Merchants in the United Kingdom are able to execute shipments with Royal Mail for British domestic parcels. Royal Mail can provide home delivery in the last mile and can support signature on delivery.

This article covers:
01 About Royal Mail
02 Service Introduction
03 Send Your Parcels
04 Prohibited or Restricted Items
05 Claim & Customer Service Contact

About Royal Mail

Royal Mail is the primary postal service in the United Kingdom. It’s the most popular postal service, providing delivery services to all inhabitants of the British Isles. Royal Mail service is credited with being the first to develop and put into practice the postage stamp.

Service Introduction

Royal Mail offers the following services through the OneShip platform to ship within the UK.

Royal Mail 1st Class

• Delivery aim: 1 day
• Online delivery confirmation (parcels only)
• The delivery aim includes Saturday
• No minimum entry level - send any number of the item
• Not tracked mail
• Includes compensation cover up to £20*

Royal Mail 2nd Class

• Delivery aim: 2-3 days
• Online delivery confirmation (parcels only)
• The delivery aim includes Saturday
• No minimum entry level - send any number of the item
• Not tracked mail
• Includes compensation cover up to £20*

Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class

• Signature on delivery
• Delivery aim: 1 day
• Online delivery confirmation
• Aim to deliver next working day, including Saturdays
• Compensation cover up to £50**
• Not tracked mail

Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class

• Signature on delivery
• Delivery aim: 2-3 days
• Online delivery confirmation
• Aim to deliver in two to three working days, including Saturdays
• Compensation cover up to £50**
• Not tracked mail

1st Class Account Mail

• For customers who do not meet the minimum sending criteria (1000 parcels per annum)
• Delivery aim: 1 day
• Not tracked mail
• No minimum entry level - send any number of the item

2nd Class Account Mail

• For customers who do not meet the minimum sending criteria (1000 parcels per annum)
• Delivery aim: 2-3 days
• Not tracked mail
• No minimum entry level - send any number of the item

Send Your Parcels 

Packing and Specifications

To make sure your parcels don’t get damaged during the despatch process, packaging your items appropriately is important. 

• Ensure that there is a correct and clear label on the packaging. 
• Ensure that items in non-rigid packaging such as polylopes and jiffy bags retain their shape after they have been posted.

For more advice on wrapping and packaging your parcels properly, please refer to https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/86 

Maximum Package Size and Weight are as follows:

Dropoff Locations

OneShip currently does not support the pickup service. However, you can drop off your items easily and fastly in Parcel Postboxes which are open 24/7 for your convenience. For the very latest Parcel Postbox locations, visit Services Near You.

Delivery Zones & Time Frame

• Royal Mail makes delivery from Monday to Saturday but usually not on public holidays. 
• Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by 3 pm in urban areas and by 4 pm in rural areas. (subject to exceptions for remote areas with limited transport infrastructure)

Prohibited or Restricted Items

If you send prohibited goods or restricted goods,  Royal Mail may deal with your items, including but not limited to, disposing of the parcels concerned. Please note consequential loss cover is not available when posting any restricted items. 

Prohibited and restricted items include, but are not limited to the following:

**aerosols, alcohol, batteries, crackers, electronic items, lighters, liquids, matches, medicines, nail varnish, paints, perfumes, and perishables.

To avoid any losses, please carefully check the list of prohibited and restricted items through this link https://business.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/867 

Claim & Customer Service Contact

When there’s a problem with lost or damaged items, delayed items, failure to obtain a signature, and damaged property, you’re entitled to make a claim for compensation from Royal Mail.

🕹Notes

• You must make a claim in writing, as soon as possible after the incident and in any case within 80 Days of the date Royal Mail accepted the relevant Item (or 14 Days if you have consequential loss compensation) providing satisfactory proof that you posted it and Royal Mail received it. Royal Mail will not accept responsibility for claims made after this time.
• Compensation for valuables, such as money and jewelry is not available on this service.

For the entire procedure about claims, please refer to https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/325/~/claims-centre 

If you have any other questions, you can call the Royal Mail Customer Services Hotline at 03457 740 740 or browse the Customer service web page at https://business.help.royalmail.com/app/contact