Royal Mail: PPI

[SEntrepreneur]

Hello UKBF members! I'm new here so pardon anything I've done wrong!
I'm currently looking into Royal Mail PPI, for a new business I'm setting up.
I'll be an online retailer, and from what I can see, PPI is the most beneficial service RM offer.
I looked at franking, and I think that would be too expensive for what I require.
I'm initially looking at posting upwards of about 100-150 parcels (large letters/packets) per week, with the odd letter or two hidden in the mix, both 1st and 2nd class.
I was wondering what sort of discounts RM offer on PPI, and if it would be worth my while getting a PPI licence?
Are there any of you out there that use PPI and find it beneficial?
Any comments would be wonderful!
Cheers,
Josh

 

[kulture]

PPI is great. For packets, up to 750gm, the 2nd class post is £1.63. PPI itself is free, collections cost £750 a year. It can be cheaper to deliver the sacks to the local sorting office

 

[SEntrepreneur]

PPI is great. For packets, up to 750gm, the 2nd class post is £1.63. PPI itself is free, collections cost £750 a year. It can be cheaper to deliver the sacks to the local sorting office

Thanks for that Kulture.
Another question...Are there any minimum send/send rates? I'd probably take the sacks to my local Post Office, I don't live far enough away from the post office to warrant spending £750 a year for a postie to travel 30 seconds to pick up my sack of packets.
Also....Do RM supply all the stationery for PPI? Rubber stamps with the artwork etc etc?

Cheers!

 

[kulture]

They supply all the stationary. All for free.

I would check with your local post office as they may not be happy for you to dump your sacks on them.

 

[SEntrepreneur]

Are there any minimum postal rates then? If there aren't, PPI is looking a good solution for me!
Thanks for your help Kulture!

 

[kulture]

You need to be doinfg about 5,000 parcels a year. If you just say you are doing this, they rarely check. Of course if you are doing less than say 1,000 then they will probably notice.

 

[SEntrepreneur]

Awesome!
PPI looks like the right solution for me!

Thanks very much for your help Kulture!

 

[Jeff FV]

Hi guys,

juts hoping in here - is PPI the same as packet-post (which is what we use)? I think it is, and I, too, think its great.

Not sure that they provide all the stationery for free, though?

They supply all the sacks, bag labels, tie wraps etc., but I had to buy a rubber stamp when I started (although they do provide the artwork for free), but very soon I started printing my own sticky labels. I've since moved on and now get my labels printed of ebay: 1,000 pre-printed PPI labels, with my return address etc., for circa £8.

We're lucky - we have a Royal Mail office in town who we take the bags to, but it shuts at 1pm. If we're late we can then take them to the Post Office in town, but they do grumble about us doing that, though.

All in all, a good scheme and the cheapest way (I've found) to send anything under 2kg.

Jeff

 

[smo]

A few things to add:

RM dont give you the rubber for free, nor the ink pads. You buy them from a 3rd party usually.

Collections are free when you spend over £15K a year, and are certainly not worth £750!

PPI for incorporating into your own labels/packaging is generated online, you simply enter your PPI number on royalmails online generator and then download the artwork it generates. http://www.royalmail.com/discounts-payment/credit-account/ppi/details/create-your-own-ppi-mark

You need to say you'll be sending 5000 parcels a year otherwise they will say no, however the discounts are good but prices are still high for the generally poor service they give now. As the prices rise year on year the service gets worse and worse.