Royal Mail

[Panic Button]

Just what is the difference, if any, between first and second class post?

I have visions of a spotty herbert chucking the second class into a rough sack and leaving it in the corner for a couple of days, while a guy in a whistle and flute puts on fresh white cotton gloves to sort the first class.

[kevo2k7]

hehe that made me chuckle.

[filthiestfis]

You know I was also thinking the same thing. I often send letters by 2nd class which arrive very promptly anyway. What is the process for 2nd class mail that makes it take longer to deliver letters?

[dzug]

Most of it's sorted by machine these days - the first job being to separate out 1st/2nd class using the phosphor bars on the stamps or the 1 or 2 on the printed label.

Then the main difference is that probably after a certain time of day they don't bother with sorting the 2nd class bags into destinations until next day, or first thing in the day they don't sort it into delivery rounds but leave it until later.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you made it out of motoring,i see,

[Panic Button]

Whoa!

You made me jump coming out of the darkness there.

Yes, I wander out for a little stroll occasionally

[meredith101]

The first class mail is sorted in a central office in Plymouth (Royal Mail Plymouth Central Sorting Office: or RMPCSO, for short). The second class stuff is sent to Lithuania for sorting, due to the cheap labour. It is returned by boat, which is why it is often damp, if you feel it carefully.
Check out the RMLSCSO online.

[Panic Button]

What is really sad is that I actually did Google those abbreviations!

[gina32]

im still waiting for a letter with a first class stamp on, sent on 13 july to arrive, what class is that?

[Panic Button]

Standard