New to OBA, how often does the system go down?

[ChameleonSystems]

I just started using RM OBA and had an email from them saying 'use this emergency system if the regular one is unavailable'. I have asked them the above question but thought I'd get data from the real world too.

I'm on BPL while they get CRL on my account. It all looks fun, a fair bit of faffing about, but once I find the short cuts and hone my method it should save me a fair bit. I could have been on this a while back. First day (Tuesday) I had stickers all over the place.. up the walls... on the ceiling...

[astral276]

Pass. No idea what you are talking about. Went so far over my head it was just a dot.

[ChameleonSystems]

Its Royal Mail Online Business Account. Don't worry if you don't know what I'm talking about, then you won't know the answer

BPL are those franked labels with 1st/2nd on them (you get a discount on your postage if you send >1000 items per year)
CRL is the next step up for UK mail, with RM 24/48 (you have to send >1000 items to the UK alone)
The next step up after this is RM tracked, but you have to be doing a fair bit to get that. I would have to send all my stuff tracked, I asked them for a quote just to compare, but I think it won't be viable. If I got an increase in items getting 'lost' I would consider it.

You bag your mail up sorted into types, the only process needed in the post office is to scan all the SD and International Signed For items. Otherwise my trips to the post office are much faster now, I just hand over the bags and away I go. No more handing over items one at a time and waiting for them to process each. All paid for on account, 30 days nett (weekly or monthly depending on volume). Also less of the tutting brigade in the queue behind me!

.....and if you do enough trade with RM you can get a free collection I'm not quite there yet but I'm working on it!

[hurryb4itsgone]

USPS has had a similar system for some time and must say, "I love it" There is only a minimum for business accounts and personal accounts still get the discount. I realize that is not really answering your question. Would think that the fact that they have a back up plan in the case of system failure is a good thing.