Stamps and Collecting
  1. Latest Stamps
  2. Future Stamps
  3. New to Stamps
  4. Giving Stamps
  5. Advanced Collector
  6. How to buy

Stamps & Collecting

 

Frequently Asked Questions
  1. How do I find a product?
  2. How do I buy something?
  3. How do I cancel an order?
  4. Do I pay for delivery?
  5. How do I provide an alternative billing address?
  6. How can I set up a Reducing Balance account?
  7. How can i set up a Variable Direct Debit Account?
  8. How quickly can I get my order delivered?
  9. Will I receive confirmation when I place an order on the web?
  10. If I wish to send a gift to a friend can I specify an alternative address?
  11. What are the purchasing terms and conditions?
  12. Can I change my regular order online?
  13. Can I top up my account online?
 
  1.  

    How do I find a product?

    You can find a stamp or philatelic product at the Royal Mail Online Shop with ease. Either click the following link to get to the shop, click on the ‘how to buy’ link in the navigation bar to the left of your screen or type the following address into your browser window: www.royalmail.com/shop

    Then you can browse under the shop's categories for the product you want, or find it more directly by using the 'Product finder' tool in the left hand menu.

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  2.  

    How do I buy something?

    Once you've found a product you'd like to buy, simply select the quantity you want and click on the 'Add to basket' button. When you've got everything you were looking for, click on the 'Checkout' button and follow the simple step-by-step process, detailed below.

    • If you are not already logged in you will be asked to do so. If you haven’t registered your details before, you can just click 'Continue' to go to the next page.
    • You will then be asked to enter your contact information – we’ll need this in case we need to contact you about your order, and to confirm your order details by email.
    • Then you must enter in your delivery details – where you would like your order delivered to, and to whom you would like it addressed. If you are logged in, you will have access to addresses you have previously saved in your address book.
    • Payment details: first choose how you’d like to pay (by account or credit/debit card), and then enter your payment details as prompted on screen. If you are logged in, you can access your saved payment details from here. You can also update your details from this screen. Payment is not taken at this point.
    • On the next page you will see your order confirmation, where you can check your order and payment details. You can go back from here and amend any of your order details. You will also see a link to Terms and Conditions which we’d like you to read and agree to before you confirm your order. When you are happy with everything, click ‘Confirm order’ at which point your details will be sent.
    • Time to buy: this page will display your order details, billing address, delivery address, payment details and a link to the Terms and Conditions, which we’d like you to read and agree to before you shop with us.
    • Order confirmation: this page will provide you with a summary of your order and payment details, an order reference number and contact details for enquiries. We’ll email you a copy of this for your records.
    • If you don't need to change any of your address details, you can use our Express Checkout for even quicker, easier shopping.

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  3.  

    How do I cancel an order?

    You can cancel an order up to seven days after we receive it under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000. As orders are often sent out almost immediately, it's not always possible to cancel an order before it's sent to you. You can, however, return a product sent to you within 30 days of receiving it.  See What are the purchasing Terms and Conditions? for more details.


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  4.  

    Do I pay for delivery?

    When placing an order with Royal Mail, the handling charges are:

    UK            £1.45
    Europe     £1.55
    ROW        £2.15

    Bulky items:

    Within the UK: £2.95
    Outside the UK, within Europe: £5.00
    Outside the UK and Europe: £14.00

    The above charges will be charged per order per address regardless of how many items are involved. The higher handling charge will apply where an order contains both a bulky item and a two-dimensional product

    If you have an Easy Payment Account the regular order charges are as follows:

    UK            £0.45
    Europe     £0.55
    ROW        £1.15

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  5.  

    How do I provide an alternative billing address?

    When you register your details during your first order at our online shop your billing address will be added to your address book. You can then access all of your addresses by clicking on the 'My profile' link in the left-hand menu. From here you can add, delete and amend your addresses. If you change or amend your billing address, we may need to ask you to confirm those changes. This may delay your order slightly. If you're a business user, we'll need confirmation in writing from your head office.

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  6.  

    How can I set up a Reducing Balance account?

    A Reducing Balance Account lets you pay a lump sum in advance. Each time you place an order we'll deduct the cost from this lump sum. Please call us on 08457 641 641 between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday for more details.

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  7.  

    How can i set up a Variable Direct Debit Account?

    To set up a Variable Direct Debit Account, we'll need you to complete a direct debit mandate.

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  8.  

    How quickly can I get my order delivered?

    For business products, orders received before 5pm will be sent by Special Delivery so that they will arrive by 1pm the next day, with the exception of remote parts of Scotland and some offshore islands which have slightly later guaranteed delivery times. Some of our pre-paid stationery products may take up to five working days to deliver. For Stamps and Collecting products we aim to send out orders within ten working days of receiving your order, subject to availability and volume considerations. On orders containing both business and stamps and collecting products, the products will be sent out separately according to the guidelines set out above.

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  9.  

    Will I receive confirmation when I place an order on the web?

    You will receive an order confirmation containing your order number.

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  10.  

    If I wish to send a gift to a friend can I specify an alternative address?

    When you register your details during your first order you can include alternative addresses. You can then access all of your addresses by clicking on the 'My profile' link in the left-hand menu and add, delete or amend them at will. We may need to ask you to confirm those changes, which may delay your order slightly.

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  11.  

    What are the purchasing terms and conditions?

    1. All orders for goods are subject to these Terms and Conditions of contract and the instructions for ordering set out on the order page. You should read them carefully.
    2. Prices are as set on the site and include VAT at the current rates. Prices remain valid until 31 December 2006.
    3. You must pay for your order in advance of delivery by cheque, Debit or Credit Card. Cheques should be crossed and made payable to 'Royal Mail'.
    4. Orders for destinations within the UK are sent postage paid.
    5. If you wish to return any item you can do so within 30 days. Simply return it to: Royal Mail, Tallents House, Freepost EH3647, 21 South Gyle Crescent, EDINBURGH EH12 9PE in its original condition and you will receive a full refund of the purchase price. If you return an item because it is defective or damaged please state this and indicate if you want a replacement rather than a refund. Royal Mail will refund the cost of returning defective or damaged items. No further compensation, however, shall be payable.
    6. Royal Mail will try to dispatch orders within 10 working days of receipt; however this is subject to availability and volume considerations. Items may be dispatched separately.
    7. Royal Mail reserves the right to withdraw any item at any time and any payments made in respect of orders not yet processed will be refunded.
    8. The Stamp Programme is subject to change and stamp images may vary on issue.
    9. Enquiries about non-receipt of orders must be made within 30 days of the date of issue.

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  12.  

    Can I change my regular order online?

    No, however, you can call the Customer Order & Enquiry line on 08457 641 641, between 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday or write to us at Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, EDINBURGH, EH12 9PB and we will ensure the changes are made to your order as soon as possible

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  13.  

    Can I top up my account online?

    No, this can be done by credit/debit card by calling the Customer Order & Enquiry line on 08457 641 641, between 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday or by using the payment slip on your statement of account. The most convenient way of paying for your orders is by Variable Direct Debit and an application can be requested by calling the customer order & enquiry line or alternatively by writing to us at

    Royal Mail
    Tallents House
    21 South Gyle Crescent
    EDINBURGH
    EH12 9PB


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