I know this isn't being posted by a moderator or anything, but it's really useful information so I hope you'll consider making it a 'sticky'.

You can still order free size guides from Royal Mail. Just go to the link below and fill out the information. For the telephone number, it accepts writing in 'ex-directory'.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/print?catId=22700467&mediaId=22700472

Once you've determined the size, you can weigh the package and go to the link below to determine the cost. I've created a tiny url for it as well.

http://sg.royalmail.com/portal/rm/PriceFinder;jsessionid=5EAYXKLECVPG0FB2IGGUOSQ?catId=23500532&reset=true&gear=pricingcalc

http://tinyurl.com/2veln6

If you're uncertain about which postal service you need to use, you can find out here...

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400023&mediaId=11200122

And, if you have labels and a printer, you can buy the correct postage online as well, saving yourself having to put on more than is needed with stamps. The first link will provide the label sizes and you can order them online, or alternatively, source them elsewhere.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/shop?catId=9300091&pageId=shp_prdlist&category=cat45940028

You can buy postage online and print it out on your printer from this link...

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?catId=400046&mediaId=26800663

Hope this is useful to everyone. I keep getting packages that have paid way over the odds for postage, and trust me, you can go broke *fast* that way.

Happy swapping! :-)

Schi

That's great!

..........and who would have thought you could use "Royal Mail" and "Usefulness" in the same sentence????

Wendy!

OK, I've stickied it.  However, your links aren't working as proper links, baffiebabe, so I may have a go at sorting that out too, so people don't have to copy and paste all the links every time.

I have just joined this great web-site and found that it can depend on the individual counter staff as to whether my books are accepted as L. letter or parcel.  It will be really handy to have a sizer at home so I can post with confidence.

Now Reading:  The Memory Keepers Daughter

hi beagle  love yr pic

good link...ordered myself one.........

pennyt:

Wendy!

OK, I've stickied it.  However, your links aren't working as proper links, baffiebabe, so I may have a go at sorting that out too, so people don't have to copy and paste all the links every time.

Thank you  :-)

windysisters:

..........and who would have thought you could use "Royal Mail" and "Usefulness" in the same sentence????

hehehehe <- an oxymoron having a laugh :-)

Schi

Thanks a million for this hun.  I tried to find an actual free size guide on the RM site but could only find the dimensions.  I do pay alot more than necessary but I'm so scared the people I am swapping with will be charged - I only use online postage and never venture near the PO.  You mentioned in my feedback that you were going to order me a size guide.  Please let me know if you haven't and I will order one now.

You're wonderful

The size guide leaflet is very useful and I do weigh books on kitchen scales, but these are not as accurate as the PO ones of course.  The perspex 'sizers' the PO have cost about £12 but I use a pair of calipers from the pound shop, which again aren't totally accurate but give you a good idea of the thickness to decide if it's a large letter or packet.  If it's borderline, then wrapping in parcel paper rather than a padded bag might get it into the large letter category, and can cost almost half the postage of a packet!  If you do use parcel paper, put the book in a freezer bag first and make sure the edges of the packet are securely taped as it can get torn in the post.

I don't do the online postage thing because of the margin of error and there's no proof of posting either.

Can you tell me please where you can buy the post office sizer?

Kathy

kathy1234:

Can you tell me please where you can buy the post office sizer?

Kathy

If you want one of the perspex ones, have a look on ebay as there are usually some available there much cheaper than on other sites.  Otherwise, try googling "buy royal mail size guide" and plenty of official sellers will come up. 

However, I've made my own guide using some very stiff card and a craft knife.  The main problem is judging the thickness (the limit for a large letter is 2.5cm) so I cut a slot measuring exactly that depth that I can try my parcels in.  The other dimensions are less of a problem - anything up to the size of an A4 envelope will go as a large letter as long as it is under the 2.5cm thickness limit.  And of course you need to be able to weigh your parcel reasonably accurately too. 

HTH.

kathy1234:

Can you tell me please where you can buy the post office sizer?

Kathy

My P.O. said they could order one for me, but I didn't bother as the calipers and scales work fine. - in fact the postmaster at my P.O. said he trusts my judgement now, but I do make sure he checks the 'borderline' ones.

kathy1234:

Can you tell me please where you can buy the post office sizer?

Kathy

Kathy, there's no need to buy one... just order the free one from the Royal Mail website. I've never had a conflict between the cardboard one and the perspex one in the post office.

I have just ordered myself a guide.  I agree with 'beagle' that it depends on which post office you use.  I seem to pay more at a sub post office than I do at a main one.  How's that work then???!!!!!

Now Reading:  The Story of Us - Marcia Preston