1 Topic by William (edited by William 2022-02-19 08:32:42)

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Topic: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

https://www.royalmail.com/collection

https://send.royalmail.com/

This is an interesting development.

Has anyone here used it yet please?

When it started it required one to either print a label at home, from a QR code in some way, or go to somewhere, present the QR code and get a label.

Now there is an option for the 'postie' as they put it, to bring a label.

> Alternatively, your postie can bring your labels when they come to collect. Simply select the ‘Bring my label’ option* as you’re booking your collection. Your postie will bring your labels on your collection date, and pass them to you to affix to your parcel(s).

Not such a pleasing prospect if one is sheltering from COVID-19.

However,

> If I’m not going to be in, can my parcel still be collected?

> You can arrange to leave your parcel(s) in your nominated Safeplace for collection.***

where the *** has

> ***If you are opting to use the Bring My label service, your postie can only bring one pre-printed postage label if the collection is from your Safeplace.

That seems to imply that necessarily the 'postie' will affix the label to the item.

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

William wrote:

> ***If you are opting to use the Bring My label service, your postie can only bring one pre-printed postage label if the collection is from your Safeplace.

The idea of this restriction is, presumably, to avoid any mix-ups that could occur with labels for multiple unlabelled items.

William wrote:

That seems to imply that necessarily the 'postie' will affix the label to the item.

Indeed it does. If the postal delivery operative is collecting from your Safeplace rather than from you in person, it couldn’t reasonably be left to anyone else to affix the label.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams

3 Reply by William (edited by William 2022-02-19 11:19:03)

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

Alfred wrote:
William wrote:

> ***If you are opting to use the Bring My label service, your postie can only bring one pre-printed postage label if the collection is from your Safeplace.

The idea of this restriction is, presumably, to avoid any mix-ups that could occur with labels for multiple unlabelled items.

I thought that at first, and maybe it is, but perhaps it is to avoid a 'postie' finding a greenhouse full of parcels!

So a limit is needed.

However, there is a bit about that the 'postie' would pass (whatever that might mean in a COVID-19 situation) the labels (plural) to the customer, seems to reinforce the idea of seekung to avoid a mix up with more than one "customer not at home" collection.

I am not quite sure exactly how it would work with me at home sending a letter whilst observing social distancing as there is no 'safe place' out the front and, although I could put a parcel on the doorstep, a letter could blow away, and anyway there would be security considerations.

I can do most things over the telephone, by email, web facilities, card transaction and direct bank transfer for payments, but occasionally there are things that need a physically signed letter.

William

4 Reply by William (edited by William 2022-02-19 12:00:17)

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

Ah there appears to be a workaround.

They ask

> Please tell us where your Safeplace is in case there's no one at the property:

and there are some preset choices yet also 'Other' and 'Other' has a limited size freeform text box with enough space to put the following.

Plse knock, go 5 metres back, I will put on step

So I could put the letter in a Tesco translucent food freezer bag to keep it clean.

and there is also the following.

> Got a dog? Let us know. Please ensure it’s out of the way before we arrive.

So the space can be used as follows

No dog but isolating to try not to get COVID-19

Collecting the letter of under 100 grammes including providing a label and including postage is £1.45, which is very good. Pay by a credit card or debit card over the web.

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

I know, I know! smile

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

William wrote:

I know, I know! smile

William

Too cryptic for me, I’m afraid!

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

Alfred wrote:
William wrote:

I know, I know! smile

William

Too cryptic for me, I’m afraid!

I was meaning the matter of me seeking to adapt their system to my needs might seem a bit odd. big_smile

No dog but ... etc so as to convey information.

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

The website is a bit ambiguous in that to get them to collect a new item one needs to do a Send as there is a Collect which appears to be for other things including returning something somewhere and also something that I don't understand what it is.

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

William wrote:
Alfred wrote:
William wrote:

I know, I know! smile

William

Too cryptic for me, I’m afraid!

I was meaning the matter of me seeking to adapt their system to my needs might seem a bit odd. big_smile

No dog but ... etc so as to convey information.

William

Thank you.

William wrote:

The website is a bit ambiguous in that to get them to collect a new item one needs to do a Send as there is a Collect which appears to be for other things including returning something somewhere and also something that I don't understand what it is.

William

Once again, too cryptic for me!

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

So one goes to

https://www.royalmail.com/collection

"Ah, right, I'd like them to collect a parcel from me."

So I'll click on 'Book a collection'.

Click it, and I arrive at

https://send.royalmail.com/

"Ah, there is a panel 'Send an item' but I want them to collect, so I suppose (wrongly) that I need to select the 'Arrange a collection' heading."

Yes, Arrange a collection now.

https://send.royalmail.com/collect/youritems

What?

What one needs to do is at

https://send.royalmail.com/

to use 'Send an item' then it will go to a customized page to arrange it all.

From there it is all straightforward to use.

William

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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

William wrote:

… What one needs to do is at
https://send.royalmail.com/
to use 'Send an item' then it will go to a customized page to arrange it all.
From there it is all straightforward to use.

Thanks for the clarification!

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
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Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

William wrote:

"Ah, there is a panel 'Send an item' but I want them to collect, so I suppose (wrongly) that I need to select the 'Arrange a collection' heading."
Yes, Arrange a collection now.
https://send.royalmail.com/collect/youritems
What?

Hmm. That appears to take me to the same place as your “What you need to do is” instructions, albeit by what seems to be a more circuitous route.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
  • Registered: 2022-01-21
  • Posts: 1,588

Re: Royal Mail Parcel Collect - but it includes letters

Alfred wrote:
William wrote:

"Ah, there is a panel 'Send an item' but I want them to collect, so I suppose (wrongly) that I need to select the 'Arrange a collection' heading."
Yes, Arrange a collection now.
https://send.royalmail.com/collect/youritems
What?

Hmm. That appears to take me to the same place as your “What you need to do is” instructions, albeit by what seems to be a more circuitous route.

Oh. Once I got to there I thought that I was stuck and needed to go back.

William