Royal Mail customers can bypass Post Office queues by paying an extra 30p per parcel to have a postie collect items directly from their doorstep or a nominated safe place, according to consumer experts at MoneySavingExpert.
The service applies regardless of parcel size or chosen delivery option, covering domestic postage that ranges from about £2.70 to £3.25 for standard small parcels sent via Second Class up to £30 or more for heavy packages or guaranteed next-day Special Delivery.
How the collection service works
Users can arrange for a postie to pick up items during their regular round instead of making a dedicated trip to a local branch. The process is available through the Royal Mail website or app, where customers pay for postage and add collection for 30p per parcel.
Sellers can choose a collection date and time, usually within a four-hour window, and can add parcels to an existing collection booked for that day. A free pre-printed postage label is available, though only one label can be issued if collection is from a safe place. Customers who will not be home can select a safe place for the parcel to be collected from.
Useful for online sellers
The service is particularly useful for people selling items on platforms like Vinted, eBay, or Depop, managing returns, or struggling to transport bulky or heavy packages to a branch. When a parcel is collected, an email is sent as proof of postage.
Some sellers on Reddit claim that booking a collection for a single parcel sometimes results in posties taking additional parcels without scanning or charging them, while others report being strictly billed 30p per item. One Reddit user suggested booking a collection for one parcel at 30p and asking the postie if there is space for a few other parcels, noting that up to 25 parcels can be booked for collection in any one go. The pitfall is that all parcels need a postage label attached, and customers may be charged 30p per item anyway.
