Calculating postage & whether to send recorded

[AliceinBunnyland]

I used to sell quite a bit on eBay, nothing like a business but often beauty products from unwanted gifts, 3 for 2 type offers and Glossy Box items that has built up.

I want to start again and have some similar items to get rid of. How do I calculate postage? Do I need one of those letter box size things that they use in the post office to see if it's a letter or a parcel and also a scale?

Or I could just assume I can send most small items (eg mascara) for £1.

Also should I be sending recorded or take the risk that only a small % of items will be lost or recipient will say they have not received it (because if it is lost then I have to refund them, right?)

If you’re sending small items like a mascara then a large letter size would be fine sent with Royal Mail.

You can use Royal Mail drop and go service. You check pricing online, book it in online and pay for it and then take it to your local post office and they’ll process it for you. I don’t think you’ll need the size guide as there measurements and weight will be online. Scales would be handy!

If you’re sending multiple items that aren’t too wide you can get letterbox boxes that would be useful, I’ve sent things in the past that could’ve been larger letter size and ended up paying for a small parcel due to the box used.

You could send second class signed for and as large letter it’s not too expensive and most people would pay for it.

Don’t assume post cost as you’ll end up out of pocket. I think a first class stamp is not far off £1 and that’s just for standard letter.

Thanks for the advice

If you’re sending multiple items that aren’t too wide you can get letterbox boxes that would be useful, I’ve sent things in the past that could’ve been larger letter size and ended up paying for a small parcel due to the box used.

Are you saying they large letter is more expensive than a small parcel?

It sounds like I do need scales but for a large letter I can just use a stamp and not weigh it?

I expect this will make more sense once I get back into it

No, she is saying items would have fit in a large letter but she put them in a box which was too big so she had to pay for a small parcel, which is more. So the advice is to use large letter boxes if your item will fit in it.

If you use large envelopes, they can end up being too fat to fit the large letter gap so a stamp wouldn't be enough. It's best to check it or make sure the item fits in a large letter box.

I just look at the size guide online and measure my boxes carefully to make sure I know the price. And sometimes reduce the box size to get a cheaper price if poss!

I weigh on kitchen scales.

If you post without recorded make sure you get a free proof of postage receipt, or if your box doesn’t arrive/the buyers say it hasn’t you’ll be in trouble.

I usually do recorded. To feel safer!

I feel like I need the letter box thing that they use in the post office because it's hard to measure the width of a parcel.

Yes I think I used to do recorded as if felt like less of a risk. Presumably if I got proof of postage I would still need to refund if the buyer didn't get it?

Thanks for the advice.

Using kitchen scales is a good idea.

I always send it recorded. Not worth the risk.

It's an extra pound to send something recorded though so that's a lot when the item is only sold for about £1

So I suppose then I've wondered whether to take the risk because if the % where I am likely to have to give a refund

Royal Mail standard parcels (but NOT large letters) also come with delivery confirmation, albeit without a signature. Because of covid-19, no parcels are currently being signed for by customers, so the main difference between the two is that with standard you can claim up to £20 compensation for lost items, and with recorded/Signed For you can claim up to £50.

If you have sold a low-cost item that is too big to go as a large letter, you may as well use standard delivery rather than recorded.

You can make your own measure thing with a bit of cardboard.

Measurements are here
business.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/89/~/size-and-weight-guide-–-uk-letters-and-parcels

Even if sent unrecorded, if it gets lost you can make a claim as long as you have proof of postage. I only send recorded if the amount I would need to claim is over £20 as that is all you are covered for sending first class unrecorded.

I sell on eBay and the difference between large letter and small parcel is huge- £1.15 for the lightest large letter and £3.58 (or £3.70 in the post office) for the lightest small parcel.

Some of parcels only just make it into large letter- I send them in thin grey plastic bags to make them thin enough for large letter.

I use kitchen scales to weigh, post office don't supply any width measures so I just measure myself. Or get them to check it at the post office before you list it so you know.

If you have sold a low-cost item that is too big to go as a large letter, you may as well use standard delivery rather than recorded.

This is useful to know.

You can make your own measure thing with a bit of cardboard.

Might try this!

Some of parcels only just make it into large letter- I send them in thin grey plastic bags to make them thin enough for large letter.

I had this issue last week (not eBay but had parcels to post). I posted two small items and they were about 88p to send 2nd class recorded, large letter or standard letter I assume (small Jiffy bag with mascara and eye shadow in).

The third only just wouldn't go through the large letter box so was a small parcel and ended up being £4.50 but if I'd realised I was borderline with that (I didn't because it's been a while since I did eBay) I could have made it thinner!

@AliceinBunnyland Oh no! I would have taken it away and repackaged it before paying extra 😆

Oh no! I would have taken it away and repackaged it before paying extra

I didn't even think of that but I know for next time (hopefully)!