Postwatch are inviting comments on RM’s Signed For service. They ask:
Did you know that Items sent via the Recorded Signed for service, go through the same delivery channel as ordinary First and Second Class post and doesn’t guarantee a next-day delivery?
They believe that many customers are using Signed For, a.k.a. Recorded, for items valued at more than the maximum compensation amount of £34, either to take advantage of the cheaper delivery rates, or because they are being given incorrect advice at Post Offices.
When I was in the UK, the huge jump in price between Signed For and Special Delivery meant that I would often use SF for items worth more than the maximum compensation amount, where I just needed a signature for Paypal’s Seller Protection. These days, I like the option on the French equivalent, where I can specify what to do if no one’s in: leave it without a signature, or take it back to the Post Office to await my buyer’s collection. I keep hearing from eBay sellers that RM just don’t pay out for lost SF items, or only do so after a prolonged fight. So as Hellmail comment, a lower priced, properly tracked SD service would be much better all around.
How does it work for you? Leave us a comment here and we’ll pass it on, or you can comment directly on the Postwatch blog.
