Hazel - most helpful - Give yourself a Gold Star
Now to find a metric ruler and draw these spaces out on a big sheet of paper

[veggiechicken]

I don't know if that is the case (and can't be bothered to go and check!), but if there is a change in charges for metered mail this won't affect the VSP.

You send a SAE to VC with your swaps and requests, so unless you're sending out your personal mail using a franking machine, this shouldn't be an issue!

And if I don't put the right stamps on for the return, the unlucky recipient has to pay an extra £1 On the other hand, I don't like putting more expensive stamps on than are necessary - its dear enough as it is

[Hazel at the Hill]

And if I don't put the right stamps on for the return, the unlucky recipient has to pay an extra £1 On the other hand, I don't like putting more expensive stamps on than are necessary - its dear enough as it is

Surely grapes are sending an SAE to you so the postage is already on - if they don't put on the right postage and have to pay extra when you send them back it is their lookout. Or is that me being excessively mean?

We have a cardboard template that Royal Mail sent out when they first came up with different postage rates for different letter sizes - it's really useful. You can measure your letter against it to make sure it is the right size, and there are two slots which mean you can test whether your item is thin enough to be a 'letter' or not.

[taff]

Well that's handy to know since I've just embarked on an ebay selling spree and I dind it hard enough to work it out now.

[veggiechicken]

They usually send loose stamps Hazel - normally 2 large ones. Often I can return one of the stamps as its not needed.
I have one of the big paper template thingies too so may just have to draw a few extra lines on it for the packet sizes. I find it all too confusing for my addled brain.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I have one of the big paper template thingies too so may just have to draw a few extra lines on it for the packet sizes. I find it all too confusing for my addled brain.

You only need to worry about it if the envelope is bigger than 25mm thick (below this it's still a large letter). If it's over, it's now not a packet but a small parcel.

Well that's handy to know since I've just embarked on an ebay selling spree and I dind it hard enough to work it out now.

The template we have is here:



Ref is RMH072A4 - but I can't see online if/how you can get hold of one.

You could make one though, like VC is!

[Two_Sheds]

Well that's handy to know since I've just embarked on an ebay selling spree and I dind it hard enough to work it out now.

I sell on eBay too, and postage is a nightmare: you get negative feedback if your postage costs are deemed "excessive", even though it's Royal Mail who are making it excessively expensive to post parcels.


I use Collect Plus now, but you do need a home printer.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I use Collect Plus now, but you do need a home printer.

That's excellent value at a jiffy bag up to 2kg at £3.99. A small parcel through the post second class will be £5.85.

Edit - my prob is that the nearest drop off point is a couple of miles away so not as handy as nipping to the PO.

[alex-adam]

Thanks for the info Veggiechicken and Hazel - Just withdrawn a couple of items on Ebay which cannot be sent by Parcel Post any more - have to use Parcel-Force !! and no way would the buyer pay their rates.

I have left only two items which would go at small packet rate, but I will make a loss on both these, but as I have bids on them it's unfair to withdraw them from sale.


Thanks again,
a-a

[Two_Sheds]

Just withdrawn a couple of items on Ebay which cannot be sent by Parcel Post any more

Did you check out Collect Plus?

[alex-adam]

Well that's handy to know since I've just embarked on an ebay selling spree and I dind it hard enough to work it out now.

I've just withdrawn a couple of items form my Ebay listings as Royal Mail will no longer accept them (overlength) - I have left a couple of others on which I have bids, but will make a loss on postage on these. - Not fair to penalise the bidders though.

a-a