Post Boxes for dumping larger items?

[john10001]

If I have something to put in a postbox that is thicker than the depth of post boxes are there any other mail boxes that are bigger than you can put them into? It will probably be 3 or 3½ inches thick so it is large letter size but not quite parcel size in terms of thickness. It is also a bit wider than the slot on a standard post box.

Do you think it will fit through the metal style post boxes that main post office have or is there another type of mailbox I can dump larger items? I only ever send 1st and 2nd class items. No signatures or anything like that. I live in Leeds. I think the only other option is to arrange a collection service but that is a bit of a hassle and I'd need to use a different company.

[chas49]

There are about 40 Parcel Postboxes in Leeds

https://www.royalmail.com/d8/parcel-post-boxes

[Lootman]

Can't you just hand over an outsized package at the counter of a post office? As long as it has the right postage on it of course, which might involve you having to go there anyway.

Anecdote. I once had to send a letter to an address which coincidentally was a POB number at my local post office. I went there and asked if they could just take it and put it in the relevant box for me. They said yes, but I'd still have to buy a stamp for it!

[Mike4]

Can't you just hand over an outsized package at the counter of a post office? As long as it has the right postage on it of course, which might involve you having to go there anyway.

A week or two ago I tried this. I bought the correct postage on-line, printed the label, stuck it on etc and took it to my local Post Office.

Simon the postmaster (with whom I do bellringing) said sorry he could not accept it and i had to pay the postage again to post it from his sub-post office, using the Post Office price list. He explained this is because Royal Mail is a different company from Post Office. Que?!

He said with a Royal Mail on-line postage label I had to take it to a Royal Mail sorting office in for example, Marlborough or Swindon, not a Post Office. I paid the postage again as it was only £3.50 rather than drive to Marlborough. Bloody annoying, so beware.

[swill453]

They advertise that you can drop parcels at Post Offices https://www.royalmail.com/business/ship ... click-drop

Scott.

[Mike88]

When you take a package to a Post Office the counter assistant will have a template of different size envelopes which is used to calculate the charge. It's no longer a case of first or second class post; you pay for the size of the package and the prices are extortionate.

[Mike4]

They advertise that you can drop parcels at Post Offices https://www.royalmail.com/business/ship ... click-drop

Scott.

That's interesting. I'll show that to Simon.

I bet he says yes but that says "Post Offices", not "sub-Post Offices" !

[swill453]

That's interesting. I'll show that to Simon.

I bet he says yes but that says "Post Offices", not "sub-Post Offices" !

Does the sign on his door/window say Post Office or sub-Post Office?

Scott.

[chas49]

They advertise that you can drop parcels at Post Offices https://www.royalmail.com/business/ship ... click-drop

Scott.

That's interesting. I'll show that to Simon.

I bet he says yes but that says "Post Offices", not "sub-Post Offices" !

It actually says

"Send a parcel right now without registering, and drop it in a postbox, Royal Mail Customer Service Point (CSP), or Post Office® branch."

And when I used the search to find my nearest branch, it listed branches in various local shops as well as the main Post Office in town. I think Simon is wrong

[Dod101]

In my experience sub postmasters hate prepaid postage of any sort paid online because they get next to nothing for performing the service of accepting the item and sending it on its way. I had a stand up argument with my local man some time ago and quoted things like 'The customer is always right' and a similar message I found from Royal mail on the internet. He took the item with bad grace. Sounds as if Simon is feeling the same way about it and this time he won.

Dod

[Mike4]

In my experience sub postmasters hate prepaid postage of any sort paid online because they get next to nothing for performing the service of accepting the item and sending it on its way. I had a stand up argument with my local man some time ago and quoted things like 'The customer is always right' and a similar message I found from Royal mail on the internet. He took the item with bad grace. Sounds as if Simon is feeling the same way about it and this time he won.

Dod

I think you have hit the nail on the head here.

My gut feeling at the time was I could have won the argument had I chosen to make an issue of it, but cheesing off your village sub post office master is not a good strategy, the sum involved was small and I was short of time - so I just paid up to get the parcel on it's way.

[chas49]

Moderator Message:
I think the DAK has been answered and further discussion of sub-postmasters is probably off-topic. It would be appreciated if further posts could relate to the DAK question. (chas49)