FIRSTLY: 1st & 2nd Class Barcode PPI's (Business Account Mail Unsorted) are NOT part of the withdrawal of RM24 & RM48 Services.
If you use 1st & 2nd Barcoded PPI's, then the following DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU. You can continue as you are, without worry nor concern. You can now breathe a sigh of relief!
Discontinuing RM24 & RM48 PPI’s that do not have a Barcode ....
RM are looking to move (migrate) everybody over to one of their online “Shipping Solutions”, the most common of which some of you may already know as “Click & Drop”.
Do you HAVE to change? (possibly not - please read on)
If you feel migrating to a new System is not for you, RM have provided a Webform Link within their Email. You should complete and submit this by the 30 June 2021. Although this date has now long passed, RM may re-issue this again. They will then contact you to discuss the options available.
If you can show that migrating to one of their Shipping Solutions will negatively or adversely impact your Business or Despatch Operation, they may allow you to either continue as you are, or provide a suitable solution. This has been the case with previous service migrations and changes, with many Customers being able to continue using OBA exactly as they have been in the past.
Some examples of negative impact could be:
You’ll probably need to purchase an additional Printer
You may not have the physical space to add another piece of equipment
You’ll need to spend more time entering Buyer Details into another System
Increased costs to pay a Third-Party Supplier, to help System Integration
Potential disruptions to your Business due to New System Integration
Moving to a New System, significantly reduces your Operational Efficiency
Multi Purchase Buyers, may not be Consolidated into a Single Despatch
(e.g. If a Buyer makes 3 separate orders, you'll pay for 3 x Postage Costs)
What will you need to do if you make the switch?
You may need to buy a Thermal Label Printer, to enable you to print the Postage Labels.
Printer costs could range from £75-£120 for a Used Printer, and around £300 for New Printer.
RM currently supply the Labels free of charge, but for how long, nobody knows. RM can take from a few days to a couple of weeks to get the label stocks to you. You’ll be wise to pre-order in advance.
You will need to manually enter the Recipients Name, Address, Email & Telephone Number into the Online System – the details can be saved for later retrieval.
If you are a high-volume seller, you can probably integrate your Selling Platforms to one of the Shipping Solutions, therefore removing the manual input element of using the System. This may be chargeable.
What should you do now?
Follow the links provided in the Email from RM, and take a look at how each of the different Systems Function. Assess how you and your Business could benefit from migrating to a New System.
Perhaps consider the following:
Will the new System reduce your processing time?
Will it save you time and money?
How much additional training will you and your staff require?
Can the System function when the Internet isn’t working?
How does the Backup System work if the RM Website is down?
Can you physically fit additional equipment into your workspace?
Please Note: There is no RM24/48 PPI Barcode Label available on OBA. Some Customers can still use SU1 and RM24\48 Unbarcoded Labels, and if RM remove the code from your Account, simply explain your situation and ask them to re-instate it for you.
We hope you find the above information helpful and unbiased.
For more information, you must contact Royal Mail, as they are far more knowledgeable about their Services than we are .......