How much will it cost to redirect mail from one area to another?

Mail redirect may not be as popular and known to many because the world of personal letter message has faded away. It is now on social media, text message services, etc. However, for the one person that still uses the post office to get their correspondence, the mail service is also flexible to follow you wherever you go, as long as you are within the territories of your own country.

 

This service is open for all mail service. This includes all parcel types, registered mail and ordinary mail. You may not redirect other postal services.

What is Mail Redirect?

Just as the phrase suggests, the box owner redirects their mail to another post box. There are many reasons why a post box holder would opt for this service. You could have temporarily relocated to another part of the country, travelled beyond the borders of your country and would love for your mail to be received through a trusted friend post box, and any other reason that you make one not want to receive their mail through their normal post box.

This service is a temporary arrangement. You may not redirect your mail indefinite. If for any reason you have relocated forever, it is recommended that you buy a new post box at your nearest post office in your new area of residence. The next step would be to inform all those that send you mail to start sending to the new postal address. It is important to do so to avoid missing out on your mail because it has been sent back to sender at your previous postal outlet. So many people have missed their very important mail because they ignore this important practice.

How Mail Redirect Works

You go to your post office and request for the service over the counter. You give then details of your post box and that you wish your mail to be redirected to. There is not restriction within the territory of your country, the only thing you must know is that you cannot redirect to any international destination, even at a fee, you cannot redirect to international destinations.

Postal employees get notice of the redirect request and observe it. Normally, the notice is place inside the post office, right at the inside cabin where your mail is slotted.  All that come to deposit your mail will see the notice and redirect from your mail right there and then.

Disadvantage of Mail Redirect

Your mail is most likely to delay or take longer than normal because it first has to go to your post box before it is redirected. The delay will be significant if the post office you redirect to is very far from your normal destination office. In some instances, it would mean your letter has to restart the process from the very first stage. 

Anyone is welcome to Sell through the post office - CODs

The post office offers a service where entrepreneurs, SMEs and big companies can sell to customers anywhere there is a postal outlet in Africa. This excellent service is called 'Cash on Delivery' (COD) and it is one of the traditional mail services from the post office. The model works exactly as the phrase suggest, 'you pay cash when you get the item delivered to you'. You pay for the item, that is, the purchase price and the shipment service as well. If you any reason the sender wants to pay for shipment, the price of the item should be adjusted to cater only for the unit bought.

The seller receives an order from a customer from wherever his marketing initiatives reached and got a lead, let the buyer agree to pay for the item upon receipt and then the item is sent. The buyer would give delivery address, which is normally his or her nearest post office. Those postal administrations that provide door-to-door delivery are always ready to offer the service even with COD parcels, as long as the item has been fully paid for. Items should comply to the post office rule, that is, items should fall within the acceptable volume and non prohibited items. 

The sender should then package the item and send it through the post office. Normally, the post office will use normal mail delivery service to get the item to the recipient. At the receiving end, a notice slip is sent to the post box and the recipient should present himself / herself in person. The owner should prove with the help of an ID that he is the rightful owner and should pay for the item. 

The post office is really unhappy when customers disown COD parcels. However, if for any reason the recipient is not happy with the item, they are free to reject it. The post office then sends it back to origin and yes somebody must pay for this. 

These items are allocated bar codes at the sending / origin office. This means that once posted, they can be traceable until they reach the delivery / destination office.

The Message

If you have anything to sell that can be posted through the post office, should you be an entrepreneur, SMEs or a big company, you are welcome to use this service. This service is good and even more relevant in today's world of e-commerce.

If you are a buyer but have no means of collecting your item, simply inform the seller that such a service exists in the post office. If you are in Swaziland, you can call 00268 3405 2000 to talk to a manager that will engage your chosen shop to assure them of the COD delivery service.

