Author: Archive

DHL open two new Express Centers (Japan)

Posted by | Feb 20, 2008 | |

DHL, opened two new package drop-off centers – the DHL Kodemma-cho Express Center and the DHL Kayaba cho Express Center.

DHL established the two new Express Centers in the KNT Tourist Kodemma-cho Sales Office and the KNT Tourist Kayaba-cho Sales Office under a business entrustment agreement with KNT Tourist Co., Ltd., a travel agency operated by Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. The two new Express Centers will accept documents and packages dropped off at the facility by DHL account holders.

Notably, the two new DHL Express Centers offer the DHL Simple Pack service, an easy-to-use service featuring a simplified fee structure. The DHL Simple Pack service offers dedicated envelopes and boxes, the fees for which are not calculated according to weight but according to destination zone (Asia Pacific, America, or Europe / other regions). These fixed fees are not subject to adjustments based on monthly rate fluctuations in jet fuel surcharges.

The DHL Kodemma-cho Express Center and the DHL Kayaba-cho Express Center are located in central Tokyo, Japan’s financial center and an important business district with roots dating back to the Edo Period. The large concentration of companies and proximity to key subway stations mean convenient access for customers to drop off shipments on their way to/from work, as well as while shopping or enjoying other leisure activities. The two new Express Centers are expected to meet the anticipated high demand from not only corporate customers but also office workers and business travelers, as well as tourists who wish to send personal shipments to overseas destinations.

Read More

China postal services back to normal after snow disaster

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

China’s postal services, including postal savings, remittance, package delivery and express mail service (EMS), are basically back to normal nationwide, according to the emergency command center on Tuesday.

Heavy snow and icy rain since Jan. 10 have hampered parts of the public services in the country’s east, central and southern regions. The weather left expressways closed, roads frozen, and prevented postal services.

To resume services in disaster-hit provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, the country’s postal service department dispatched employees and additional vehicles to deliver mail and packages within or cross provinces.

Postal departments in some areas even rented taxis to deliver letters and packages in a bid to avoid delaying services. The cost was as much as five times higher than that of normal times.

Local postal branches were allocated with disaster relief materials, including electrical generators, snow chains for tires and automobile spare parts.

Postal service departments also strived to maintain operation of its computer systems to ensure daily operation and services.

Read More

Decision costs UPS USD 2.9M in overpaid GST

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

United Parcel Service Ltd. has received a costly lesson from one of the country’s highest courts: good intentions and tax law don’t mix.

UPS may have been doing customers a good turn by paying upfront for the taxes and duties they owed on parcels shipped into this country from the United States.

But the Federal Court of Appeal has sided with Canada’s tax collector, ruling that UPS isn’t entitled to a rebate for those payments — leaving the company about USD 2.9-million out of pocket.

The decision also means UPS could be on the hook for USD 1.1-million in penalties and interest.

The “problem” centers on two scenarios, both involving mistakes made by either UPS or one of its customers.

In some cases, the parcel company mistakenly overvalued a package’s value, say USD 2,000 instead of USD 200. When the parcel arrived, the customer doesn’t want to pay GST on the overcharged amount– USD 1,800–so UPS either let things slide and swallowed the extra tax, or collected the tax from customers, but credited their account for that overcharged amount.

In other instances, it was the customer who incorrectly valued the package, even though UPS already paid tax on the higher amount. Again, UPS either ignored the overpayment or collected in full, but credited the customer.

UPS then subtracted the shortfall — USD 2.9-million — from its tax bill.
The federal court ruling overturned an earlier decision from Donald Bowman, Chief Justice of Canada’s Tax Court, who said that UPS was entitled to a rebate.

Last summer, UPS lost a long-running trade dispute with Canada Post, arguing that the letter carrier had an unfair advantage over competitors because its courier and express post services relied on a government sanctioned monopoly of sorting facilities, mailboxes and post offices that private firms must provide for themselves.

Read More

Deutsche Post plans to cooperate with FedEx in US express operations

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

Deutsche Post World Net AG is planning to cooperate with FedEx Corp in its loss-making US express operations after the appointment of Frank Appel as chief executive, Financial Times Deutschland reported without naming its sources.

Deutsche Post has posted unspecified losses since it entered the US express market in 2004. Financial Times Deutschland said the losses could amount to 7 bln eur.

Frank Appel was appointed Deutsche Post CEO after predecessor Klaus Zumwinkel resigned over a 1 mln eur tax fraud charge.

Financial Times Deutschland said the intended cooperation with FedEx is part of Appel and chief financial officer John Allan’s plans to restructure the German mail services company. They are also looking for a bank to merge with Deutsche Post’s Deutsche Postbank AG banking unit.

Read More

FedEx spends USD 5.5M to lobby in 2007

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

FedEx Corp. spent roughly USD 5.5 million in 2007 to lobby the federal government; according to a disclosure form posted online Thursday by the Senate’s public records office.

The company spent about USD 3.9 in the second half of 2007 to lobby the House of Representatives, Senate and White House on issues related to the federal budget, transportation and energy, according to a disclosure form posted online Thursday by the Senate’s public records office.

FedEx also lobbied Congress on trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Korea.

FedEx spent USD 1.6 million in the first six months of 2007 to lobby on legislation related to Federal Aviation Administration funding, air cargo security, air traffic control, biofuels, homeland security and visa wavers, among other issues.

Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest