Tag: Mail Services

End of nation’s postal subsidies in sight (Vietnam)

Viet Nam’s postal sector may see tough times ahead, as the Government is considers cutting loss compensations in the sector to heal the ailing industry by 2013.
The Government will cut subsidies to the postal sector in 2013. How are the relevant authorities preparing for this?
The Government recently passed a public postal development plan, in which will gradually reduce subsidies to the postal sector, and completely end them in 2013. This was a very important decision, and it will have a strong impact on the sector.
We can see that the 2013 deadline is appropriate, despite the fact that it is unprecedented in Viet Nam. However, the separation is a litter bit late and needs the efforts of both the postal sector and the Government.
Can you tell me more about what the Government will do for the postal sector, before leaving it alone?
First of all, we’re giving the sector a 5-year transitional period, which will help it to prepare for the future.
Secondly, there will be two types of postal entities. One will belong to the Government and will be geared towards public service, while the other will be privately owned and will operate with market principles.
However, service prices at State-owned postal companies will be at least 10 times less than those of privately-owned companies.
Is it true that the ministry is also considering an adjustment to the prices of some postal services?
This is a very hot topic. The Ministry of Information and Communication has directed the postal sector to create a price adjustment roadmap for the near future.
In fact, the current price of postage stamps is very low, well below operating costs. An increase to service prices would help local postal operators improve postal networks and invest in new technologies.
However, as the economy is facing difficulties now with skyrocketing inflation rates, timing for any hikes would not be decided until next year.

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Ongoing delivery problems in Edinburgh (UK)

Postwatch Scotland published the results of a second study of the delivery service residents in EH3 are experiencing. This follows a study undertaken in 2006 which revealed considerable problems in the area, after which Royal Mail promised to introduce a number of improvements, including having more regular delivery officers on the routes.

One in five has suffered lost post, while 17 per cent have had letters and parcels delayed, according to a survey by Postwatch Scotland. It said the results in the EH3 postcode area, which includes Edinburgh’s New Town, were “symptomatic of the problems Royal Mail has in delivering to the whole of Scotland”.

In 2006, Postwatch Scotland carried out a study of more than 400 addresses which showed seven out of ten had experienced misdelivery, more than half had received mail for entirely different addresses and one in three had been given post that was meant for neighbours in the same building.

The study covers delivery experiences between 2nd January and 31st March 2008

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Royal Mail supports customer publishing industry through research incentive (UK)

Royal Mail is demonstrating its commitment to the customer publishing industry by offering a financial incentive to organisations to benchmark their publications and improve their marketing value.
The initiative, part of a strengthening of Royal Mail’s relationship with the Association of Publishing Agencies (APA), means that customer publishers can save GBP 2,000 from the cost of having the effectiveness of their titles measured through the acclaimed Royal Mail APA Advantage Study.
Launched in 2005, the Royal Mail APA Advantage Study tracks customer magazine effectiveness as a valuable marketing tool and shows how titles perform against others in their sector.
The study currently features 70 magazines and over 20,000 customer interviews, conducted by Millward Brown, making it one of the largest pieces of media research in the UK and more cost effective for publishers than undertaking their own analysis.
Julia Hutchison, COO of APA, said: “The initiative means The Advantage Study will now be co-branded between Royal Mail and APA. The results that have been delivered as a result of the Advantage Study have to date been one of the main reasons for the astonishing growth of this medium.
“Proving that customer magazines are read on average for 25 minutes, deliver a 44 per cent response rate, eight per cent sales uplift and 32 per cent brand loyalty is a highly persuasive argument in convincing marketers that a customer magazine is a must have in the marketing plan.”

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Deutsche Post and Selekt Mail file complaint against extension of mail monopoly in the Netherlands

Deutsche Post World Net and Deutsche Post Selekt Mail Nederland C.V. filed a joint complaint with the European Commission today to protest the renewed delay of the opening of the mail market in the Netherlands. Basis for the complaint is the Dutch government’s decision not to end the mail monopoly as planned on July 1, 2008, but to extend it indefinitely, thereby creating a competitive advantage for Post TNT of the Netherlands.

Through their decision, the Netherlands join the group of opponents against a liberalization who refuse the uniform opening of postal markets in Europe and continue to count on market foreclosure instead of competition.

Under the European law, a member state may reserve the national postal market exclusively for one provider only if this approach plays an essential role in financing the universal service. However, the statements of the Dutch government clearly show that the renewed delay only serves the interests of TNT. The Dutch government’s activities are, therefore, a clear violation of European legislation.

The allegation of an insufficient competition in the neighbor countries, especially in Germany, is just an excuse. The German postal market has been completely open since January 1, 2008. An indefinite delay protects the home market of the Dutch TNT that has been acting in Germany for years and that has unlimited business opportunities since the fall of the mail monopoly there.

In anticipation of liberalization, DP Selekt Mail, like other TNT competitors, has already made extensive investments. For this reason, Deutsche Post and DP Selekt Mail are calling on the Commission to act promptly and to eliminate the unacceptable distortion of competition contrary to European law in the Dutch postal market as soon as possible.

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