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Sulisuli

Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4795

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

Excellent explanation Brendan and a very fair way to approach the postage

2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90

6th Jun 2017 5:28pm

mse

Member Since: 06 Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 5035

2016 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Scotia Grey

Problem is many people manage to do it - all sizes of business, it is possible - but often not invested in.

If we can sort out ebay sales, companies can sort it out...whether they choose to, thats a different question.

I wont say if amazon can do it...they are just special

Mike

6th Jun 2017 6:27pm

BigYellowDaphne

Member Since: 21 Aug 2016
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 12

While we're on this topic, how about the random number generator that is the wee asterisk following the words 'free UK mainland delivery*'. Ah yes, suddenly mainland U.K. doesn't include lots of bits of the mainland north of the Highland Boundary Fault. Why is that? Pretty much anything with an AB or IV postcode, irrespective of the fact that it is very much part of the UK mainland, suddenly gets whacked with a surcharge for delivery. But get this. Some companies skin you alive for delivery (£17 delivery charge for a can of ACF50, anyone?), whilst others really can recognise that Aberdeenshire isn't an island and mainland delivery charges mean just that. I think it's the lack of consistency between companies over this definition that really irks me.

And breathe....

8th Jun 2017 7:58pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8580

BYD, please take a deep breath

Sending parcels out can be a bit of a tricky dilemma for small companies.

May I suggest that you talk to your courier drivers in the north of Scotland and asked them how many deliveries and collections they are scheduled to do plus daily mileage. Our local drivers do 80-120 deliveries per day plus their collections.

120 deliveries in an 8 hour day is 4 minutes per delivery less time for collections.

In large rural areas I would suggest number of deliveries will be less per day.

Different couriers define Mainland UK and Highlands and Islands differently. 24 hour delivery to mainland U.K. Becomes 48 hours to Highland and Islands.

Royal Mail are the only company for small packages who charge the same irrespective of delivery address in the U.K. Including Northern Ireland, Highlands and Islands and that includes the Channel Islands.

Please tell me why some couriers charge a lot more to send a parcel to Northern Ireland then it does to Eire?

Please tell me why it can be cheaper sending a large parcel to the Highlands by Parcel Force through a broker then direct to Parcel Force.?

Many companies have restrictions on what they will carry such as no aerosols, no paint, no glass, no car headlights etc.

Courier costs are made up of basic costs such as weigh, additional handling, large package surcharge, residential fee, fuel surcharge, restricted items, remote area, insured value etc..

Some couriers add a remote area surcharge to central Lake District, due to slow traffic flow.

Large companies can get good bulk discounts out of couriers. We sometimes have 3 or 4 different couriers collecting from us a day as it depends on weight, size and destinations of the goods we are sending out each day!

Brendan

8th Jun 2017 10:47pm

Spectre

Member Since: 26 Jan 2016
Location: South East
Posts: 228

From the Royal Mail website the price of a 1st class small package would be £3.40.

The cost of the jiffy envelope is probably 50 pence?

As Brendan says, they have to charge VAT on all that.

If they have a collection from their premises that probably costs them as well.

So do you still think they ripped you off?

8th Jun 2017 11:55pm

BigYellowDaphne

Member Since: 21 Aug 2016
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 12

Brendan, once again a very fair response - thank you. I accept that living somewhere where I do is my choice and that delivery companies have a living to make. Paying a surcharge for that is something I accept. As you note, though, and what gets my goat, is that different couriers define the UK mainland according to their own criteria, and those criteria vary. This can make a huge difference to the final price for the same item.

Cheers

BYD

9th Jun 2017 7:05am

gilarion

Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5109

2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green

Spectre wrote:
From the Royal Mail website the price of a 1st class small package would be £3.40.

The cost of the jiffy envelope is probably 50 pence?

As Brendan says, they have to charge VAT on all that.

If they have a collection from their premises that probably costs them as well.

So do you still think they ripped you off?

At £3.40 postage + 50p probably not, however, my post read £1.20 postage + 20p and I was charged £7.00

Quote:
'the postage should have been £1.20 the little jiffy bag it was sent in probably about 20p, so by my reckoning the company has made a £5.60 extra profit from postage, not a bad little earner when you consider how many items this supplier posts.'

So the answer to your question is still yes! For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1

9th Jun 2017 11:40am

Spectre

Member Since: 26 Jan 2016
Location: South East
Posts: 228

Was that on the stamp itself?

A small packet on the Royal Mail website within the UK via 1st class is £3.40.

9th Jun 2017 5:55pm

gilarion

Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5109

No. you are wrong
It is to do with weight, have a look on the Royal Mail website. First class or second class also has different prices, but postage price is to do with weight for very small packages. And my order was sent second class, sort of mirrors the standing of the company I dealt with.

I understand what Brendan is saying and I applaud him for stating the facts.

By the way in case anyone was wondering Brendan (Leeds) is not the villain here in fact he does not even stock the part I was after, I did check as I always like to give a sponsor my money for a part as we all should, and he is very fair with carriage.

For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1

9th Jun 2017 7:19pm

Spectre

Member Since: 26 Jan 2016
Location: South East
Posts: 228

From the Royal Mail website - http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder

Small package, up to 1kg, not tracked, 1st class - £3.40, 2nd class - £2.90

What you described is a small package and I'm assuming under 1kg?

9th Jun 2017 7:30pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20299

RM has got significantly more expensive for larger packets or boxes imo recently.

Fir example small items charges on arrival from abroad, if you need to pay import tax / VAT that is the same.
However, the handling charge typically used to be £1 + VAT.

It's now £8 + VAT.

That's just an exaple and applies to imports but general UK deliveries are also higher in price.

Heard a lot about outlying areas such as Scotland etc, very much depends on courier.
But I agree, must be a right pain with that, and expensive. âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ âï¸âï¸

9th Jun 2017 7:39pm

RLD

Member Since: 29 Jun 2007
Location: Lancs
Posts: 858

leeds wrote:
Companies which are VAT registered have to charge VAT on carriage. So of the £7 in the original post the government will get about £1.17.

For us to post things out means a trip to the local post office which is time, fuel and running costs on a vehicle, who pays for that?

It is not just a simple matter of weight to work out postage/courier costs as size is important. Large letter, small parcel or medium parcel size for Royal Mail.

What is length of parcel? Under 1m, between 1 and 1.2 metres or up to 2.7m long with combined length and girth of less then 3.3m?

One courier we use charges £15 surcharge on items over 1m long.

Another courier it s 1.2m for additional handling charge of about £7.50

Delivery to a residential address rather then a business address can attract a residential fee of about £3

Overseas delivery? Costs can vary by up to 300% dependent on courier/broker used

Barbara and I work on te basis we win some on carriage costs and lose on other carriage costs.

As for free delivery, I have not yet met a delivery driver who will work for nothing.

As for the GSP on ebay for customers overseas especially out of the EU

Brendan

RLD fabricator of Hidden Winch Mount for D3/4 roof racks jerry can holders CB aerial mounts and much more and agent for Helsport Tents and gear

12th Jun 2017 1:10pm

gilarion

Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5109

Spectre wrote:
From the Royal Mail website - http://www.royalmail.com/price-finder

Small package, up to 1kg, not tracked, 1st class - £3.40, 2nd class - £2.90

What you described is a small package and I'm assuming under 1kg?

Sent Second class letter post value of stamp £1.20 For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1

12th Jun 2017 2:58pm

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