Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 23, 2012 06:14 AM
It started by Derann who was not sending films via Royal Mail and insisted with private service. The reason is that small packet international is not insured. So a small order of one 200' (200 grams) had to pay £11 for the shipping instead of £4.42 via Royal Mail.
But from Royal Mail website shows that a small packet has a compensation to max £46 as seen in this screen shot:
If it is not trackable, at least the compensation gives us a peace of mind that with that service we never loose anything, especially if the item value is less than £46.
Or does "compensation" not have the same meaning with "insured"?
Ps: my order from CHC and Independent8 have always used small packet from Royal Mail and they arrived quickly.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted November 23, 2012 10:53 AM
My Royal Mail "Our Prices" leaflet as from 30 April 2012 gives a charge of £4.42 for a small packet to USA/Canada not exceeding 200 grams via Air Mail.
There appears to be no included compensation. However, there is a further service called "Air Sure" to include varying degrees of compensation, these fees are in addition to the normal postage.
Prices start at £5.00. For this fee, compensation will not exceed £50. Note that British VAT is not applicable unless the destination is within the EU.
Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012
posted November 23, 2012 11:07 AM
I have sent packets to Thailand & Australia by Royal Mail insured/signed for with no problem. If I use the cheapest, like just post they are problems, they 'get lost'.
Its probably the same with all private service couriers, if you use them a lot you can get a large volume discount. So it paid the likes of Derann to send everything via one company, and get volume discount. Now if this was the case did they pass the discount on to the collector?
I did once see something about Royal Mail though, it was about lost post, unless you insured it they only refunded the postage cost. I'm sure they always asked me did I want to insure the package. Think certificate of posting just prove you posted it. Whereas compensation fee used to be at a couple of values like upto £50 and could be £51 to £200.
I did once get a film from CEC (Spy Who Loved Me) quite a few years ago that was sent by post. The parcel arrived, but NO film inside. It did get paid out to me.
I'll just add I rent DVD's. I can post Monday and get next on Wednesday 99% of the time.
-------------------- I love the smell of film in the morning.