Need some help with postage etc

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Lovely ebaying MNers - I need some help!

I hadn't ebayed for a while and I did a batch last week but I messed up the postage - did myself out of £ I think by using the paypal postage.

So I have some scales so I can weigh things. I am ok on what can go as letter, large letter and packet as I have one of those posters with all the sizes on.

What I am confused about is standard parcel v ? 1st/2nd class parcel.

I put my P&P on ebay using standard parcel prices and used paypal to print the labels then I realised that I'd have to take them to the post office as they were too big for the post box.

I didn't realise that in the post office they reweigh them. I had a "lecture" about how it doesn't save time as they have to reweigh and that I needn't have used standard parcel rate but could have used 1st/2nd class.

eg of a package was 2 baby sleeping bags wrapped in brown paper.

Can any one shed any light on this? How can I get accurate postage amounts on my items. I want to know in advance and will add a little for packing etc.

Also another question - is the myHermes thing any good for sending out parcels - I was just wondering how smoothly it works when they pick them up etc.

The last question - I send a car seat py parcelforce and paid and printed label at home and opted to take to the post office. When I got there it turns out only larger post offices take these if you've already paid in advance - so I had to take it to a post office in a larger town.

Sorry for essay - any postage tips will be gratefully received.

I bought one of these. It has all the current prices and weights etc on it, and I'm right chuffed with it!

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190520703182#ht_695wt_693

I never use paypal to print postage, larger items can't fit in a post box and need taking to the Post Office, also everything should be taken to the PO to receive a Proof of Posting or be sent recorded.
I use this www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400023&mediaId=11200122 and use the dimensions as well as weight to work out whether to use 1st/2nd or Standard Parcels.
HTH

I do all my postage via Paypal, but have an arrangement with my local post office lady where I swan in, dump large bag of parcels on the end of the counter along with large pile of Proof of Postings, wave at her gaily and swan out again. Next time I go in she gives me all the stamped PoP's from the previous visit.

thanks for the replies.

tyzer2001 is there an option then in paypal postage for sending parcels by first and second class - I only seemed to find "standard parcel" - not sure what I was doing wrong

When I post anything via PP I get the following options:
RM first class
RM first class recorded
RM standard parcels
RM special delivery
PW express24
PW express48

and then you enter the weight of the parcel.

best thing is not to use paypal for postage. When you take your parcels to the PO after getting the postage from paypal, the PO still has to check and issue POPs etc, yet the PO gets no money for this. We really don't want any more POs closing down.

To get the correct postage cost to insert into your listing simply weigh your item with the packaging and then look up the cost on the Royal Mail Website. You can get all the info for size and weight on the website.

I use this to calculate postage.

Never had a problem with under estimated postage. Make sure you weigh with the packaging.

You can print your own Pop's at the same time as you print the Paypal postage, and the Post office are judged on the amount of traffic they process, so prepaid mail still counts towards their targets.

maybe, but they don't make any money

Miss my point much?

I acknowledged your point with the word maybe. Traffic can be a factor into the decision of whether to keep a post office open or not. A factor.

When a customer swans in with a pile of pre-paid postage parcels, the Post Office has to process these parcels, which obviously takes time, yet they receive only a tiny fraction of the amount they would have received if they were to process them in the usual way ie provide the actual postage.
If more and more people use the post office to process their pre-paid parcels then the post office's income would drop to an unnacceptable amount, forcing the Post Master to 'pack it in'. It then doesn't take much to understand that the chances of someone replacing him would be very slim - no-one would take on a business that doesn't pay. Therefore, the post office has now closed down.

So, no, I didn't miss your point much. Your point is invalid.

I specifically asked my friendly postlady's opinion on this before starting to use Paypal postage. Prior to that I used to drop the bag of parcels off in the morning and go back in the afternoon to pay. She would do the postage over the course of the day during quiet moments.

When I asked her opinion on this, she said that part of her targets are based on footfall (for which I would still count, as would someone who came in to pick up a form for example) and number of sacks collected per day - for which my parcels would also count.

She doesn't have to process my parcels, she simply chucks them into a sack, counts them and stamps my POP's. Therefore she doesn't have to do extra work for no income either.

Ergo, my point stands.

The pre-paid parcels have to be entered into the system, not just chucked into a sack. This takes time. Not as much time as it would to wait for the printer to issue the postage stamp, granted, but still time, and for a tiny fraction of the amount the post office would receive if they were to be issuing the postage. Therefore, the Post Master is still spending his time working but for a fraction of the monetary reward.
If more and more people use the post office to process their pre-paid parcels then the post office's income would drop to an unnacceptable amount, forcing the Post Master to 'pack it in'. It then doesn't take much to understand that the chances of someone replacing him would be very slim - no-one would take on a business that doesn't pay. Therefore, the post office has now closed down.

Your postlady has admitted that this footfall counts for only 'part' of the targets. No amount of footfall of this type would ensure that the post office is safe from closure.

You could maybe ask your postlady what the difference is in the amount she receives for processing your pre-paid parcels to the amount she would receive if she were to issue the postage. You can then decide if this arrangement still suits you personally. You can then go on to calculate what the monetary loss to the PostOffice would be if more and more people were to do as you do.

My postlady ONLY CHUCKS THEM IN A SACK. She doesn't enter them onto the system. I have watched her chuck them in the sack and fasten the top of the sack with a cable tie.

Ok dear, no need to shout. Your postlady chucks them in a sack. I'll believe you
Obviously I'm not going to continue discussing what your postlady does and doesn't do, but at least I have been able to state the facts of the matter here for others to make a more informed decision about whether to use pre-paid or not. It's best to have the facts and more information in order to discover whether something we do has consequences or not. Don't you think?

Indeed I do. ALL the facts, not just the ones that suit your argument. Anyway, have a nice day.

So pleased I have been able to explain all the facts well enough. It seems that your postlady maybe mislead you with regard to the differences of pre-paid and buying postage from the Post Office itself. But at least now you have been able to see that there was a downside to your pre-paid parcels, and that it was misguided info from the postlady that prompted you believe that pre-paid suited you.

Indeed, you could not be more wrong. However, believing that you have shown me the error of my ways will leave you more contented than feeling you have failed, and so I leave you to your celebrations.

oops I am so sorry. I really did read your previous post to mean that now you were in possession of all the facts you realised that pre-paid didn't suit you. I now realise that that is not the case. It is not my aim to convert 'you' (you are not the only poster on the forums) nor is it my aim to convert anyone else, but merely explain the system, in the hope that it may help people come to the decision that sits well with them. Therefore I feel neither contented or discontented. I have failed in being able to explain it all in a way that you can understand or at least acknowledge, I accept that. I can think of no other way to explain it though, sorry.

As I misunderstood your post I now take it that your remark was aimed at me; that I am the one that only looks at the facts that suit me. This does not make sense. Nothing would suit me more than being able to simply drop off my parcels and walk out of the Post Office (and get on with some work). If I were to simply look at the points you made then I would be able to say that it suited me. As I have actually looked at all the facts I have followed the route of doing what I believe to be right and fair - despite the fact that it doesn't exactly suit me.

Tyzer2001, you have been very unpleasant throughout this discussion and there really was no need for it. I feel I now understand why your postlady is more than happy for you to go staight in and out of her shop.

You set out to 'educate' me. I find that patronising at best and infuriating at worst.

Now, with all due respect I have tried to leave this discussion several times and leave you happy in the knowledge that you've done your best to set the world to rights. So now, I am off for my evening meal and will not be back to discuss this further.