Hi. Can I use postage stamps to send small parcels within the UK? Obviously assuming I use stamps that add up to the correct value.
My local post office is saying that anything above large letter size has to have a printed PO label on it, which means running it through the till - which they can't/won't do if I've already paid the postage cost with stamps.
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Using stamps to send small parcels
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TrueBlueTerrier
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Using stamps to send small parcels
I think the reason they are saying that is if you put stamps on the parcel the local Post Office don't get paid when people use stamps, they only get a small part of the transaction when they run it through their tills. If you want to support your local PO and improve it chances of staying, then to be honest you are better acceding to their request.
However, if you want to use stamps then I would suggest putting it straight into a post box.
However, if you want to use stamps then I would suggest putting it straight into a post box.
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IcanthelpthewayIam
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Using stamps to send small parcels
yes you can
the issue here is basically if your not paying at the post office then the post office doesnt recieve much if any payment for processing your parcel, the post office want you to buy the postage there to help them make money, your not doing anything wrong at allbut your not really helping them either, think of it as if you had to do some work for someone and they have chosen not to pay you and you still have to do the work, if you are not getting paid are you going to do it the long way or try and find a quicker way that is lightly incorrect so you can get to the next customer who is going to pay you?
in your post you called it your "local post office" if they are not making money then that "local post office" may cease to exist, yes it may be easier to buy your stamps elsewhere or online but think on the long run would it be easier to buy the postage at the local post office when sending an item or to buy it online and have to post it at a further away post office
the issue here is basically if your not paying at the post office then the post office doesnt recieve much if any payment for processing your parcel, the post office want you to buy the postage there to help them make money, your not doing anything wrong at allbut your not really helping them either, think of it as if you had to do some work for someone and they have chosen not to pay you and you still have to do the work, if you are not getting paid are you going to do it the long way or try and find a quicker way that is lightly incorrect so you can get to the next customer who is going to pay you?
in your post you called it your "local post office" if they are not making money then that "local post office" may cease to exist, yes it may be easier to buy your stamps elsewhere or online but think on the long run would it be easier to buy the postage at the local post office when sending an item or to buy it online and have to post it at a further away post office
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Snaggletooth
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Using stamps to send small parcels
Unless something has changed dramatically since I left the Post Office then your local PO cannot refuse to do this, in fact they are probably in breech of their licence in saying that. One of the services they provide to Royal Mail is the issuing of Proof of Postage dockets, which can be done for any item bearing the correct postage, however it is paid for. They should also be uprating the postage on items which are underpaid or are found to need to go by a more expensive service, which would involve part payment by label.bupbupbup wrote:My local post office is saying that anything above large letter size has to have a printed PO label on it, which means running it through the till - which they can't/won't do if I've already paid the postage cost with stamps.
That said, the points made previously about supporting your PO by spending money there are very valid. Further, if you try to do everything by stamps you will end up overpaying most of the time, giving additional un-earned income to the privatised Royal Mail, while simultaneously reducing the income of the publicly owned Post Office and it's locally owned (probably) franchisee.