Large Letter Contents

[Madwife2009]

Hi, newbie here!

I have a quick question about large letters - can I put whatever I want in a large letter as long as:

a) it's not restricted/prohibited by RM and
b) it's under the maximum dimensions/weight for LL?

I send very small toys via LL and was today told by PO staff that only proper letters (ie, a printed/handwritten "dear so-and-so" document) can be sent via LL. They have stated that I am NOT allowed to send my small toys which are well under the max dimensions/weight (they weigh about 10g!) via LL and have to use small parcels instead.

I've looked at both the PO and RM websites and cannot find anything to back up what the PO told me today, apart from the examples given by RM of what can be sent via LL (CDs/DVDs etc) so I am of the opinion that I can continue using LL but thought I'd ask the experts here.

Is what I've been told true, or is someone having a laugh at my expense (literally as changing to small packets will cost me a fortune)?

Many thanks

[adb2aber]

You can post anything you want domestically that isn't prohibited. If it fits within a size bracket, you pay for that bracket. It would be worth checking that your toys do clearly fit within the LL size brackets, they may have had one or two before that have come close before.

I'd take my business elsewhere if they started trying stuff like that with me - if you have a small local Post Office or one you pass regularly they'd love a bit more business.

If you're shipping by airmail there are different rules.

[crazyshrew]

Nonense, http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help- ... ht-formats

Large Letter
Examples: A4 documents, CDs and DVDs in their cases, certificates, some large greeting cards with badges and magazines

they could just be trying to cover themselves for insurance/compensation reasons, but i don't know what the values are for that.

I assume you PO has one of those plastic size guide things, if it fits in the hole they have little reason to argue

[Madwife2009]

Thank you for the replies, they are much appreciated.

My letters definitely fit through the LL size guide as I check each one before I send it (I have a guide at home and they easily fall through). They are all sent "signed for" as well so the compensation isn't a problem as none of the items is worth more than the £50 maximum.

I usually take my items to a smaller, closer PO but I had to go to the PO further away as it is by the local library and my son wanted some books.

So it looks as though they are trying to get more money off me then! I won't be going back there, it's too much trouble. The last time I went in there they had a go at me (and I really mean that they had a go at me, very aggressive - shouting and fists being banged on the counter) because I had DARED to stick stamps to the correct value of the postage fee instead of buying them at the PO itself.

[harry84]

I remember reading somewhere that Royal Mail had suggested in some form of consultation that they MIGHT in the future consider restricting LL to correspondence and docs only, forcing all merchandise to go Small Parcels. This would have many online retailers up in arms since the ability to send DVDs / thin books etc LL is probably how they make any money at all nowadays. However it was only a grain of an idea and presently anything can be sent via LL as long as it is not a prohibited item.

Compensation would make no difference as compensation for regular LL/SP is the same.

So basically you've been fed a load of garbage. At the very least i would avoid that PO. I would also be tempted to drop a line to Post Office Ltd to bring this to their attention.

[TeeferTiger]

As others have said, if it fits within the template and weighs less than would take it into the parcels range (and isn't prohibited/restricted) then you can put what you like in there.

[Madwife2009]

You guys are all correct of course.

Because I wanted to take it up with the PO CS, I also got it in writing from RM that I can send whatever I like via LL as long as the dimensions/weight restrictions are met.

I rang the PO CS today and they told me that according to the information they have received from RM, their stance is correct and that a LL HAS to contain a letter, otherwise it must go as a small parcel. I argued the point, told the PO that they are incorrect and that I have it in writing from RM that I can send what I like but the PO were adamant that they are correct. I have requested a manager to call me back about this and was told that someone would call me back today but they haven't. So I shall have to ring them again on Monday.

They cannot be allowed to get away with this. They are trying to increase my postage costs fourfold; I send out 2000 parcels a year - that's another £4k onto my postage if the PO have their way (which they won't). I am just ONE user of RM.

How much commission do the PO get for selling postage/handling post again?

[Pinky 1]

Don’t pay more than you need to

http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help- ... ht-formats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SpacePhoenix]

They cannot be allowed to get away with this. They are trying to increase my postage costs fourfold; I send out 2000 parcels a year - that's another £4k onto my postage if the PO have their way (which they won't). I am just ONE user of RM.

How much commission do the PO get for selling postage/handling post again?

http://www.royalmail.com/general-corres ... ollections" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Might be worth having a look through that to see if it's financially viable for yourself

[Snaggletooth]

Post Offices get around 7% of the value of the postage (it varies a bit depending on the type of contract that PO has and what type of postage it is). So aggressive upselling isn't really worth it: upselling from a 69p large letter to a £2.60 small parcel yields 14p of income.

There may be some confusion between the inland pricing structure which is based on price (letter, large letter and small parcel) and the overseas pricing structure which is based on the contents (letter, small packet). Note that the names used are almost the same but the way things are priced is completely different. You need to be really clear which you are talking about before taking this complaint further. In my experience, many customers find this distinction very difficult.

One thing I have seen over and over is a customer asking for "1st class", the clerk spots that the destination is Dublin (country not marked), and when it's explained that the cost will be higher because it's overseas, the customer gets very shirty. Is it that the PO were trying to explain that the destination was outside the UK, and therefore they were correctly classing the mail as small packet?

[Madwife2009]

Hi Snaggletooth, thanks for your comments.

The PO I used knew that my post was for mainland UK as they had the item in front of them, with the address on a printed label. There was no mistake about the destination of my item. And they all go second class, with the correct postage affixed before I go to the PO.

This isn't the only problem I've had with this PO, the main character causes a lot of offence to not only myself but other customers and has also attempted to tell me that I cannot buy my stamps via RM and then use this particular PO to process my (prepaid) items (I need POP for all my items).

When I was speaking to the PO CS (using the 0845 number) we discussed "large letter" at length (size and weights) and the fact that my items are mainland UK destinations - there was no mistaking what I wanted and what they understood I wanted - they still maintained that if there was no letter within, it had to go as a small parcel.

[harry84]

They are in breach of contract if they refuse to accept any boda fide mail carrying the correct postage indicia.

[Snaggletooth]

Fair enough, this sounds like a proper complaint to me.