KW in the caithness postcode

[theone]

It's always annoyed me considering all but three of the seventeen KW postcodes are in Caithness.

A bit of wikipedia editting required there I think, many of those postcodes listed as Caithness are actually in Sutherland.

It does affect postage for some deliveries, I've tested with IV and KW codes and and in some situations IV is cheaper.

Maybe there's a gap in the market for someone to open a delivery depot in Dornoch to recieve parcels then send them up to Caithness for a small fee?

[Phill]

The problem really is the different systems used to identify and charge for postage by carriers.

Some things are free regardless, woohoo!
Some KW postcodes are surcharged.
Some KW are recognised as Orkney and are either not serviced or surcharged.
Some just add a day or two extra / downgrade service.
Randomly, we get items sent to our in laws (KW6) as that is as far North as the ‘Computer’ will allow.
(this has been cases when KW1, KW3 are considered offshore but KW6 isn’t)

A postcode change isn’t going to make the problems go away, if anything it will highlight to many where we are and then we’ll get surcharged for everything.
It’s needs a bit of research and collective evidence gathering. i.e. Dabs.com went from free delivery to £10 charge because we were on Mars or wherever, but then delivered it Royal Mail for £2.80!
But, as with many, I think this was classed as Packing & Postage. Cheeky Bar Stewards.
With collaboration with other ‘Offshore’ rural areas and via MP’s maybe pressure can be brought to ensure traders offer a Royal Mail service where the size / weight allows. And stupid errors like blanket refusal because all KW is ‘offshore’ and issues like the KW6 v KW1 delivery is addressed.

[theone]

With collaboration with other ‘Offshore’ rural areas and via MP’s maybe pressure can be brought to ensure traders offer a Royal Mail service where the size / weight allows.

Pressure might be brought, and awareness raised, but I can't see how traders could ever be forced to use royal mail.

Many companies will have a contract with a single courier (cheapest for them) and the loss of customers in the highlands/islands isn't big enough to justify changing contracts.

I've said it before, but we've been spoiled in the past with the royal mail "one price anywhere" policy. Imagine if taxis or train tickets worked this way!

[Amy]

wow how lucky is that!!

[Phill]

Pressure might be brought, and awareness raised, but I can't see how traders could ever be forced to use royal mail.

I agree, we can't force companies and traders to send their goods a certain way, but with pressure and awareness the negative can be turned into a positive. A Direct.gov or trading standards led campaign where companies can promote themselves via where and how they deliver.
Effectively you can embarrass those who have not thought about their delivery system into doing something.

Many companies will have a contract with a single courier (cheapest for them) and the loss of customers in the highlands/islands isn't big enough to justify changing contracts.

Again awareness might help. I know how parcel delivery contracts are negotiated and can see why some companies just right off certain areas. But it doesn't take much to reroute parcels at source.

Do some of these companies have any idea of the areas / population their writing off from their customer base?

I look online for certain things and if I find a company that will not deliver or massively surcharges I move on to the next. I can't be bothered trying to get hold of the decision maker to explain that A, there is life north of Glasgow. B, I wouldn't mind waiting an extra day or two for delivery. C, I don't mind paying a couple of quid extra but not huge sums i.e. where you see delivery go from free to £25 or worse.

Many online traders pitch things with next day delivery or nothing, these are the ones who often write off or surcharge heavily. Why not have a second option of 3-4 delivery or the Royal Mail cost plus a couple of quid to get it to the post office.
For many things I would guess a £5 surcharge would be workable and acceptable, as often it will still keep the overall price lower than the competition.

[RecQuery]

I use Amazon or their marketplace almost exclusively at this point for anything that isn't a download product, unless there's a major price difference or they don't have what I'm looking for. I've had some things posted via Royal Mail reach me the next day when it was a 3-5 day estimated delivery time.

[colingel]

I use Amazon when every possible.Never been a mention of surcharge..

[Duncansby]

If you haven't seen the Groat yet this week there is an article about high delivery charges and work the CAB are doing in order to tackle it. Also available online: http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/...s-18112011.htm

[Kodiak]

If you haven't seen the Groat yet this week there is an article about high delivery charges and work the CAB are doing in order to tackle it. Also available online: http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/...s-18112011.htm.

Your Link does not work as it only comes up with "Bad Request".

[Commore]

Does seem a bit odd that there are no dedicated postcodes for Caithness, we just come under Kirkwall. Would have thought there should be WK... for Wick, TH... for Thurso for example. Anyone know why there isn't?

We come under Kirkwall too and we are in Sutherland!

[Norseman]

Wrong.

There was not, nor has there ever been, a WK postcode.

KW was always Kirkwall, chosen for geographical reasons when the country was being "split up". Golspie got put in the northern KW, Dornoch in the southern IV.

I assume Wick got KW1 as the biggest town in the KW area?

http://www.zippostalcodes.com/postco...codes-history/
http://www.zippostalcodes.com/postco...des-area-list/

No I am sorry the one but you are wrong it may refer to Kirkwall these days as it is now one of the main sorting offices how ever when it was set up it referred to Wick as the main post office lucky I still have a copy of an early post code map produced by Royal mail to show you it makes no sense to call a postcode after a town then start the numbering somewhere else

[toffee_pie]

No post codes in Ireland (apart from Dublin)

so our 'roots' are well established. Its not uncommon in Ireland for postmen to memorise clans as some towns could have dozens of the same name family to get mail

[secrets in symmetry]

No I am sorry the one but you are wrong it may refer to Kirkwall these days as it is now one of the main sorting offices how ever when it was set up it referred to Wick as the main post office lucky I still have a copy of an early post code map produced by Royal mail to show you it makes no sense to call a postcode after a town then start the numbering somewhere else

Great post Norseman! I bet no-one expected proof like that.

I note from your map that Kirkcaldy has a KY2 postcode - not KY1 as I would expect - unless the map isn't very accurate.

[golach]

Great post Norseman! I bet no-one expected proof like that.

I note from your map that Kirkcaldy has a KY2 postcode - not KY1 as I would expect - unless the map isn't very accurate.

KY1 is Kirkcaldy

http://www.postcodearea.co.uk/postaltowns/kirkcaldy/

[secrets in symmetry]

It seems that KY1 and KY2 are both Kirkcaldy. Norseman's map is a trifle simplified - as might be expected.

Not that it's at all important....

[sandyr1]

Parcels sent from here to Caithness & Orkney are the same price

[theone]

No I am sorry the one but you are wrong it may refer to Kirkwall these days as it is now one of the main sorting offices how ever when it was set up it referred to Wick as the main post office lucky I still have a copy of an early post code map produced by Royal mail to show you it makes no sense to call a postcode after a town then start the numbering somewhere else

I stand corrected. I couldn't find anything that had KW down as wick. Great spot.

It does raise the questions why not WK and why/when did it change?

[porshiepoo]

does anyone know what the KW stands for ?? my grandad asked me and i havent the foggyest!!

Thanks in advance x

Well it certainly ain't Key West, it's ruddy freezing here today! My nails are Blue!!!!!!!!

[Bazeye]

I was born in Lancashire, havent moved but now, apparently live in Cumbria. Cumbria postcode is CA, but mines still the Lancashire one LA.

[theone]

I was born in Lancashire, havent moved but now, apparently live in Cumbria. Cumbria postcode is CA, but mines still the Lancashire one LA.

CA is Carlisle, LA Lancaster. Postcodes are generally based on towns, not areas.