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Great Tips to Cut Postage Costs Hunt
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# 1
07-08-2006, 10:56 AM
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Great Tips to Cut Postage Costs Hunt

What's it all about?

As you may've seen advertised on TV recently, the way some postage costs are calculated is changing on 21 August with post being calculated depending on size and weight rather than just weight. There's more detailed info about exactly which prices are changing on the Royal Mail website including an online demonstration.

What to do?

So I thought I'd tap MoneySavers' wealth of experience and knowledge to compile a list of top tips on how to cut your postage costs.

Click reply to give your ideas or discuss


Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.

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Last edited by MSE Lawrence; 12-01-2007 at 4:55 PM.
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# 2
07-08-2006, 11:12 AM
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Fold over A4 sheets of paper (they become A5) so that you can send them as letters rather than small packets under the new scheme.

Last edited by MSE Archna; 21-08-2006 at 4:46 PM.
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# 3
07-08-2006, 11:35 AM
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On letters up to A5 you'll now get up to 100g for the 32p level! So make the most of the letter size, if its machineable letter size it'll get sorted and delivered quicker!

Last edited by MSE Archna; 21-08-2006 at 4:47 PM.
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# 4
07-08-2006, 8:33 PM
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I was told by PO that when posting a magazine, leave both ends open unsealed as its cheaper, please dont ask me why.
# 5
07-08-2006, 9:00 PM
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Guys, please don't make posts that are conspiring to commit fraud.

Ways to get around paying for postage at all are not what Martin intended to be posted on this thread, not only this, but you'd be breaking the law by carrying out these "tricks" too!

Last edited by ukmonkey; 07-08-2006 at 9:03 PM.
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# 6
07-08-2006, 9:02 PM
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If you are sending DVD's/CD's perhaps try sending them without a "DVD style" case, instead put them in a plastic sleeve, and then perhaps in a board-backed envelope...

I don't mean if its a retail dvd/cd!

If I put, for example, my holiday snaps on a cd for you, I'd send it to you in a plastic sleeve instead of in a "dvd style" case.

If I were selling you a DVD Movie on eBay for example, I'd send it to you in the "proper" case (although you'd pay the postage).

Last edited by ukmonkey; 16-08-2006 at 5:13 PM.
# 7
07-08-2006, 9:24 PM
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Costco sell stamps in bulk (sorry, not sure on qualities) and they were around 4p cheaper each
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# 8
07-08-2006, 9:35 PM
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Simply send an email, its faster, cheaper and has a lot more chance of getting to its reciever.
1+1+1=1
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Last edited by MSE Archna; 21-08-2006 at 3:09 PM.
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# 9
07-08-2006, 10:22 PM
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Stamp dealers can buy them at a substantial discount to the face price. I sell quite a bit on ebay and I buy packs of 100 stamps from discountstamps@gmail.com and find them reliable and much cheaper than post office prices.

Mr T
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# 10
07-08-2006, 10:25 PM
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http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/r...diaId=22700472

Here you can order up to 3 postage size guides for FREE so you can check your mail before you post.

HTH
2013 Wins
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# 11
07-08-2006, 10:32 PM
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I WORK FOR THE Royal Mail & if i was sorting such mail, it would be put in the surcharge box, so the person that is being sent the mail would have a �1 surcharge added on. Also doing things like this will only make RM loose money, hence put prices up again.

Last edited by MSE ForumTeam1; 08-08-2006 at 4:35 PM.
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# 12
07-08-2006, 10:59 PM
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And dont forget, when you get junk mail with a pre-paid return envelope, pack it THICK with newspaper before posting it back.
This will make Royal Mail more profitable as they will charge more to the junkers, and maybe stop future price rises.
Bad Spellers of the world untie
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# 13
07-08-2006, 11:14 PM
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If your postie puts someone else's mail through your letterbox, or your mail is posted to a neighbour's address in error.........despite the correct address on the envelope............write to complain. You might get a book of stamps with your letter of apology.
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# 14
07-08-2006, 11:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chester_Draws
maybe stop future price rises.
very unlikely
# 15
08-08-2006, 9:26 AM
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Send cards / prezzies early enough so that they will get there on time by second class (or does that look cheap? Maybe not Valentine's cards then.
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# 16
08-08-2006, 10:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ukmonkey
Guys, please don't make posts that are conspiring to commit fraud.

Ways to get around paying for postage at all are not what Martin intended to be posted on this thread, not only this, but you'd be breaking the law by carrying out these "tricks" too!
What the hell do you meany by this. What posts are conspiring to commit fraud.

How would you be breaking the law by carrying out these tricks.

Last edited by MSE Forum Manager; 23-08-2006 at 4:01 PM.
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# 17
08-08-2006, 10:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stiffnuts69
What the hell do you meany by this. What posts are conspiring to commit fraud.

How would you be breaking the law by carrying out these tricks.

Your talking out of your £$%^
I think there was a post by cheepsk8 that was removed.
# 18
08-08-2006, 10:43 AM
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember someone saying yonks ago that you cannot deface a stamp as it has the queens head on it (or something) and that Royal Mail can refuse to deliver if taped over or glued on with anything other than the original glue/sticker.

Not sure if its true but I've never sellotaped over a stamp. I know we're all moneysavers but it's only 32p or whatever ... and quite reasonable too I think to send my family a card on the other side of the country.
2013 Wins
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# 19
08-08-2006, 1:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by meerustar
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember someone saying yonks ago that you cannot deface a stamp as it has the queens head on it (or something) and that Royal Mail can refuse to deliver if taped over or glued on with anything other than the original glue/sticker.

Not sure if its true but I've never sellotaped over a stamp. I know we're all moneysavers but it's only 32p or whatever ... and quite reasonable too I think to send my family a card on the other side of the country.
The items would almost certainly be treated as having no postage paid, and surcharged for the missing postage plus a handling fee of c�1.00

Not sure about all the stuff about it having a Queens head or anything, but it could be seen as an attempted to defraud, or obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
# 20
08-08-2006, 2:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stiffnuts69
Your talking out of your £$%^
Charming response !!!
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