Normal postal service to UK closed

[Speedo1968 616]

I had hoped to send Christmas / New Year cards to family in UK today Thursday 26th November.
At the counter I was told that there is no normal postal service to the UK only SMS.
Five cards by normal post would cost about 150 baht or less, to send SMS cost 880 baht.    I declined the offer.

I put a parcel SMS to UK on Saturday 14th November ( told it would take about 2 weeks depending on UK end ).  I checked today at the post office and the parcel was put on a flight on 15th as yet there is no confirmation from UK end.     
 

Earlier this year I sent a parcel DHL, cost about 6000 baht.    It arrived at my daughters house in UK 5 days later.

Time to go back to a government run postal service in UK

 

[johng 17,123]

2 minutes ago, Speedo1968 said:

Five cards by normal post would cost about 150 baht or less, to send SMS cost 880 baht.

I think I see the reason why  "normal post" was not available    did you try a different post office ?

[CharlieH 28,440]

I sent an A4 envelope a few days ago by Registered Airmail without any problem.

[Speedo1968 616]

OP - Things change by the hour
EACH card would have cost 880 baht, my error not 880 baht for all 5.

 

[Speedo1968 616]

5 hours ago, johng said:

I think I see the reason why  "normal post" was not available    did you try a different post office ?

I live out of town my nearest big post office would be Khon Kaen 50km away.
My typo error should have read EACH card would cost 880 baht ( not all 5 ).

What do you think the reason is ???
 

[Raphael Hythlodaeus 173]

According to the Thailand Post web site, it is still possible to send an 80 gram letter to the UK for 66 baht.

https://www.thailandpost.co.th/un/rate_result/?country_code=GB&weight=80

 

A letter to the UK pre-COVID used to cost 17 baht and a card 24 baht.

However, I recently sent a small 105 gram packet to Germany for 86 baht as per the web site cost, but the PO insisted I pay 40 baht extra for "COVID checks" despite this not being mentioned on their web site. 

 

But I now always take a screen shot of the Thailand Post fee schedule when going to the PO because many times the staff are clueless and quote a huge cost.

Edited November 26, 2020 by Raphael Hythlodaeus

[johng 17,123]

16 hours ago, Speedo1968 said:

What do you think the reason is ???

 800 baht vs 150 baht  "someone" was trying to make a profit  by saying the "normal" post was not available.

[brewsterbudgen 9,491]

I just posted some Christmas cards to the UK, airmail @ 24 baht per card (at Nana Post Office).

[Speedo1968 616]

On 11/27/2020 at 1:58 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

I just posted some Christmas cards to the UK, airmail @ 24 baht per card (at Nana Post Office).

OP - must be my local post office, will try in Khon Kaen next week

[dlm5star 48]

post to the U.K. is messed up:

 

As of October 1st they introduced an extra 40thb on each item air mail (any country) for Covid airport charges. Additional transport link fees/costs etc...which is harsh if you send a lot of post.

 

Aug-mid Nov was running fine. They were using Qatar to fly the mail which was taking on average 5-7 days most.

 

As of around Nov 10th, they've changed U.K. to the awful Thai Airways...flight TG916 which only leaves once a week on a Sunday. If your item doesn't go/messed Around/missed on the Sunday...then next Sunday...and so on....potentially for weeks or months.

 

They're still charging the extra, yet gone for an obviously cheaper option to cash in, rather than paying out the actual money they're charging.

 

 

 

 

[Speedo1968 616]

OP - My local post office Banphai said normal post for cards not avail to UK only as an EMS item.   Went to Khon Kaen post office yesterday there was no problem at all for sending airmail at normal prices to UK.
Why ?

I sent a parcel by EMS which took 10 days.

[Bangyai 762]

Couple of weeks ago I sent a birthday card to my mother using www.moonpig.com

 

Great service. Non expensive and simple to use. You can use one of their cards with their words or upload any picture and any wording you like.

 

This is then printed , put in an envelope and posted in the UK by first-class post for next day delivery.

 

My mother was very happy when it dropped through the letter box.

[sometime 939]

Went to Najomtien postoffice yesterday with a handfull of Christmas cards for the UK, No problem 24 baht each airmail

[brewsterbudgen 9,491]

3 hours ago, Speedo1968 said:

OP - My local post office Banphai said normal post for cards not avail to UK only as an EMS item.   Went to Khon Kaen post office yesterday there was no problem at all for sending airmail at normal prices to UK.
Why ?

I sent a parcel by EMS which took 10 days.

I can only guess that the local post office have no idea what they're talking about!

[Speedo1968 616]

OP -AGAIN  = Went to my Banphai post office this morning "No sorry we cannot send" - after checking with their computer.
I said that I posted from Khon Kaen with no problem yesterday - "Ah, but the computer says etc etc"
"Well here is the receipt"  
Another 10  minutes of checking computer - of course they hadn't updated>
Cards sent at normal rate.