Royal Mail 24 / 48 : how much for parcels over 2Kg ?

[Justin Smith]

Can anyone tell me the answer to this ? I`ve asked / sent E Mails to a few RM offices, but nobody seems to know !

How much is it to send stuff over 2Kg by RM24 or RM48 ?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

How much 'over 2Kg'?

Surely it depends on the actual product/parcel?

This doesn't work for you?
https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/royal-mail-our-prices-25-march-2019.pdf

 

[Mr D]

Small or medium parcel? Or not classed that way?
How much over 2kg?
Dimensions?

Perhaps they cannot answer because the question doesn't provide enough info.

https://www.royalmailtechnical.com/parcelpricecalculator/step1_calculator.cfm

 

[Justin Smith]

Thanks for your answers. The exact weight will vary according to the parcel. What we need is a price list for the weight bands, nobody at RM has been able to supply us with this info, which rather surprises me actually, you`d have thought it was basic !

 

[Mr D]

Thanks for your answers. The exact weight will vary according to the parcel. What we need is a price list for the weight bands, nobody at RM has been able to supply us with this info, which rather surprises me actually, you`d have thought it was basic !

It is basic when you have the dimensions and what service the customer is using along with volume.
The price on the leaflet and on the online calculator may be different.

 

[Justin Smith]

Another thing that I need help with please ! We`ve just started with RM24/48, whereabouts in the system does it tell us how much the item(s) have actually cost to send ?

 

[Mr D]

Another thing that I need help with please ! We`ve just started with RM24/48, whereabouts in the system does it tell us how much the item(s) have actually cost to send ?

Are you printing a manifest?

 

[Justin Smith]

Are you printing a manifest?

Yes, we`ve only just started with RM24 so have only done one manifest so far and I`d already gone home so never saw it! Are the prices on that ?

 

[Mr D]

Yes, we`ve only just started with RM24 so have only done one manifest so far and I`d already gone home so never saw it! Are the prices on that ?

No, the screen that comes up when printing the manifest has a daily total on it.
If one parcel then that's the total.

Go in click & drop (if that's what you are using) and under orders menu is manifests.
That will give total.

Possibly one of the OBA reports will give breakdown.

 

[bharris]

You can only send anything over 2kg via RM24, RM48 has a maximum of 2kg. The cost is based on the average weight of each type of parcel you send.

The easiest way to see how much you get charged i to look at your daily manifest on day that you know what you sent and see what you got charged. Prices can be different from someone else as they add a surcharge.

 

[Pish_Pash]

Just checking their price calculator...why would anyone use Royal Mail parcels? What's the win?

 

[Mr D]

Just checking their price calculator...why would anyone use Royal Mail parcels? What's the win?

Delivery.
What other outcome is worth going for?

 

[Justin Smith]

You can only send anything over 2kg via RM24, RM48 has a maximum of 2kg. The cost is based on the average weight of each type of parcel you send.

The easiest way to see how much you get charged i to look at your daily manifest on day that you know what you sent and see what you got charged. Prices can be different from someone else as they add a surcharge.

We were told that by the salesman when we signed up, but that was contradicted by someone on their help desk !

 

[Mr D]

We were told that by the salesman when we signed up, but that was contradicted by someone on their help desk !

Been doing royal mail parcels for years, average weight has worked out very good for the businesses, RM48 having 2kg limit has been around a while but that's OK as 24 has a 20kg limit.

 

[Justin Smith]

Been doing royal mail parcels for years, average weight has worked out very good for the businesses, RM48 having 2kg limit has been around a while but that's OK as 24 has a 20kg limit.

The problem being that they don`t quote a price for over 2Kg, even RM24, not in our price list anyway. I sent our salesman an E Mail yesterday, and he clicked the read receipt, so I`m hoping he`ll get back to us, if he does I`ll put the answer he gives us on here !

 

[Mr D]

The problem being that they don`t quote a price for over 2Kg, even RM24, not in our price list anyway. I sent our salesman an E Mail yesterday, and he clicked the read receipt, so I`m hoping he`ll get back to us, if he does I`ll put the answer he gives us on here !

