Hi,

Welcome to my 2nd practical sellers guide on how to use the various popular and rarly used postal options, delivered by Royal mail.

This Guide covers the following:  Royal mail Special Delivery, Royal mail International Signed For

Everything is written from personal experience!!!!!

Part 3 of this Guide - click this link:  Royal Mail - an Ebay Sellers Guide (Part 3)

Part 1 of this Guide - click this link:  Royal Mail - an Ebay Sellers Guide (Part 1)

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1.  Sending via Royal Mail - UK options

ROYAL MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY

Special Delibery is perfect if you want to post any item valued at over £32 (standard Recorded Delivery only covers a max of £32) - SD covers £500 upto £2500 (extra payment required).  Also it provides a guarentee of next day delivery (9am or 1pm).  I have never had a parcel go missing!!!  500g to 1KG is £5.70, but there is a big hike from 1KG to 2KG - £7.40 - really annoying that there is no 1.5KG price point :(  .  You can post upto 10KG...but its cheaper to use ParcelForce.

• £500 minimum compensation
• Requires a signature by the receiver
• Can be used as proof of postage

ANTI FRAUD TIP:  if your buyer claims that they have not received a parcel, you can prove to paypal that you sent it, and it was signed for (always keep the slip & the original post office paper till receipt stapled to it) - paypal ask for this.

ROYAL MAIL INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR

ISF is perfect when sending a parcel overseas - in fact it is essential, as the receiver has to sign for the parcel - thus providing you with evidence it was received.  It costs £3.30 ontop of the standard Airmail price....which I think is pretty good value for money.  however the downside is that the standard insurance given is only £32.  you have to pay an extra £1,50 for upto £500.  Some other good points is that the parcel is given priority handling (but only in the UK) - once it reaches the destination country it is treated as standard mail - only AirSure (discussed later) has priority handling in UK and abroad!

A bad point is that you can prove it was signed for, but RoyalMail cannot supply the actual signature!

** Very Useful Tip **  If sending to USA, you can track the delivery on USPS.com website...and see where it was delivered...if you are sad (like me!!) you can see all the cities across America that it has transferred through ;)

ROYAL MAIL AIRSURE

Airsure is similar to ISF (above), however it is electronically tracked and no signature is required.  Some countries only accept Airsure and not International Signed For - wierd, from memory its Poland.  As ISF, there is Priority handling in UK, but also abroad too.  Parcels are sent on the 1st available flight.

Cost is £4.00 on top of Airmail price (so 0.70 more than ISF).  You are covered upto £32 - but for an extra £1,50, you can insure upto £500

Extra Advice When Sending Abroad

• Always put your return address on the back of any parcel
• Always use a postcode/ Zipcode in USA
• Always include a customs slip on the front (bottom left) to non EU countries.
• Always write clearly and in block capitals, so the postman can read it! - preferable use printed lables from your PC.
• Always send your buyer the online tracking number, and paste it into selling manager pro, so if you need to recall it, you have it to hand (saves routing through lots of receipts!!)

Regards,

John

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