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[CLKD]

For the last few months when ever I post a package/parcel I am asked what it contains  - but the Staff can't tell me why they need to ask nor how to recognise a suspect reply 

Any sharp answers girls?  I could tell them "Mum's washing" last week which was true but I'm running out of ideas   

[katsclaws]

I think it's because you are no longer allowed to include batteries with an item. 

[CLKD]

Why don't the Staff know that 

[Pennyfarthing]

I jump in ahead of them .... I post quite a lot of stuff as I sell on EBay. I hand my parcel over and say "nothing hazardous inside." 

Last year I sold a heart shaped potato .... YEs really! ..... for £12 on eBay for Valentines Day.  she asked me what was in the parcel and the devil in me answered "an ornament." I just didn't feel like telling her it was a potato!  . Just shows it's pretty pointless asking.

[CLKD]

 

Did the recipient appreciate the potato? (I hate it when Bradley Walsh mutters 'potato' at the end of that programme  )

[Scampi]

It's combination of restrictions on what you can send where, and the value of the parcel (normal postage includes little, if any, insurance - if your parcel has some value, enhanced services are better suited).

[katsclaws]

I find Special Delivery weights a nuisance. If the item weighs under 2 kg it's £11.00. If it weighs between 2kg and 10kg it is £27.00. We send an item once a year for calibration. It weighs just a few grams over 2kg. I have stood in the post office in previous years ripping off cardboard flaps to get it under 2kg. Thankfully we now have to remove batteries so when I posted it yesterday it was easily under 2kg.

[Pennyfarthing]

Did the recipient appreciate the potato? (I hate it when Bradley Walsh mutters 'potato' at the end of that programme  )

Yes!  She sent me a lovely message to say she was so thrilled with it because she had been married 13 years and every single year she had cooked  her hubby a heart shaped jacket spud (his favourite) on Valentines Day.  She panicked a bit because it was getting close to Valentines and she hadn't sourced one.

 I only put it on for a joke when I found it in my spud sack. It was big and such a beautiful heart shape. It was really excitingly watching people bid on it.  My friend said £12 for one potato .... she must be mad!!"

[Pennyfarthing]

I find Special Delivery weights a nuisance. If the item weighs under 2 kg it's £11.00. If it weighs between 2kg and 10kg it is £27.00. We send an item once a year for calibration. It weighs just a few grams over 2kg. I have stood in the post office in previous years ripping off cardboard flaps to get it under 2kg. Thankfully we now have to remove batteries so when I posted it yesterday it was easily under 2kg.

My son sold something on eBay the other day and got a shock when it was weighed and they wanted about fifteen quid.  I told him to send it by Collect Plus and that was just over six quid. I have used them many times for all sorts of stuff and had great service.

[katsclaws]

Thanks pennyfarthing, I've just had a look and will use collect+ for personal items.
The equipment we send off from work for calibration needs compensation cover for £2500 so have to use Royal Mail Special Delivery or a courier.

[annieb]

Staff should know why they are asking - as mentioned some of it's to do with batteries in mobiles (you can send a mobile and you can send a battery as long as the battery is not inside the mobile - fire hazard - as per recent TV reports) and some is to do with other hazardous items.  Not sure how they will know if you lie . Also I think a certain amount of this is to with upselling - if they think there's something valuable in there they will try to sell you an extra cover for loss.  Bit of a joke really as try claiming  - if you haven't got the receipt for the original item then there's no chance. Having said that our company sends thousands of parcels each year by Royal Mail and only a very very small percentage of those go missing (and some of those are customers who are a little dishonest  )
If you have a parcel over 2kgs try using Yodel Direct. Think it's around £6.00 up to about 10kg and they collect from your home.  Haven't used them a lot but our experiences have been good and system is fully tracked