Not in that pdf leaflet or the calculator?

 

[Justin Smith]

Not in that pdf leaflet or the calculator?

It isn`t in the leaflet, and when I saw that calculator my eyes just glazed over..... It`s not exactly simple to use is it ? ! ? I expected you`d just click RM24 and the weight, then get the answer !

 

[Pish_Pash]

Delivery.
What other outcome is worth going for?

I asked what the win is, not what the outcome is (delivery is the outcome)...we're in business...& their prices (seemingly) suck, so what do they offer that other couriers don't?

In other words, bearing in mind their prices don't seem to be competitive, why are folks using them...what's their USP?

 

[Justin Smith]

I asked what the win is, not what the outcome is (delivery is the outcome)...we're in business...& their prices (seemingly) suck, so what do they offer that other couriers don't?

In other words, bearing in mind their prices don't seem to be competitive, why are folks using them...what's their USP?

There`s no supplement for any UK address.
Actually they`re not bad in price for stuff under 1Kg.

 

[Mr D]

I asked what the win is, not what the outcome is (delivery is the outcome)...we're in business...& their prices (seemingly) suck, so what do they offer that other couriers don't?

In other words, bearing in mind their prices don't seem to be competitive, why are folks using them...what's their USP?

The win is the outcome.

Don't know about you but in my ecommerce business the whole process relies on delivery of the goods to the buyer.

I pay under £3 for pretty much most parcels up to 2kg. The wife usually drives the car to the post office around 100 metres away, if their system is down she drives to a post office a couple of miles away. Usually 3 to 5 sacks at the moment.
The large letters and parcels all have tracking. And losses run about 1 in 1100 at the moment.

Not found a courier cheaper able to do all that and provide the same level of service. Have found couriers giving inferior service for low prices and couriers giving great service for higher prices.

Now from all that what company would you recommend I use for a few thousand items a year, mix of letter, large letter and parcel.

 

[Justin Smith]

The win is the outcome.

Don't know about you but in my ecommerce business the whole process relies on delivery of the goods to the buyer.

I pay under £3 for pretty much most parcels up to 2kg. The wife usually drives the car to the post office around 100 metres away, if their system is down she drives to a post office a couple of miles away. Usually 3 to 5 sacks at the moment.
The large letters and parcels all have tracking. And losses run about 1 in 1100 at the moment.

Not found a courier cheaper able to do all that and provide the same level of service. Have found couriers giving inferior service for low prices and couriers giving great service for higher prices.

Now from all that what company would you recommend I use for a few thousand items a year, mix of letter, large letter and parcel.

I agree it`s rare for the RM to lose or damage stuff, but when something goes missing trying to phone them up is a nightmare. Typical example, we send out a parcel, the customer tells us he hasn`t got it, we say it`s probably at their LDO (RM Local Delivery office), but you try phoning your LDO ! Even if you can find the number they hardly every answer it.....

 

[Mr D]

I agree it`s rare for the RM to lose or damage stuff, but when something goes missing trying to phone them up is a nightmare. Typical example, we send out a parcel, the customer tells us he hasn`t got it, we say it`s probably at their LDO (RM Local Delivery office), but you try phoning your LDO ! Even if you can find the number they hardly every answer it.....

In that case I usually request redelivery via the website to the customer's address. Surprising how many people have not had a card saying to collect the parcel but do get delivery a few days after requesting it.
I won't use the phone system for redelivery of mail, my accent isn't that bad and it cannot get close to the words I'm using.

Rare I have to even bother with that.

 

[deniser]

I asked what the win is, not what the outcome is (delivery is the outcome)...we're in business...& their prices (seemingly) suck, so what do they offer that other couriers don't?

In other words, bearing in mind their prices don't seem to be competitive, why are folks using them...what's their USP?

Their prices are very competitive up to 2 kilos on the 48 service. We pay £2.40 (no VAT because goods posted are zero rated) for most of our parcels - some heavier ones are a bit more. They can be quite large for this price too as you don't have the same distinction between small and medium parcels that you do at the counter.

