Category: Mailing

In recent times the post office has seen a reduction in the number of people using its services as we all do more of our business online rather than in person but what the general public often fail to realise is that the disappearance of local post offices leaves a gaping hole in many communities.

The weekly journey to the village post office to collect their pension was for some elderly folks the only opportunity they had of connecting with people and socialising. Once the post office decided to close its post office accounts for many people this lifeline disappeared. This has been especially difficult for those without transport or those that have no choice but to use their local services.

If there is still a local post office in your location it is important that you continue to use it for banking, taxing vehicles, transferring money and sending parcels and letters because if more and more of us turn our backs on this vital part of the community it will be taken away. Even if it is sometimes easier to do these tasks online think about the livelihood of local shop keepers and continue to use local postal services if you can.

Although the postal service in the UK is generally reliable there are occasions when a courier service may be more appropriate. A courier service is run by a private company that arranges the transportation of parcels and documents to places both locally and around the world and are tailored to offer a service that is specific to the goods that are shipped. Couriers are often used in larger cities to transfer legal documents from office to office that cannot be emailed or faxed as putting these documents in the normal postal service would take longer.

The main benefit of using a courier service rather than the normal postal service in the UK is that the sender has more control over the shipping of goods, that is to say they can determine when the shipment is delivered. Courier service is usually much quicker than other methods of shipping, is more reliable and more secure which is of vital importance when sending valuable items. There is also less chance of parcels getting lost in transit using a courier service, a problem that has escalated in recent months. Although the cost of sending goods via a courier is more expensive many companies choose this method over the Royal Mail for its reliability and convenience.

With Christmas now only just over a month away many people are starting to get their Christmas purchases and Christmas cards ready to be sent out. Due to the Covid pandemic this year, lots of people are dubious about sending Christmas cards as they do not really want to send out unnecessary postage that may have been touched by a large number of people. It may be that there are a lot of relatives that you have not been able to see for a long time and so sending them a Christmas card and a letter, could be the boost they need during this lonely time.

If you have lots of friends on social media sites or have their email address then why not create a digital Christmas card. There are several websites where you can create E-cards which can be emailed or shared as a gif on your social media page. This still allows you to wish all your friends and family a Merry Christmas but does cut down on the risk.

If you do still decide to send Christmas cards out then make sure you use self seal envelopes and if you receive any through the post you may wish to quarantine them for about 3 days to avoid any transmission of the virus.

When sending items through the post or with a courier then you may at one time or the other find that your parcel or letter gets lost. This can be extremely frustrating and although you cannot completely stop this from ever happening there are ways in which you can try and avoid it.

Deepening on what you are posting you may want to send items recorded delivery or special delivery. If the item is valuable then you need to send it special delivery possibly with enhanced compensation. This will cost more but covers you in case the item gets lost or damaged. When ever you send anything through the post make sure that it is packaged correctly. Many items go missing because they envelope or box has not been sealed correctly and therefore comes open on its journey.

If you have sent an item using a tracked service you may be able to see exactly where it is or at least when it has been delivered. If you have used this service and cannot see your parcel delivered in the time frame you expected you can often ask for a refund of the delivery charges you paid.

No one likes to receive damaged goods in the post so there are several things that you can do to make sure your parcel arrives undamaged.

A parcel that is properly packaged will be less likely to get damaged in transit. It is important to package the item in a box or an envelope of the correct size. Packages that are in a box that is too large can become dented, while overstuffed boxes are prone to tearing. Inflatable bags or bubble wrap should be wrapped around any items that are breakable.

Cardboard envelopes are ideal to use for lightweight documents, but bubble envelopes are best for sending small awkwardly shaped items.

Packages can be taken to the nearest post office if you are sending it through Royal Mail but sometimes it is easier to arrange for it to be collected by a courier firm. Although this service will probably be more expensive it is often a more convenient way to send larger items.

It is important to obtain a proof of posting or receipt from the post office or courier in case of any dispute from the potential receiver of the parcel and consider insuring the package if it contains a high value item.