I don’t know exactly when the Royal Mail changed their postage rating from the simple “by weight” only, to the new ”by weight, but it also has to fit through this thin little slot in a piece of perspex” system. It was a few years ago now, but I still haven’t got my head round it.
I can’t help but think that it’s just another way of squeezing more money out of us. Not that that stopped them putting up the price of stamps recently by an extortionate amount. I mean, 60p, to post a birthday card (and don’t get me started on the price of bloody birthday cards)!
The other day, after ordering some electronic components online, I received what is possibly the smallest package ever to have been put through my letterbox. And it weighed bugger all.
But, because it contained an electronic chip that was in a piece of protective plastic, it didn’t quite fit through the little perspex slot, and was therefore labelled as being ‘Large’, adding 50% to the postage costs. Ridiculous.
I suppose I should just be grateful that they didn’t lose it.
Agreed. I had to post an alleged ‘large letter’ the other day and it was £2.70! What’s all that about!
Over here you have to pay extra postage for square cards….
Jules – It’s all part of “Rip Off Britain”!
neb – You are joking. Aren’t you?
Forget 60p, that’s 12 SHILLINGS! 12 shillings would have been a year’s wage for a postman not that long ago. Well maybe a hundred years ago. But 12 SHILLINGS!!!!!!!
I’ve been in post offices where my package (fnarr) was rejected because it brushed the top edge. And I’ve been in post offices where my other package (fnarr) was squeezed and manhandled (personhandled?) through the gap.
And also…
Twelve shillings?
Ludicrous prices; I think that they are losing so much money on the letter and card business, mostly done on-line now, that they have to make up the shortfall. Most businesses don’t use them for parcels either.