effing royal mail!

[diablo]

Originally Posted by tifosi

Just a rant...

<rant>
Sold some items on ebay last week. Of the dozen or so 1 has been lost (1st class recorded delivery!) and another was delivered totally smashed to pieces.

Never again! Note to self: Don't use RM parcel delivery! wasters!
</rant>

there, feel better now.

Royal Mail won´t accept it as lost if you only sent it last week. Then they make it as difficult as possible to claim (big form, need the actual proof of postage not just reference number, etc).

[fish]

I have just come across these ppl who may be a nice alternative to RM (not promoting them & have no affiliation) check the exclusions list though, it's quite extensive.

[crabfoot]

Hermes are used mainly by catalogue firms, because they are cheap. I wouldn't recommend them, but they may have improved recently.

What you want depends what you are sending. Big and bulky stuff is often best sent using one of those people that advertise on eBay - they look for extra trade to maintain the discounted rate they pay for parcel services. Usually, the stuff is collected / delivered by Parcelfarce or DHL.

Sometimes, "lost" is a kindness - you can claim it back, when smashed up porcelain or glass can't be claimed for because it is excluded.

You have to remember that parcels pass through automated systems, and get crammed into "cages" by people who take their brains out before clocking in.
Best protection is a "crumple zone" built into every parcel around the goods.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by diablo

Royal Mail won´t accept it as lost if you only sent it last week. Then they make it as difficult as possible to claim (big form, need the actual proof of postage not just reference number, etc).

They've finally found and delivered it. 1st class. Well sort of. Only 2weeks late!!

On the other hand they've smashed another item which was boxed and bubble wrapped. They would have had to throw it against a wall then stamp on it!! Had to refund that which is another £10 down the swannie!

S

[bb99]

Sometimes the Royal Mail's stupidity can work in your favour - they paid out £150 to me on a damaged Special Delivery item a few years ago. And then they paid it again a week or so later.

Oops.