Does Royal Mail allow items to get wet through?

[mumnosbest]

I posted some clothing by Royal Mail. I posted them at a post office and they were dry. We've had no rain here. The buyer is now complaining the items arrived wet through. I'd assume Royal Mail don't leave parcels out in the rain and I've never received wet mail. I accept maybe I could have packaged the items a little better but is the buyer trying it on?

You don't need to pack items so they're completely waterproof but they certainly do need to be "shower" proof. Postmen are mainly on foot so it's very difficult to keep mail dry if it's pissing down.

She's probably exaggerating about it being soaked through but I'd just take it as a lesson learned if I were you.

I always use plastic envelopes for this purpose.

There's lots of sellers on eBay that sell them.

They're completely waterproof so no chance of items getting wet.

suppose i could use a bag but i was keeping postage costs and size down. it was a bundle of clothes (too big for an envelope). ive never had sooggy mail so think some exaggeration may be involved

I've had Royal Mail leave items out in the rain before so it could have happened to your buyer.

I live in the northwest and sometimes our mail is wet. If it is absolutely lashing it down then, yes the mail will get soaked.

You can get very large plastic envelopes.

I've heard them called skin bags.

Its fair enough wanting to keep postage costs down but where all the items get damaged and you'll be refunding your buyer the whole lot it'll save you in the long run.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUALITY-STRONG-MAILING-BAGS-PLASTIC-POSTAGE-ENVELOPES-/380346403323?pt=UK_Envelopes_Mailing_Bags&var=&hash=item97581721b1

a lot of money but you'll make it back in the long run.

I wrap clothes in clingfilm and then the envelope. I actually had someone complain about doing that though.

i'll happily use a carrier or clingfilm (great idea) but when im selling a small bundle for £1 im npt buying extra packaging. i think if i was receiving wet mail id take it up with royal mail

Ah but any problems with Royal Mail have to be taken up with the seller don't they.

*by the seller

sorry

I'll take it up with royal mail- see if they can stop the rain

OP - plastic postage bags won't cost you that much extra. I got some off ebay, 50 for about £3. They are a good enough size for small bundles of ds's old clothes and I use them all the time. What do you wrap them in? You could always put them in a plastic bag before you wrap. But like tea said, plastic mailing bags are worth it in the long run and they're really not expensive.

even at the post office you can get huge mail bags that can be about 45p, I could get a king size memory foam topper inside it with room. I've bought a bundle of 10 on ebay a month ago for about £2 inc postage.

our usual post lady is lovely and puts them in a safe place where the rain keeps off the paper parcels, but the temp we get when she's off will leave them leant up against the side of the house to get very very wet if it rains. I've had some paper parcels almost dissolve, they'd fall apart if it wasn't for the tape.

I use jiffy bags where I can, usually re-used but they still keep most water out, but item's that are susceptible to damage from water I'd put in a mail bag as well as they aren't padded to add protection.