Sending Parcels (May 2013)

[vborovic]

I just hope you won't find it fits you, and decide to keep if for yourself ... ... btw, it's not a secret, here's what I've ordered:



The new ones are ridiculously expensive ... I'm also looking for the Citroen jackets (new design), WRC style, but they're in the 120 GBP price range ... without shipping ...

[myglaren]

That should roll up and fit in a cardboard tube like the piece of trim and be acceptable dimensions and weight for the P.O.

I tend not to wear 'branded' items with the rare exception of my Cowboy Junkies T-shirt, a Newcastle University t-shirt from a graduation ceremony with the names of a couple of friends on it (Ana DeBarros and Rosa Sancho) and an Imogen Heap one - had to buy that at a concert to get change for the parking meter - £25. Good concert though

So your item is safe - maybe

[bobins]

That should roll up and fit in a cardboard tube like the piece of trim and be acceptable dimensions and weight for the P.O.

Tubes spec for the Royal Mail (same price)

Minimum size: Length plus 2 x diameter should be at least 17cm, with the length no shorter than 10cm
Maximum size: Length plus 2 x diameter should be no greater than 104cm, with the length no greater than 90cm
Maximum weight: 2kg

[myglaren]

I get them from work and have one waiting in the wings - sent Mr V a bit of trim in one last year with no problems.

[Zelandeth]

MyHermes have officially hacked me off enough that I'm writing them a letter of complaint now.

Going back to Friday was the fifth time in a row I've had the "Sorry you were out" slip through the door when I was emphatically not! They have not bothered to knock or use the doorbell (easily tested as doing either of these things sends the dog into a frenetic fit of excitement which you really can't miss even from the far end of the house or outside), just stuck the slip through the door. ...really don't understand either as their default response is to attempt redelivery the following working day.

Latest real shipping grumble though is with some stuff I've got on the way from the US, and discovered that in addition to the import tax itself I also need to pay VAT on not only the value of the goods but also the fifty quids worth of shipping...expecting the customs charge as a result probably to be the best part of eighty quid. Just really does make you feel victimised for buying stuff from abroad, especially when buying locally simply isn't an option. Got some additional materials to pick up yet and most likely those will be from the US as well as the suppliers I'm looking at dont have EU based distributors annoyingly...have to keep a record just for curiousity as to fees versus actual project costs!

[myglaren]

I have fallen foul of that buying CDs from China and Japan.
The first one cost me over £100, mainly in Vat and handling charges.

Told them to stick it the second time as postage had been paid in Japan. They weren't happy but sucked it up.

The Yodel guy who delivers here always sticks a card in as he knows that there is rarely anyone home (my son is but sleeps days, works nights) so he knows to lock stuff in the services cupboard and post the key and card.
Even if I am home he does it as it takes me forever to get to the door even if I see him coming.

[Zelandeth]

I think this is probably going to be the largest bill I've had for importing something to date, the first one caught me completely off guard though.

Would have been back in 2004 or 5, I took part in a charity raffle over on the Candlepower Forums (lighting and similar tech related), for a one off flashlight from a company called Surefire, signed by the designer etc. Cost me $5 for the ticket and I won. Of course I hadn't taken into account the fact that it was actually worth something like $200, which was of course on the customs form - cue a £50 or so invoice arriving from Royal Mail! ...was a student back then and fifty quid was a lot so I wasn't best pleased.

At least this time I'm expecting to be beaten over the head with it I guess...

Think one of my housemates could probably tell a few stories like this as well, they're an avid gamer and have had quite a few things shipped over from Japan etc as a result, and I'm sure will have had a few "HOOOOW much?!?" moments as a result.

[myglaren]

Everything I buy from Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore and Greece I always get them to declare the value as <£15 so there are no customs charges.
Most of them do this automatically now anyway.
Same from USA & Canada but rarely buy from there now.

[CitroJim]

This seems an appropriate place for a screenshot of this frankly bizarre email I received from Royal Mail today

And they weren't even parcels

[PaulC5]

We had 2 parcels delivered recently by Royal Mail. Their idea of a time slot is an email the day before saying it will come tomorrow but no guarantee. Then on the day about 1.30 pm another email saying will come between 2.15 and 7.30 pm but no guarantee. One arrived 5.15 pm and the other 5.45 pm. So a full day in each time waiting. I now dread when a parcel is being delivered by them. DPD seem the best with 1 hour time slots and our Evri driver is good with 2 hour time slots usually nearer the beginning. The same Evri (Hermes) driver has been doing our area for many years and is good but we are retired and always in when having a delivery so that may help.

Our normal letters with Royal Mail seem to be down to one or two deliveries a week but we do live in a small town - Lincoln. If reduced to every other day will that be even less ?

[CitroJim]

Agreed on DPD Paul - Always been spot-on with their delivery times with me and so often nearer the beginning of the slot. Always lovely drivers too. One arrived bang-on the start of the slot and apologised for being so prompt saying he was madly early and had been patiently waiting for the correct delivery time!!!

RM are right shockers. I find Amazon can be very random too...

[PaulC5]

We had a DPD driver sat outside when he was a couple of minutes early, their system would not let him deliver before the time slot.

I received a birthday card today by the RM postman, posted 7 days ago second class from 12 miles away but franked in Sheffield 50 miles away 7 days ago and also 6 days ago. Too late for my birthday though and I think there are more still stuck in the post. I did notice a white RM van driving round our estate a few times yesterday, maybe delivering first class post or parcels in a random route.

On today's news Amazon have taken over James Bond, maybe the next 007 could be American.

[bobins]

On today's news Amazon have taken over James Bond, maybe the next 007 could be American.

Rumours are that the next Dr Evil will be an orange skinned leader of a country and he's intent on taking over the world. Pure fantasy as usual

[Paul-R]

That's the trouble. The world is in such a terrible state that we already have Bond type villains in positions of power. I can't see the new Bond succeeding in this new world as they are beyond parody.

[CitroJim]

I received a birthday card today by the RM postman, posted 7 days ago second class from 12 miles away but franked in Sheffield 50 miles away 7 days ago and also 6 days ago. Too late for my birthday though and I think there are more still stuck in the post. I did notice a white RM van driving round our estate a few times yesterday, maybe delivering first class post or parcels in a random route.

Happy belated birthday Paul

RM is totally random these days - a mere shadow of its former self and barely fit for purpose. I can go well over a week without any post at all and then I find important things wedged in between wads of junk mail.

Several times I've thrown important mail into the recycling bin amongst all the random spam the postman rams through my door.

One of our postmen clearly hates his job and the human race in general. He tightly folds everything before shoving it through a letterbox plenty big enough to not need any mail folding. 'Do Not Bend' is not in his understanding. Basically, like a lot of his colleagues, he really couldn't give a f

My dad, a lifelong postman, would be absolutely appalled. I know that for a fact. He already was before he passed on. The speed he must be spinning his grave is unimageable and could possibly be usefully harnessed.