Royal Mail to offer eBay fast drop

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 03 Apr 2008, 17:05

http://www.tamebay.com/2008/04/royal-ma ... -drop.html

Royal Mail are to revamp their offerings for business users this year, aimed specifically to make life easier for eBay sellers.

Currently theyâ€™re ensuring sellers are aware of business services such as online postage. Later this year theyâ€™ll be introducing new services to support these customers such as making it easy to produce postage labels printed with own branding. Online postage will be upgraded to enable easier multiple label printing and at the same time will introduce a fast drop at Post Offices.

The fast drop off will include the ability to print out a consignment list to be stamped by the Post Office as proof of posting, in addition the fast drop will include email confirmation of items posted.

Royal Mail are currently in the US at ChannelAdvisor Catalyst to learn more about US marketplaces and how USPS serve their customers and eBay sellers in order to further improve Royal Mail services in the UK.

Royal Mail have really woken up to the business generated by eBay sellers and online merchants. Mike Orchard of Royal Mail said that they are â€œcommited to exploring ways to streamline the process of getting products into the postal network as simply and efficiently as possibleâ€

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 03 Apr 2008, 18:44

It still won't change the fact people are at work when the items arrive

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 03 Apr 2008, 18:46

k66yla wrote:It still won't change the fact people are at work when the items arrive

Maybe RM should encourage people to get secure boxes put outside their houses (not help with signed for but it would help)

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » 03 Apr 2008, 18:56

...or deliver them at a time when people are in

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 03 Apr 2008, 19:06

Geordie wrote:...or deliver them at a time when people are in

That would be a 6pm-10pm shift.

jemima · Post by **jemima** » 03 Apr 2008, 19:21

I'd work 6pm-9pm, say four evenings a week, if the pay was a bit more than daytime work. I expect people would pay for a specified evening delivery so it might pay RM to try it.
There's some places you don't want to go near in the evenings though. Some postcode areas would have to be excluded.

combocrasher · Post by **combocrasher** » 03 Apr 2008, 20:43

jemima wrote,
Some postcode areas would have to be excluded

There is the uso to consider, we cant omit any areas because of it

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 03 Apr 2008, 21:20

It can only work in City/town and used maybe a couple of van drivers.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 03 Apr 2008, 21:30

combocrasher wrote:jemima wrote,
Some postcode areas would have to be excluded

There is the uso to consider, we cant omit any areas because of it

I think she means an additional service beyond the USO just for packets, maybe charge extra for it

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Apr 2008, 14:51

disgruntledpostie1 wrote:
k66yla wrote:It still won't change the fact people are at work when the items arrive
Maybe RM should encourage people to get secure boxes put outside their houses (not help with signed for but it would help)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parcel-Safe-PS1 ... 002&sr=8-1

Product Features

* Convenient secure lockable box for all your parcels
* Perfect for anyone shopping online
* Will securely hold books, DVDs, clothes, shoes and many other items
* Features "Easy Lock" system for safe and convenient locking
* Easy to install
* Protected from the elements
* Dimensions 580 x 500 x 240 mm
* Weight 9.5 kg

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 04 Apr 2008, 15:48

We should do a door to door leaflet selling this and to make money and make our job easier.

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 04 Apr 2008, 15:57

A few months back I was going to contact the supplier to get some leaflets for Callers, but no doubt there is a rule to say we can't advertise sensible things like that at RM.

sevenandseven · Post by **sevenandseven** » 04 Apr 2008, 16:44

How are you supposed to have a 'fast drop at Post Offices' when they are closing down Post Offices? One person I deal with only posts out on Fridays and Saturdays because his local office has closed.

andy2007 · Post by **andy2007** » 04 Apr 2008, 17:04

sevenandseven wrote:How are you supposed to have a 'fast drop at Post Offices' when they are closing down Post Offices? One person I deal with only posts out on Fridays and Saturdays because his local office has closed.

You will have to drive a dozen miles to find one. Not so fast in reality eh?

Stormproof · Post by **Stormproof** » 04 Apr 2008, 18:47

No doubt this 'fast drop' will be available in Callers when they put the auto weighing/paying thing in, the customer can 'fast drop' there items whilst queing to collect the stuff they missed