Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Rebecca Smithers

Gucci trainers destroyed because of Royal Mail’s shoe polish ban

A pair of Gucci trainers.
Student’s dream buy of a pair of Gucci trainers turned to dust when Royal Mail destroyed them. Photograph: Alamy

Our daughter got an unconditional place at a top university. She has been hinting about a pair of Gucci trainers, so after saving up we bought her the dream pair as a reward. As she was going to university by train, I sent two boxes of her stuff to her by Royal Mail through my business account. One box arrived but the other didn’t. We were told it had been held because it contained two tins of shoe cleaner, which are prohibited items. These would be destroyed and the box sent back minus the tins.

We then received a letter from Royal Mail informing us that the entire box and its contents would be destroyed. It contained all her personal effects worth almost £2,000 – including the Gucci trainers. Royal Mail just says “it is a breach of our terms and conditions”. I even offered to drive to any depot and collect it but I keep getting told “it’s been disposed of”. SO, Dundee, Scotland

Royal Mail says: “We are very sorry for the distress this has caused. Unfortunately, the customer used a business account. It is made very clear that parcels must not carry any prohibited or dangerous goods unless they are declared and labelled correctly. It is also clear that any parcels containing dangerous goods are liable to be destroyed.”

However, it found that you were given incorrect information about the fate of the parcel, and has arranged for a suitable goodwill payment.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.