 

[Justin Smith]

In that case I usually request redelivery via the website to the customer's address. Surprising how many people have not had a card saying to collect the parcel but do get delivery a few days after requesting it.
I won't use the phone system for redelivery of mail, my accent isn't that bad and it cannot get close to the words I'm using.

Rare I have to even bother with that.

What about if stuff is sent out non recorded ? Until starting with RM24/48 we used standard parcels and only paid extra for "signed for" if the order was over £20 (or £30 if a previous customer). But signed for isn`t tracked anyway, it just tells you when the item is actually signed for. Thus the customer still has to contact (or visit) the LDO to see if it`s there. Obviously being able to phone them up to check would be far easier than calling round on the off chance.....
Of all the stuff we`ve sent out non recorded we haven`t had more than a handful go permanently missing in over 10 years. More common is the customer says he can`t wait so we then have to send another order out, then the original order turns up, either at the customers house or gets returned to us !

 

[Justin Smith]

Their prices are very competitive up to 2 kilos on the 48 service. We pay £2.40 (no VAT because goods posted are zero rated) for most of our parcels - some heavier ones are a bit more. They can be quite large for this price too as you don't have the same distinction between small and medium parcels that you do at the counter.

There`s no VAT to pay the RM, but VAT is chargeable to the customer and must be paid to the IR.
The exact situation is there`s no VAT on delivery if the item you`re sending has no VAT on it, but if it does then there is VAT on the cost of delivery. This is for the obvious reason that suppliers could just make the carriage almost the complete cost and the item almost nothing, then get out of paying the VAT.

 

[Mr D]

What about if stuff is sent out non recorded ? Until starting with RM24/48 we used standard parcels and only paid extra for "signed for" if the order was over £20 (or £30 if a previous customer). But signed for isn`t tracked anyway, it just tells you when the item is actually signed for. Thus the customer still has to contact (or visit) the LDO to see if it`s there. Obviously being able to phone them up to check would be far easier than calling round on the off chance.....
Of all the stuff we`ve sent out non recorded we haven`t had more than a handful go permanently missing in over 10 years. More common is the customer says he can`t wait so we then have to send another order out, then the original order turns up, either at the customers house or gets returned to us !

Most of our stuff is sent out non recorded. RM track the items and we can click on tracking any time.

Here's what I see on tracking. Basic 2nd class post large letter item.

The item was delivered.

Accepted
DoneMon 1 Jul
Done
In transit
Done
Out for delivery
Done
Delivered
DoneMon 1 Jul
Done
Tracking details
Royal Mail tracking #3205103290000C828XXXX

• Jul 1, 2019
• 11:36am

• DELIVERY RECORDED

• Jun 29, 2019
• 12:01pm

• Tracking number provided

 

[Pish_Pash]

Just to be clear... mine was a genuine question....most of the stuff I post out is large letter 100g-250g non-recorded 2nd class ...it costs me £1.32 (I payan OTC retail rate because then I can claim if it goes missing) ...I typed in some figures into the Parcelforce calculator, & the prices that came back were not good at all.

Mr D...are you saying that you only pay for a non-tracked service yet they still give you tracking? (or have I misunderstood). How mucg are you paying for a large letter 100g-250g?

I was actually looking at Hermes 'postable' service ...they charge £1.89 + VAT upto 1kg (providing it fits through a letterbox)....else it's £2.39 + VAT

 

[Mr D]

Just to be clear... mine was a genuine question....most of the stuff I post out is large letter 100g-250g non-recorded 2nd class ...it costs me £1.32 (I payan OTC retail rate because then I can claim if it goes missing) ...I typed in some figures into the Parcelforce calculator, & the prices that came back were not good at all.

Mr D...are you saying that you only pay for a non-tracked service yet they still give you tracking? (or have I misunderstood). How mucg are you paying for a large letter 100g-250g?

I was actually looking at Hermes 'postable' service ...they charge £1.89 + VAT upto 1kg (providing it fits through a letterbox)....else it's £2.39 + VAT

Good question, will have to go through my bills see if I can find a day when paid that rate.
Stuff I sell large letter is in the 11g to 600g range so rare day when charged over 100g rate.
That's for later, I'm trapped under the dog at the moment.
Yes that is indeed tracked sufficient to call a customer out on it. All my parcels and large letters are done that way, been standard for some time.

