Posting via Royal Mail SD.

willhub · 11 Apr 2020 at 21:00

Just a question.

If I posted a laptop via this, and it was "broken" on arrival or for example wouldn't turn on, or something that would signify it's been bumped about, would you still be elligible to claim for the amount it was insured?

My GF wants to send a surface pro 4 in the post, it's worth probably under 400, so insure it for that and send via SD, but just the worry if it did not work due to damage, probably not going to happen, but just the worry.

UnworthyBean · 11 Apr 2020 at 21:05

It's covered, yes. Although I've never heard of anyone making a claim I imagine they will make it as difficult as possible.

Make sure to just package it appropriately.

Resident · 11 Apr 2020 at 23:44

I would go over the terms & conditions of carriage with a fine toothcomb, make sure there is nothing they can use to wriggle out of paying out.

Also be warned even when you're 100% in your claim, getting them to actually pay is a nightmare & takes a while.

My last fight with RM over an item damaged in transit took 3 months to resolve with payment. They project a belief that RM workers are absolute saints and care for every package as though it was a newborn baby, when in reality it's more likely to have been used a makeshift football across the warehouse.

norm · 12 Apr 2020 at 01:51

Why should any courier or postal service lie at fault if the sender packages a sensitive item insufficiently? Unless there is obvious physical damage like a tyre mark over the top of the package, then any problem is a result of not being packed adequately.

Double box your item and use a large amount of bubble wrap or some other cushioning medium and it'll be fine.

Diagro · 12 Apr 2020 at 02:34

Check their packaging rules.

I recall having to claim a while back. It said something like 10cm bubble wrap or dense foam. Was quite frankly way over the top. But I expect their way of getting out of paying claims

Might not have been royal mail.

Hades · 13 Apr 2020 at 00:52

I would imagine the sender would need to provide some kind of evidence that it was working before sending and that the packaging was adequate for the contents. Otherwise everyone would send as broken laptop to their mate and claim for a new one.

MeatLoaf · 13 Apr 2020 at 01:01

I work ath the post office and offer this advice...

As long as you package it sufficiently - ie not in a Tesco carrier bag - and post via special delivery next day before 1pm you will be covered for up to £500.

If its damaged on arrival you would have top make a claim and the reiciever would need to save the packaging incase royal mail wanted to inspect it.

The person serving you at the post office is meant to ask you whats in the parcel and the value. If you said to me laptop and presented me with an item in a plastic bag I wouldnt accept the parcel id tell you to go away and pack it properly.

Fubsy · 13 Apr 2020 at 09:46

On PO Anecdotes:

When I was in the Post Office a lady came in sending an item over to Lagos, Nigeria. I politely asked her what was inside the parcel (had to check for those lithium batteries yo) and found out it was a Nintendo DS (or some varient).

Then, when asking the value she said "well the buyer has paid like £400 so put that please". I then informed her that she may be getting scammed, and gave her a chance to think about what she was doing before ploughing on ahead anyway.

All done and in the parcel bag ready for pickup, 45 minutes later comes back with her husband demanding the parcel back as they went away and did some research and the buyer only had 2 feedback etc. Can't quite remember the outcome as I didn't deal with it as I coming off shift at the time, so they could have lost the postage costs, but at least not an item and the money.