Tag: Mail Services

Post office launches new Fiveyear Saver

Posted by | Apr 22, 2008 | |

The Post Office today announces the fifth issue of its Fiveyear Saver – a no risk, fixed-term deposit bond – which guarantees returns over a five year period with the benefit of further growth potential linked to the FTSE 100-Index.

The Fiveyear Saver offers a dual investment system, which is ideal for investors made cautious by the recent stock market jitters. As a result customers who take advantage of this great offer – which is open now and closes on 11 January 2008 – will see their money managed in two ways:

– Half of their deposit earns a very competitive 7.5 per cent gross/AER per annum for the five year fixed term period
– The other half benefits from a 50 per cent return on any increase in the FTSE-100 Index over the five year period. Customers’ original deposits are guaranteed should the FTSE-100 Index fall.

Post Office director of savings and investments Richard Norman said: “Although many investors are seeking to benefit from gains in the stock market, they also want a guarantee that they won’t lose their money. This is why we are pleased to announce the launch of a new five year savings bond – with an even better rate of interest.”

“Post Office Fiveyear Saver is a secure investment which gives a guaranteed return, while still offering the growth potential of the FTSE-100 Index. There is no risk of losing your original deposit and you can invest from just GBP 500.”

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Does a liberalized postal market need a sector specific regulator?

Posted by | Apr 22, 2008 | |

For different reasons, most actors in liberalized postal markets call for sector specific regulatory bodies. However those should disappear over time along with an increasingly market-oriented definition of universal services.

Sector specific regulation in the postal sector has rarely been questioned so far. However, with the total opening of the European market now foreseen between 2011 and 2013, and in some countries already in place, we should think again.

To recall the context, specific regulation in the postal sector is an invention of the European Community back in 1997. The regulation was a copy of what at that time had already been set up for the telecommunications sector. Indeed the Postal Directive (97/67/EC) required every member country to set up a postal regulator. The regulator’s main functions were: firstly to make sure the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and corresponding quality criteria are fulfilled; and secondly to watch on possible cross-subsidies resulting from the monopoly, which in turn was designed as a means to finance the USO.

Abolition of postal monopoly

With the new Postal Directive of the European Community (2008/6/EC), the monopoly will be abolished in 2011 with exceptions granted to some member countries in 2013. Finland, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom have already abolished (at least de jure) their monopoly protection, while the Netherlands delayed full market opening because of continuing barriers to entry in Germany. Outside the European Union, Switzerland might open its postal market completely to competition by 2012, while Canada thinks on deregulating outbound mail.

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Strategic Review of Canada Post Announced

Posted by | Apr 22, 2008 | |

Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister responsible for Canada Post, today announced that the Government of Canada will conduct a strategic review of the Canada Post Corporation that will be guided by established terms of reference. “We are conducting a strategic review of Canada Post to make sure this public institution has the right tools and means to fulfil its mandate in the future,” said Minister Cannon. “This review is being conducted with the full understanding that Canada Post will remain a Crown corporation. In the changing business context and with new challenges ahead, we want to act now to make sure it continues to fulfil its mandate: delivering essential, universal services every day to Canadians, while remaining financially self-sustaining.” The review will focus on four major areas: market and competition; public policy objectives and responsibilities; commercial activities; and financial and performance targets. A review of Canada Post has not been conducted since 1995. The review will be led by an external, independent advisory panel composed of three members. “I am very pleased that Dr. Robert Campbell has agreed to chair the panel and that Mrs. Nicole Beaudoin and Mr. Daniel H. Bader will support him as panel members on this important review,” said Minister Cannon. “I look forward to their report and recommendations, which are due to me in December 2008.”

The panel will be guided by the following four principles:
– Canada Post will not be privatized and will remain a Crown corporation;
– Canada Post must maintain a universal, effective and economically viable postal service;
– Canada Post will continue to act as an instrument of public policy through the provision of postal services to Canadians; and
– Canada Post will continue to operate in a commercial environment and is expected to attain a realistic rate of return on equity.

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E-BOX is condemned by the TGI of Paris but it is La Poste which appeals

Posted by | Apr 22, 2008 | |

La Poste initiated a legal action against E-Box on 6 June 2006 and requested the cancellation of trade marks arguing the similarity to La Poste brands and claiming it could create confusion to the consumers. La Poste also requested EUR 215,000 for compensation.
On 11 March 2008, after 2 years of legal procedures, the Court of Justice issued its decision (This sentence is provisional since one of the parts can still appeal):

The tribunal:
– Condemns E-BOX for counterfeiting by imitation of the following brands: ’agence postale rapide ebox’’, agence postale jaune’’, agence postale orange’’,’’agence postale erte’’, ‘’point poste jaune’’, ‘’point poste orange’’, and ‘’point poste vert’’. E-BOX must pay to La Poste EUR 20,500.
– Declares inadmissible the counterclaim of EBOX against La Poste

In revenge the tribunal:
– Don’t approve the nullity of the ’agence postale rapide e-box’’ brand
– Declares the validity of the following E-BOX brands: ‘’post ebox’’, “e-box, l’ autre poste’’, et ‘’e-box, une autre idée de la poste’’.

La Poste decided to appeal to this sentence.

La Poste group announced the objective to EUR 850 million net profits for 2008. Even if E-Box “contribution” passed from EUR 20,000 to EUR 215,000, it will remain marginal in the accounts of La Poste.

Therefore, the action of the La Poste only aims to ensure the monopoly of the words “poste”, postal’, ‘postale’, ‘agence postale’ and seek to preserve the monopoly of the postal services in France.

Can be possible a healthy competition in the French postal market, where ARCEP is the regulator and guarantor, if the services suggested by competitor operators of La Poste cannot be understood by the consumers as being of postal nature?

By collateral effect, the continuation of legal actions from La Poste give value to E-BOX trade marks containing the word ‘poste’. But E-Box’s interest is to support the implementation of the European directives related to the liberalization of the postal markets and the creation of a competition model.

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USPS launches "green" Web site

Posted by | Apr 22, 2008 | |

The US Postal Service has launched a new Web site promoting the agency’s eco-friendly products and services, as well as recommended “green” practices for mailers.
The new Web site can be accessed at www.usps.com/green. The site, which went live on April 14, is divided into five sections: eco-friendly products and services, greening your mail, recycle, innovation and direct and green. The home page also features selected stamps released by the USPS in the past that promote nature and conservation.
The site also includes several links to various resources on the Direct Marketing Association’s Web site, including DMAChoice, its free direct mail opt-out service, and its list of 15 eco-friendly business practices for direct marketers.
The USPS first started talking about launching a green site in October in order to highlight its eco-friendly Cradle to Cradle packaging, said Joyce Carrier, acting manager of advertising for USPS.

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