What codes are you using for large letter?

Hermes - I used them for a couple of weeks. Loss rate was about 1 in 10. Stuff not getting delivered cost my business considerably and almost cost me by ebay and amazon accounts.

 

[Mr D]

According to a bill for April over 100g large letter if I'm reading it right is £1.03. Plus VAT, so total of £1.24.
Can only see one date since prices increased when have paid that much for that weight, usually its the under 100g price.

 

[Pish_Pash]

Yes that is indeed tracked sufficient to call a customer out on it. All my parcels and large letters are done that way, been standard for some time.

Just so I fully understand, you are saying that you are essentially paying £1.03 + VAT for a 101g~250g large letter ....and even though you are not selecting a tracked service, you still get tracking?

You say that it's sufficient to stop customers pulling a fast one, but I'm guessing it's not quite sufficient for Ebay INR Cases? (in other words, Ebay will need a tracking number. else will find in the buyer's favour?)

What codes are you using for large letter?
Hermes - I used them for a couple of weeks. Loss rate was about 1 in 10. Stuff not getting delivered cost my business considerably and almost cost me by ebay and amazon accounts.

I don't use a RM code...as I say, I pay retail rates (becuase then I can lodge a claim if the item is not received). I use a service called drop & go at the local post office (I send on average about 20 large letters per day), becuase frankly it's the path of least resistance for me.

Hermes - I used them for a couple of weeks. Loss rate was about 1 in 10. Stuff not getting delivered cost my business considerably and almost cost me by ebay and amazon accounts.

I know Hermes have a bad wrap, but I've been using them three weeks now...nothing gone AWOL yet...I'm also hoping that when an INR case is received, having a Hermes tracking number might protect me from losing.

£1.89 for a tracked package is an extremely competitive price. It's all pretty well integrated with Ebay too (when I purchase the label, the customer gets the tracking number, so it cuts down on "where's my item" type messages...which can be a time sump.

 

[deniser]

The exact situation is there`s no VAT on delivery if the item you`re sending has no VAT on it, but if it does then there is VAT on the cost of delivery. This is for the obvious reason that suppliers could just make the carriage almost the complete cost and the item almost nothing, then get out of paying the VAT.

Yes of course. We only sell goods that are zero rated.

 

[Mr D]

Just so I fully understand, you are saying that you are essentially paying £1.03 + VAT for a 101g~250g large letter ....and even though you are not selecting a tracked service, you still get tracking?

You say that it's sufficient to stop customers pulling a fast one, but I'm guessing it's not quite sufficient for Ebay INR Cases? (in other words, Ebay will need a tracking number. else will find in the buyer's favour?)



I don't use a RM code...as I say, I pay retail rates (becuase then I can lodge a claim if the item is not received). I use a service called drop & go at the local post office (I send on average about 20 large letters per day), becuase frankly it's the path of least resistance for me.



I know Hermes have a bad wrap, but I've been using them three weeks now...nothing gone AWOL yet...I'm also hoping that when an INR case is received, having a Hermes tracking number might protect me from losing.

£1.89 for a tracked package is an extremely competitive price. It's all pretty well integrated with Ebay too (when I purchase the label, the customer gets the tracking number, so it cuts down on "where's my item" type messages...which can be a time sump.

Yes royal mail 2D barcode tracking is sufficient for ebay.
That appears to be the price on my statement from royal mail. Does not look like it could be any other kind of single item.

Royal Mail introduced its barcoding system a few years back, tracking is shown as I copied yesterday. Enough to tell ebay the item is delivered. Enough for me to tell a customer what time and date item delivered. Does of course mean RM are a lot less likely to pay out on a claim of INR but as I never claim anyway it doesn't bother me.
Last INR I had that had to refund buyer was a wholesale cost of 20p.


I use click & drop. It works, keeps costs down and can walk out of the house at 5.15pm with sacks and still catch the post van.

Package price I'm paying considerably more than £1.89. However stuff gets delivered and the post office is a hundred metres away - walk it if have just a small bag to take.