Note: This post will be updated continuously as more information is gathered about this service

The Post Office working with companies in making payments for staff

The post office is positioned to help companies and government in cash disbursements for any purpose. Companies from all over the world that want to send cash to beneficiaries in Africa can take advantage of the already running service in the post office. Cash was traditionally send from one post office to another through the Money Order service but now this service has gotten more automated, thus assuming the name 'Electronic Money Transfer'. Cash disbursement differ a bit yet the same Money Transfer system becomes a vehicle for this service.

I'm unveiling the convenience that the post office offers to companies that want to pay grants, short term salaries and pension. World Vision in Swaziland, Swaziland Conference of Churches and many others are using the post office to pay rural support grants in some communities. The Civil Servants Salary Payment project, approved by the Secretary to Cabinet Dr Roland Msiska; and licensed by the Bank of Zambia works well in the post office. South African post office also works with a number of neighbouring countries in making the money transfer service friendlier and automated. Government grants to various beneficiary groups ride on postal services for its far reaching network and affordable rates.

 

Post offices have their arms open for anyone that wants to use their services. Normally, cross boarder payments are not a problem because post offices work as a global network.

5 Major Advantages of using Post Office Money Transfer service as opposed to other Operators

Money transfer services are dominating the financial services industry in Africa. This is for obvious reasons that include; employee remuneration, family support, loan delivery, payment of installments, etc. Options for transferring cash from one location to the other are many and the post office stands out in many but five qualities.

Please note that this is with respect to African post offices yet other continents may identify with these.

1. Price competitive. The post office stands out for offering price competitive services. You may have to compromise a few things with other services but when it comes to money transfer, there is nothing that gets compromised at using the post office.
2. Extended network. In Africa, the far reaching formal business network is through the post office. Banks and other financial service providers cannot match the post office in terms of physical network coverage. Many service providers, including the banks, opt to join hands and work with the post office to reach the furthest parts of any country in Africa. Postal administration are a global network, beyond what the banks can do. Banks do network but most often it means more charges to the customer.
3. No withdrawal fees. In some countries, mobile money, that is normally offered through cell phone networks would charge for both cash deposits and withdrawals, the same applies with the banks. It is not the case with the post office, the only person that gets charged is the sender and the recipient get his or her money as is.

4. Reliability. The post office has embraced technology and many African post offices have automated their counters. This  makes the post office to be more accountable and reliable in service offering. Most counter automation for postal administration is customized and not off the shelve. This makes the service even friendlier to the customers.
5. Cash assurance. The post office is often healthy in cash flow. Even if at any point a particular postal branch runs out of cash, there is reliable back up from nearby outlets. Mobile money that works with rural grocery shops and other similar businesses get limited by the cash liquidity of these outlets. These outlets most often are not related such that they cannot share their cash freely.


I do appreciate that many people, particularly those that do work for the post office and those that do not have relatives working there have limited knowledge about some of the excellent services offered in the post office. It is good news to know that the post office can thrive on the money transfer service and leverage on its advantages.

How long will it take for my posted item to be delivered?

The post office works slightly different from a courier company. When you post an item through the post box, it will be collected from there once a while, normally in intervals of 30 minutes. Street posting boxes may be collected a little bit less frequent yet they also should be cleared at least once a day. You also must observe critical times as highlighted in the post 'How to quicken delivery of your postal item', point number 2.

Sorting is the process of separating items according to destination and it is a process that follows after collection at the posting box. If your item has been received before the critical time, it will connect to the next sorting centre on the same day or within 12 hours. The last step is sorting to destination office by the sorting centre. Finally, your item will then be delivered to a post box.

Depending on the size of the operation, the distance between origin and destination, the item delivery standards vary. It is expected for the postal administrator to publicise delivery standards according to destination categories. Rural to rural, rural to urban, urban to urban, international and regional will should be made known to customers.

 

the global standard is 6 days at 80 percent, which unfortunately most postal administrations struggle to meet, particularly because they have no influence when the items or mail bags have gone beyond the boundaries of their country.

 

This knowledge will help you make an estimate of the time it will take for your item to get delivered to your destination office.

