Printing Lables VS Going Into Post For Despatch Within The UK

[OldTom]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

You drop them off and the machines or people will scan them after.

Yes, that service is available, indeed whilst not practical for all sellers, particularly volume sellers, if you want to stand and wait they'll even print out the labels for you.

They'll even bring pre-printed labels to you for collections.

[degsey69]

If the Royal Mail makes a pickup and you do not have a commercial account you will pay for that pick up. When I shipped in the states I bought a huge mail box so the mail man would pick up my stuff, then when it got to much I went to the USPS own mail box and literally fill it, to get told off by the mail carrier as they only expect a plastic tray to come out not an avalanche of packages when they empty it and was directed to use the post office putting them through the hole in the wall for prepaid packages. As my US business grew I got a truck visit every day and filled it with 3 or 4 of their plastic bins which was taken straight to the main plant.

My business is in the UK is small now by choice and I take packages to drop off points for other carriers and the post office for some. We do not have USPS stores and FedEx stores just small convince stores who let us drop off our order.

[OldTom]

Originally Posted by degsey69

If the Royal Mail makes a pickup and you do not have a commercial account you will pay for that pick up.

It's actually the complete opposite.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by OldTom

It's actually the complete opposite.

Seems a bit of conflicting info about Royal Mail - are you implying that no commercial account = free shipping?

[OldTom]

Originally Posted by rsot

Seems a bit of conflicting info about Royal Mail -

There's no conflicting information, just right and wrong. I merely corrected the claim. It's is a fact that business account collections are not free unless you meet their minimum spend. I've literally copy-and-pasted their terms in an earlier post. Personal customers currently enjoy free collections.

Originally Posted by rsot

are you implying that no commercial account = free shipping?

Don't be ridiculous, of course I'm not.

[Delta1]

Originally Posted by SaiJin

Huh? UK is not letting sellers print a label and drop it off in their red drop box?
Or am I reading this wrong?

We can't do that with our main mail service unless we use stamps so for postage bought online, we need to either arrange a collection (usually earliest is next day collection) or take it into a post office (and have it scanned in, as mentioned). If we didn't, we wouldn't have insurance should the items get lost.

We do have drop off stores and parcel lockers if we use other couriers. Some lockers can be accessed 24/7.

It's harder if item is destined for out of the country and most use the post office as it costs less.

[SaiJin]

Originally Posted by degsey69

If the Royal Mail makes a pickup and you do not have a commercial account you will pay for that pick up. When I shipped in the states I bought a huge mail box so the mail man would pick up my stuff, then when it got to much I went to the USPS own mail box and literally fill it, to get told off by the mail carrier as they only expect a plastic tray to come out not an avalanche of packages when they empty it and was directed to use the post office putting them through the hole in the wall for prepaid packages. As my US business grew I got a truck visit every day and filled it with 3 or 4 of their plastic bins which was taken straight to the main plant.

My business is in the UK is small now by choice and I take packages to drop off points for other carriers and the post office for some. We do not have USPS stores and FedEx stores just small convince stores who let us drop off our order.

is a commercial post office account free or perhaps with a minimum volume/mo ?

[Delta1]

To qualify for RoyalMail Business account, you need £5000 annual spend or 20 items on average per week. It’s free.