All about Speed post

Speed Post service has been introduced by the Postal department for speedy delivery of items. Before its launching, delivering of covers or parcels used to take much time. Now, the Postal Department is rendering its services far better than private courier agencies.

Charges

Any parcel that weighs 50 grams can be sent from any place to any place in India by paying only Rs.35.

If a parcel is more than 50 grams in weight, the charges are different. One has to pay Rs.35 for sending any parcel that weighs between 51 grams and 200 grams for a distance of 200 kms.

The charge is Rs.40 if the distance is between 201 km and 1000 kms. It is Rs.60 for sending the parcels for a distance between 1001 kms and 2000 kms. One has to pay Rs.70 if the distance is more than 2000 kms.

If a parcel weighs between 201 grams and 500 grams, one has to pay Rs.50 for sending it for a distance of 200 kms. The charge is Rs.60 if the distance is between 201 kms and 1000 kms and Rs.80 if the distance is between 1001 kms and 2000 kms. If the distance is more than that, one has to pay Rs.90. If the weight is more than this, the charges may be Rs.15, Rs.30, Rs.40 for every 500 grams weight.

Within the town limits, one has to pay Rs.15 for sending any parcel that weighs 50 grams. The charge is Rs.25 for the weights of parcels between 51 grams and 200 grams and Rs.30 for the weights of parcels between 201 grams and 500 grams. If the weight is more than this, one has to pay Rs.10 for every 500 grams of additional weight.

However, one has to pay taxes also along with these postal charges.

For foreign countries

At present, Speed Post services are available to 99 countries around the world. For example, if anyone wants to send some documents to USA, one has to pay Rs.585 for parcel weights upto 250 grams. If the weight is more than this, one has to pay Rs.185 for every additional 250 grams weight of a parcel. For Saudi Arabia, the postal charge is Rs.745 for parcel weights up to 250 grams. For every additional weight of 250 grams, the charge is Rs.60. Details of speed post charges for all countries is available at http://www.indiapost.gov.in/SPInternational_Tariff.aspx

Time for delivery          

It generally takes two days for local delivery. The parcel is delivered on the next day of booking it. For other places in a state and for neighboring states, the delivery time maybe anywhere from three to four days. For any other place in other states, the Postal Department takes about six days for delivering it.

Compensation for delay in delivery

If the Postal Department fails to send any item within the stipulated period among 87 cities and towns in the country, proper compensation is paid to the customer who can claim the difference of charges between speed post and registered post.

If article is missed or damaged

In cases the article is missed or damaged, the customer is paid either the speed post charge or a compensation, whichever is less. If the article or document is a valuable one, one can claim an insurance upto Rs.1 lakh by paying proper charges.

Other Speed Post features

In some big towns and cities, 24-hour booking service is available.

After booking a parcel, one can know the status of it, where the parcel is at a particular moment, from the website of the Postal Department. If internet is not available, one can type POST TRACK and then type the 13-digit booking number and then SMS it to 166 or 51989.

After delivering the parcel, the customer gets an SMS stating the same.

If the number of parcels is high, postal staff come to your house to take them. For corporate customers, there are facilities of decrease of postal charges and later payment,etc. For e-commerce organisations, the department offers cash on delivery option.