 

Photo taken from: http://www.savethepostoffice.com/how-slowing-down-standard-mail-paves-way-ending-saturday-delivery

How to track a postal item

Postal items allocated with bar codes will be traceable. This you will know at the time you post your item. You may as well inquire about this service at the time of posting.

Most postal administrations are empowered to track items internally, and a few have an extended web based facility that the customer can use at will. Postal administrations that track internally will do so if you provide the correct particulars of your item, whether over the phone or when you present yourself in person at the post office.

Postal administrations that provide self service tracking normally provide it through their corporate website(s). You normally don't have to be a registered user, as long as you have the bar code of your item ready.

This you must know? Even if the postal administration of origin, where you sent the letter from, does not have the external tracking service, the destination office may have. In such a case, use the same bar code to track through the destination post office website. This is because the post office is a global network. When they receive the item at their end, they will use the same bar code to capture it into their system. Most European, American, Asian and some African countries provide the self service track and trace facility. I suggest that you try the destination country website before you make a call to the origin office.

I have help many customers through track and trace services of the America post office, the Royal Mail and the South African Post Office in the past. It simple works and all the customer needs is an update. Sometimes the system would inform me that the item was delivered but no one collected it. It would the inform me if the item has been returned to the sender or not.

Don't stress but use the post office with knowledge. 

Thank you for reading.

How do you know if your postal item will be traceable in the Post Office?

Tracing and item is a premium service in the post office. Not all items sent through the post office will be traceable. This is because the post office will accept almost any type of mail for delivery at minimal fees, and yes the post office is popular for cheap rates. 

Ordinary items, mostly letters, are not traceable because they are not allocated any bar code at the time of posting. This means that even if the mail bags they will be enclosed to is traceable, but ordinary items inside wont be known. All the post office can trace is the mail bag to a particular destination, which may or may not contain your ordinary item inside.

Some parcels, known as small packets, may not be traceable because they have features of an ordinary letter. 

Rule of thumb for traceable items:

1. If you have to deliver the item at the counter to have it posted, then it most likely will be traceable. Most such items are allocated a track and trace bar code. You will be given this par code most of the times yet in some cases you may not. Keep the code for future use in case your item needs to be traced. Some postal administrations provide self track and trace service through their websites while others would do the tracking for you when you call. 

2. If the item has an additional charge other than postage, it most likely qualifies for being allocated a tracking bar code.

3. If the item is posted under specific parcel service within the post office, such as EMS, then it will definitely be traceable through a bar code.

The Bold Desired Customer

If you want to be sure, it is encouraged for you to inquire as to whether your item will be traceable or not. Postal or counter officers will be happy to assist. Ask to find out if you can do the track and tracing yourself or you have to call in for assistance. you will gladly be given the information.

How to choose packaging for your item to post

First, you must know that the post office will charge based on weight than volume. However, some special service may use volume to price shipment. In this post I will focus on the traditional method, which is weight based charging. It normally becomes cheaper to post one large item than splitting it into smaller ones. In general, the cut off weight for postal letters and documents is 2 kilograms. Above 2 kilometers items are classed as parcels.

Secondly, know that item is the post office are handled with care but there is some throwing and tossing around of mail bags during processing and transportation. Items that cannot fit into a mail bag are shipped as is, normally as it was packaged by the customer. Fragile items should be clearly labeled so but this does not mean that your item will not be transported in a different vehicle.

Let me now give you the tips:

1. Get a strong package material that will withstand the conditions of mail handling. If your item cannot fit into a mail bag, the size of a standard bag you would have in at your home, try for a hard cover packaging like a box.

2. Choose a package that will fit the contents. Avoid placing loose contents inside a package. If for any reason you have to use a larger package, fill the empty space with fondled paper. Plastic or some very light material.

3. Choose a package fit for purpose. There is a variety of packaging material in the market. Some are cushioned and some are not. Do not compromise on packaging because your item may get damaged. Rather be safe than sorry.