Looking at orders over the last week my business has had 3 large letter items over 100g (its a quiet time of year).
However paid only under 100g price because of average weight. One of the items is 420g and goes in a box.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

In regards t

Most of our stuff is sent out non recorded. RM track the items and we can click on tracking any time.

Here's what I see on tracking. Basic 2nd class post large letter item.

The item was delivered.

Accepted
DoneMon 1 Jul
Done
In transit
Done
Out for delivery
Done
Delivered
DoneMon 1 Jul
Done
Tracking details
Royal Mail tracking #3205103290000C828XXXX

• Jul 1, 2019
• 11:36am

• DELIVERY RECORDED

• Jun 29, 2019
• 12:01pm

• Tracking number provided

Problem is there is no house number and postcode with the tracking information on the untracked mail. Just random events.

I completely agree that the untracked, tracked ones are great and cut down on scammers. For eBay cases they proof nothing since delivery address can not be verified.
Twice I got a delivery and they claimed it was delivered but I never received it. It turned out they shipped it to a different customer and mixed up label's. It goes both ways with scammers and mix ups.

 

[bharris]

Problem is there is no house number and postcode with the tracking information on the untracked mail. Just random events.

Linked to the tracking number is the address that the item was posted. PayPal accept the tracking code as proof of delivery as part of your seller protection. Obviously it cant stop label mix ups as with any method of posting.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I disagree a full tracking number e.g 3205013360000C3D27049 for the none tracked service.

https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#/tracking-results/3205013360000C3D27049

There is no actual address on here only the main post office as the only place. . Just saying great we get that free tracking now but it doesn't show much or missing vital information .

 

[Mr D]

Linked to the tracking number is the address that the item was posted. PayPal accept the tracking code as proof of delivery as part of your seller protection. Obviously it cant stop label mix ups as with any method of posting.

That sort of problem no amount of tracking can solve.
We solve it by labelling the envelopes and parcels with content in writing. Even without checking inside I know what label to put on stuff I have not packed.

 

[Pish_Pash]

I use click & drop. It works, keeps costs down and can walk out of the house at 5.15pm with sacks and still catch the post van.

So I googled Click & Drop & landed here...

https://parcel.royalmail.com/

...and the pricing on there is woeful - I'm sure Royal Mail purposely make all their services opaque! (I'm guessing therefore that you've negotiated better rates)

 

[Mr D]

I disagree a full tracking number e.g 3205013360000C3D27049 for the none tracked service.

https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#/tracking-results/3205013360000C3D27049

There is no actual address on here only the main post office as the only place. . Just saying great we get that free tracking now but it doesn't show much or missing vital information .

It shows enough to catch the scammers or agree yes the item does not show as delivered.
When it only shows item as sent then I cannot prove buyer has had item. But previous to the system I could not prove buyer had item then either.
Cheap and cheerful. And usually does the job.

Had to refund someone last year for a £10 order because the tracking only showed item sent. I make a list of such items and check them periodically.
A few weeks later item showed as delivered. Checked with ebay as to what to do now they suggested invoicing the buyer.
Sent buyer an invoice at 10am that morning with a nice email regarding delivery, was paid inside the hour.

For more valuable orders there is of course the usual signed for, tracked, special delivery etc.

 

[Mr D]

So I googled Click & Drop & landed here...

https://parcel.royalmail.com/

...and the pricing on there is woeful - I'm sure Royal Mail purposely make all their services opaque! (I'm guessing therefore that you've negotiated better rates)

Don't have the volume yet for better rates.
Do have the account facility. Stuff sent out today (and indeed in last 2 weeks) gets paid around the 21st August.
Wonderful for cashflow except in January and February.

 

[Justin Smith]

That sort of problem no amount of tracking can solve.
We solve it by labelling the envelopes and parcels with content in writing. Even without checking inside I know what label to put on stuff I have not packed.

We always put two labels on stuff sent by carrier, the carrier despatch label and either our invoice (customer address outwards) or a separate label with "From ATV" and our address. I must admit we don`t do it for stuff going RM, partly because it`s lower value, but it`s got our return address on which is the next best thing.