By Rocco Clayfield, founder of GoldPaid (GOLDPAID LTD) · Published · updated
Pick the right Royal Mail service
For jewellery and small valuables, Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm is the standard. It is signed-for, tracked end-to-end and time-guaranteed. Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used, and you set that cover at the counter when you buy the label. It is not automatic. On a GoldPaid parcel the cover level is fixed before the label is issued, which is why requesting a prepaid label begins with what the lot is worth.
- Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm: the correct default for gold, silver, watches, coins.
- Signed For 1st Class: delivery confirmation is not end-to-end tracking, and compensation for valuables such as jewellery is excluded.
- Tracked 24/48: tracking does not make these suitable for jewellery cover; Royal Mail excludes compensation for valuables on these services.
Not sure how any of this applies to your own items? Send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you, call 07944 014111 (8am to 9pm, 7 days a week). We can arrange postage after we have spoken. Nothing is posted until you decide, your parcel is tracked and signed for, the written offer follows the XRF assay, the return is free if you decline, and we aim to pay by Faster Payments within one working hour of your acceptance.
Package it so the outside says nothing
Use plain outer packaging without advertising valuable contents. Choose a sturdy box and enough cushioning for the item, especially for stones, watches and fragile silverware. Follow the required address, return-address and handling instructions; discretion must not override safe packing.
- Bag the item. Small resealable poly bag stops loose stones and clasps escaping.
- Cushion each piece. Protect all sides against pressure and knocks. Keep items separate so they cannot collide, and fill empty space so they cannot move.
- Card the piece. Sandwich between two pieces of stiff card if it is a chain or a flat item, stops it flexing in transit.
- Strong outer box. Use suitable packaging for the contents and follow the carrier’s handling-label instructions for breakable items.
- Seal every seam. Standard parcel tape is fine; run it across every seam.
Photograph before you seal: the 5-photo recipe
Photographs help document what you packed, but do not replace the carrier’s terms or proof of posting. Take five useful views:
- The item on scales showing weight.
- The item next to a ruler or a coin for scale.
- Any hallmark or stamp, close-up.
- The item inside the open parcel with padding.
- The sealed parcel with the address label visible.
Save the images to a dated album or email them to yourself. They provide contemporaneous evidence if you ever need to claim.
Keep the Post Office receipt: it is your claim ticket
Check that your proof-of-postage receipt shows the tracking reference. Keep the label or purchase confirmation showing the service and cover level as well. Without it, a claim against Royal Mail is much harder to progress. Photograph the receipt on your phone the moment you leave the counter and keep the paper in a drawer at home until the money has cleared.
Confirm the plan for items above the cover limit
Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on postal method and cover level. Contact GoldPaid before posting a lot that may exceed its confirmed cover. Separate items may be sent in separately covered parcels if agreed in advance. One item worth more than the limit needs another suitable arrangement; never dismantle it or assume two labels increase its cover.
What to avoid
- No mention of contents on the outside. No "GOLD", no "JEWELLERY", no dealer logos.
- No unsolicited-envelope schemes. If a company sent you a prepaid envelope you did not request, treat it with caution, cover levels are often minimal.
- Use the agreed handover method. For a GoldPaid label, hand the parcel to a staffed Post Office counter and keep proof of postage.
- Check the delivery date. Ask about the acceptance cut-off and whether Saturday delivery is included. Working-day rules and exceptions depend on the service.
What happens if it is lost or delayed
Contact GoldPaid promptly so we can check tracking and the terms attached to your label. Our process is sender-led, with our help and records. Royal Mail’s retail loss policy permits either sender or recipient to claim, but pays only one claim; business-account services have their own terms. Keep your proof of postage, photographs and correspondence together. For a full walk-through see what happens if Royal Mail loses your gold parcel.
The GoldPaid receiving side
Once your parcel reaches us it is signed for on arrival and opened at our Bristol office, where each item is weighed and XRF-tested. If you decline our offer, return postage is on us, free tracked return by the same Special Delivery service, no strings.
- Testing by in-house XRF. No third-party lab lag.
- A rough estimate by phone or WhatsApp on 07944 014111, 8am to 9pm, 7 days; the offer itself always comes in writing, itemised.
- Faster Payments; we aim to pay within one working hour of acceptance.
Official postage references
Check Royal Mail’s fragile-item packing guide, damage policy and retail loss policy. Its Signed For and Tracked 24 pages explain the valuables exclusions. References checked 9 October 2026; check the terms for your exact label before posting.
Related reading
For the full posting process see how to sell gold safely by post. For scam patterns to avoid, common gold-selling scams in the UK.