Tag: Mail Services

DHL expands its EXPRESS4YOU service with re:charge cartridges partnership

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

DHL Express has expanded its DHL EXPRESS4YOU service nationwide, by partnering with re:charge cartridges, the largest suppliers of refilled/recharged printer cartridges in Ireland. The expansion the DHL EXPRESS4YOU service, which is part of the DHL SERVICEPOINT concept, provides customers with access to DHL’s domestic and international services through any of re:charge cartridges 33 branches nationwide.

The DHL EXPRESS4YOU service was launched last year in Ireland with DHL offering companies and members of the public a simple, secure and cost-efficient way to send their documents or parcels worldwide. This new partnership has enabled DHL to respond to the growing demand for a more local DHL EXPRESS4YOU service.

Noel Byrne, Sales & Marketing Director, DHL Express said ‘DHL has positioned itself as a forerunner in offering this convenient, easy-to-use, cost-effective express delivery solution. This partnership enables DHL to draw upon re:charge cartridges local network and nationwide footprint, to provide convenience to our customers.’

Mark Greene, Marketing Director of re:charge cartridges spoke at the launch: ‘Partnering with DHL Express is a natural extension to our commitment to both businesses and the public. Customers can now not only re:charge their ink cartridges, pick up stationery and get advice on printing but they can now have access to a reliable and cost-efficient local and international delivery service through our network of 33 branches.’

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Correos presents its first ecological vehicles (SPA)

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

Correos has presented its first electric vans and bicycles for mail and parcel deliveries, particularly in protected historic quarters and pedestrianised town centres. This initiative joins other initiatives promoted by the public postal company, aimed at reducing environmental impacts as far as possible.

To set up of the pilot projects Correos has purchased five commercial vehicles and nine bicycles adapted for carrying small loads. These vehicles will make the postmen and women’s job easier in pedestrianised areas, as up to now they have had to deliver large volumes of mail on foot and by hand in these areas. The initial investment made by the postal company stands at euro 139,000.

The vans will be used for mail deliveries in Barcelona and Seville and the bicycles in Granada and various towns in the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo. In Madrid and Zaragoza both types of vehicles will be tested. With this experience, Correos hopes to check the adaptability of these means of transport in different urban settings.

Lower usage and maintenance costs

The model of van chosen has a useful load capacity of over 400 kg and its side doors and rear door are very easy to handle, even for the bulkiest parcels. Right now, these types of vehicles are more expensive than conventional vehicles, although their useful life is longer and they are less expensive to use and maintain. This advantage is added to the environmental benefits, since, because they do not use oil-based fuel, the contaminating effects are drastically reduced. Furthermore, they do not generate any noise.

With this measure, Correos, with an average investment of 14 million euros in its fleet –made up of more than 13,000 vehicles, including lorries, vans and motorbikes- in the last three years, will step up its contribution to protecting the environment. The postal company already bought 28 Euro-4 type lorries in 2006, ahead of the anti-pollution guidelines and regulations adopted by the European Union, and is now starting to include ecological vans and bicycles in its fleet.

Once these vehicles and bicycles have been tested and adapted for mail deliveries in the respective pilot projects, Correos will gradually add new ecological units.

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Charities face hike in postage costs (UK)

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

Charities are facing spiralling postage costs after Royal Mail warned it can no longer guarantee to reimburse them when donors put stamps on freepost envelopes.

The move, which it is claimed could cost charities millions of pounds in extra postage costs, has been sparked by the introduction of new automated sorting systems. In the past, many charities have encouraged the practice as it saves them thousands of pounds a year.

The issue is understood to have been raised with Royal Mail by client group Direct Marketing in Fundraising Group (DMiFG). Following the DMiFG’s enquiry, Royal Mail has contacted a number of charities to clarify that the terms and conditions of the Business Response Service do not allow for postage to be paid by the sender, and that the practice should be discouraged.

Cascaid strategy and planning director Roger Lawson says: “Ultimately, this is going to cost the sector a lot of money. Over the years it will be in the millions.”

Lawson adds: “It’s a shame if it comes down to automated sorting, because I can’t believe that Royal Mail can’t produce a machine that can identify whether or not there is a stamp on the envelope.”

One insider predicts that the decision will damage the reputation of many charities who are constantly under pressure to reassure supporters that they keep their administration costs to a minimum.

He says: “This was the one area where the Royal Mail showed some compassion towards the good work being done by the charity sector. If they withdraw this service, charities will no longer be seen to be doing the right thing. And ultimately it could dissuade charities from using direct mail as a channel.”

A Royal Mail spokesman says: “There has been no change to the Business Response Service policy. It has existed since the product was introduced and we would encourage people to stick to the rules of the product.”

He also clarified that any charity that could prove postage had been paid for items twice would be refunded.

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Should TNT stay in Germany or should it go?

Posted by | Mar 20, 2008 | |

Dutch mail and logistics company TNT NV has more to gain by staying in Germany despite competitive snags as buoyant growth prospects will make up for a shrinking business at home in the Netherlands.

Europe’s second-biggest mail and logistics company by market value, TNT is expected to lose its remaining monopoly in its lucrative domestic market this year, with competitors already eating into its market share and profitability.

It is seeking to reinforce its German operations but has threatened to pull out of the country due to what it sees as preferential treatment for Deutsche Post.

Earlier this month, a German court ruled in TNT’s favour in a case it brought against a minimum wage for postal workers, allowing it to continue paying its lower wage.

Europe’s largest economy introduced a minimum wage of up to 9.80 euros (USD 15.15) per hour for its roughly 220,000 postal workers in January.

The German government said it would appeal against the court ruling, and a verdict could take months, however.

That appeal is hanging over the company and the German postal sector like a sword of Damocles, Dutch daily De Telegraaf quoted Mario Frusch, the chief executive of TNT Post Germany, as saying on Thursday.

He said the company has put its investments in Germany on hold for the time being. TNT Chief Executive Peter Bakker told Reuters in December the company had frozen its investments due to the minimum wage issue.

But TNT needs to take a long-term view of the German mail market, one of the big three in Europe, as it has the potential to drive future growth and offset Dutch losses.

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