4. Don’t use an over attractive packaging. You don’t what your items to be suspicious to people that will handle your it. This might draw the attention of inspectors who might even engage police sometimes. Anthrax and other forbidden items are still popular in the post office and they are first suspected from the packaging. Your item might also have to be inspected under a controlled environment, thus delaying delivery of your item.

5. A light weight package will save you on postage costs.

Some post offices sell the packaging at their counters and they are best positioned to direct you tot he right shop to get some. Indeed the post office is not dead, get to your nearest post office and enquire on how to package your item for even more specific tips.

Quality of Service in the Post Office

The African continent had to adopt globally acceptable standards of handling mail otherwise the global postal industry would be weaker in the continent, yet the postal operation is a network across continents. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) committed resources to help the region in various ways, including strategic regional quality of service projects. 

A checklist of quality pointers was developed at global level, reviewed whenever required, to use as a benchmark for the ultimate. Even though it is not an ISO certification but the checklist does not compromise on any quality feature for any reason. The target is largely on international mail handling, including parcels and registered items. All countries should comply and not, they are scored low and it is a public notice to all operators. 

This exercise has help African postal administrations to improve its quality a lot. Rest assured when sending your item through the post office that the global eye of UPU is watching the operators and therefore your item is in good hands. 

How to quicken delivery of your postal item

The post office remains relevant even today, besides the fact that hard copy documents and letters still flood postal sorting centers, e-commerce has empowered the post office as well. The global trend show an increase in the number of parcels handled within the post office.

People that want to use the post office should know that the post office has a global obligation of delivering shipments on time. The global delivery standard, even though many countries cannot meet it, is 6 days at 90 percent success rate. All postal administrations have an obligation to work towards meeting this goal. This is a topic for another day but for now let me give you some guidelines on how to make sure your items takes the shortest time possible to reach the recipient.

1. Observe critical times of posting.Critical time is an estimated time it takes for the last item posted to get into a mailbag that will connect to the next sorting center or office. Items posted late in the day are most likely to be left for processing the following day. However, this might not be the case with postal administration that have night shifts. It is a standard requirement for postal operators to put critical time notices on posting boxes.

2. Post at the begging of the week. If the post office is closer to where you go for church, try posting after lunch on Sunday. This will make your postal item get Monday priority and connect on the very first processed letters.

3. If you have a chance or you will be travelling to bigger cities or towns, take your item with you and post it from there. Bigger post offices normally have enhanced operations with more staff and the best equipment.

4. Address your item clearly. If your hand writting is not good, the sorting officer might be tempted to put it aside and deal with it later. This is surely not the right way of doing things, but we are largely talking about people doing the work in Africa. Even a sorting machine might reject your item for human handling if the address in not clear. You will have done yourself great favour printing the postal address from a computer.

These are just tips that will cost you no extra charge yet they will help you optimise the delivery standard of your item.

Did you know that post offices are Globally Linke?

The post office is government by the United Nations under the organisation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Post offices are linked globally, which means what you get from one post office in one part of the world could be a service you can find in another across continents. For that reason I may refer to the post office as the entire network of postal outlets in the many postal administrations across the world.

The network is a strength in that prices are somewhat controlled and discussed on behalf of the customer. Example, sending money across countries is most likely cheaper through the post office than any other conveyor. I actually can attest to for money transfer services with the SADC region.

I was surprised to learn that some people grow up to the age of tertiary without having put a foot in the post office. I discovered this a few years ago when we, in SwaziPost, had internees from the University of Swaziland, where one internee confessed so.

It is therefore imperative that I bring to public attention the existence of the post office. I can assure you that older generations have better understanding than today's, and information sharing for our generation is here online.

Enjoy this blog. 

Me doing this!

I have worked for the post office from 1st May 2001 up to today. Been to several workshops and met a number of officials from across the world on postal business. Like any other business, I believe the post office has a role to play and it can survive the economic changes.