Small parcel postage charges - Ireland to UK

Andrew Murphy

Registered User
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83
I need to send a 1kg standard-sized parcel to the UK and was astounded by the prices quoted by An Post.

Here is what I am looking at:
  • €22 standard mail
  • €29 signed and tracked
I've been on the Royal Mail web site and checked their prices and the cost of posting the same-sized parcel UK to Ireland is £8.95 standard and £12.85 tracked and signed for. This is half the price of An Post after taking into account the currency exchange rate, and more in line with what I was expecting.

I have also looked at the Irish courier charges, and from what I could determine they are no cheaper which rules out that as an option.

Would anyone care to comment on the causes for such a price disparity in shipping costs as I am really struggling to accept this is nothing other than price gouging.
 
Because we're worth it!

Presumably, the small size of the market in shipping small parcels from Ireland to the UK, means that the parcel companies can't be bothered competing for the business. I imagaine more parcels are shipped from Manchester to London in a week, than from Ireland to UK in a month or even a year
 
I am really struggling to accept this is nothing other than price gouging.
Cost and wages are much higher in Ireland and the economies of scale in Britain are much greater. There's also far more competition within the UK so their mail service has to be more efficient.

You can send your parcel with Parcel Motel for €14.50
 
You need to compare like with like on an post / royal mail.

In many cases royal mail is more expensive.

I also think you were checking the wrong rate.

1kg small pack to uk with an post is €11
Small pack is up to the size of a large shoe box. (90cm total dimension with max 60cm on any one side - in old language 3ft total with 2ft max one side.)


Royal mail offer a road service to Ireland, but an post only offer an air service. This may change next year.

The royal mail £8.95 quote is a 3-5 day service with no signature or tracking.

The equivalent an post rate is €11 with no signature or tracking but a 2-3 day service.

Better service from an post for slightly higher price. (depends on exchange rates on the day)
 
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I had something similar last week to post. Coming in at €27 using An Post to Northern Ireland. Drove 30 mins up the road to the nearest Royal Mail PO across the border and it was £3.50 2nd class or £5.50 1st class!
 
I had something similar last week to post. Coming in at €27 using An Post to Northern Ireland. Drove 30 mins up the road to the nearest Royal Mail PO across the border and it was £3.50 2nd class or £5.50 1st class!
I'd love to know what that was as there's no €27 rate on the an post rate card for northern Ireland unless it was a large parcel of 13kg.
If it was, then the equivalent royal mail cost is £29.35 - 20% more expensive.

I think you may be misreading the rates as northern Ireland is same rate as republic in an post.

All rates are available to view online

I'll guess a 2kg small packet. (size of large shoe box) €9 an post next day service to NI.

What you seem to have looked at is an post large parcel rate to Britain and compared it to royal mail small packet local rate.

Northern Ireland is not part of Britain.
 
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I have sometimes found that "Mary" in my local An Post Post Office does not quite know what she is doing and I try an alternative Post Office with better results.
 
I have sometimes found that "Mary" in my local An Post Post Office does not quite know what she is doing and I try an alternative Post Office with better results.
That's definitely an issue and an post should change the name of "small packet" to "small parcel" and maybe put an example in each post office.
 
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