EBay return. Take to post office or Royal mail depot or something?

RM and Post Office are “partners”, so yes PO dropoff it is. Might be able to have it collected, if its this service?
https://www.royalmail.com/track-my-return/pick-a-retailer

or it’ll be this -
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/returns-service

Thanks mate, that extra info is also appreciated.👍

Er possibly not. I printed some postage from eBay yesterday and the local post office wouldn't take it. Not their barcodes, I had to take a trip into town to the sorting office.

I could have had it collected though.

Did exactly this on Friday. Can confirm - drop off at the post office, show them the QR on your phone and they’ll scan it and give you a receipt. Easy.

I run a postoffice - I've never had an eBay return QR code return refused.

But you have to be very aware of the differences between PO and RM now so the OP is correct to be quiring it - When you buy some Postal services direct from RM (specifically the cheapest on their web site it seems) this cuts out the commission that your local and national post office will make and will be refused at the PO counter.

PO will refuse all RM Bar codes that aren't able to be scanned through the system as they make zero cash on them and won't be paid for processing and storing the items. Receipts for these items can't be provided as the barcode will not scan and there is no facility to provide this manually.

The only way it seems you can dropoff these items with a receipt is at local RM sorting offices - you may be able to use a parcel post box depending on size of the item but you won't be provided with proof of dispatch. You can pay for your local postman to collect items through RM, but having never used this service I'm unsure if you get proof of dispatch.

PO will refuse all RM Bar codes that aren’t able to be scanned through the system as they make zero cash on them and won’t be paid for processing and storing the items.

Ah, good for the PO, this must have been my problem yesterday. Will remember to link through to postage from the PO website in future, and not let eBay pinch their commission. Won't be quite as seamless with the tracking numbers and dispatch notifications, but need to support the local PO or it won't stay open. Thanks monkeyboyjc.

Yes I think Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 have to be taken to a sorting office, not a PO, or else have the postie pick them up. The postie doesn't give you a receipt in person but you do get emails to say it was picked up.

I printed out my EBay return label and took it to the local village post office yesterday - all scanned and sorted in 30 seconds. The receipt says Certificate of Posting / Tracked Returns.

Yes I think Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 have to be taken to a sorting office, not a PO,

Post offices <span style="text-decoration: underline;">can</span> accept tracked 48 and 24 labels and shipping returns, just not the cheapest options when bought through the RM web site (there are options for dropping off at Po but many just click on the cheapest). A 48hr labl<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">e gets scanned and put in the 2nd class bags and 24s go in the 1st class as normal.</span>

If your buying postage online, and want to drop off at at post office, buy it through the post office not royal mail.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/postage-finder/

As a postie I can tell you that you wont get a receipt off your postie if they collect it but they should scan it when collecting, at which point you should receive an email saying it's been collected and that is your proof. Some people have left a printed proof of posting form out for me with the collection which I have taken to the office and stamped it then given them it back the next day. That is just a curtesy thing though and not needed. Collections and printed labels are free at the moment.