Tag: Mail Services

EU commission plans to investigate German postal minimum wages

EU commissioner Nelie Kroes is planning to investigate the German government’s decision to introduce minimum wages for postal workers, Der Spiegel reported, without citing its sources.

The German government last week decided to extend minimum wages of 8-9.80 eur per hour paid by incumbent Deutsche Post World Net AG to the whole industry, which means its main competitors TNT NV’s TNT Post and Axel Springer AG’s PIN Group will lose their cost advantages.

The report said Kroes will investigate whether the minimum wages are an unjustified preferential treatment of Deutsche Post.

Read More

DHL Germany delivers Sunday service before Christmas

DHL will provide a special service to its customers on the fourth Sunday in Advent: DHL will deliver packages like its a regular working day to ensure that all gifts will reach recipients in time for Christmas. Christmas Eve at DHL will be a regular delivery day for DHL for packages, parcels and letters as is the case every year. Customers who are not at home at the time of delivery on Christmas Eve do still have the opportunity to pick up their parcel on the same day until late evening at the nearest DHL station.

“This additional service on a Sunday again demonstrates DHL’s strong commitment towards customer driven services. Beneficiaries of this special offer are business customers as well as private consumers. Only DHL can provide this seamless service due to the engagement of our employees and our unparalleled distribution network in Germany,” says Uwe Brinks, Managing Director DHL Parcel Germany.

Read More

Brunei Post: Email to Relegate Postals to History? No Way

The future of traditional postal services, over the past decade at least, is looking glum due to the increasing popularity of more convenient and quicker methods of communication.

During its prime, the Department of Postal Services handled over 22 million mail items annually from 1990 to 1995. The number has significantly lower in the last six years. In 2001 the department handled 13,245,798 pieces of mail, which includes letters, registered mail and postcards. A year later the figure fell to 10,439,846 and dropped to 9,390,420 in 2003, a six-year low.

There was an increase however to 9,735,119 pieces of mail in 2004, to 11,455,588 in 2005 and 11,524,555 in 2006.

Bolhassan believes however, that postal services will not be deemed obsolete just yet.

The department has given greater attention to business mail and is planning to provide its customers with new value-added services. One of these newly added services is hybrid mail, which enables government agencies, corporate clients and other bulk mailers to post monthly notices and bills.

Launched earlier at the opening of the new Mentiri Post office, the hybrid mail service allows an increased volume to be sent to customers, thus saving time and money.

In addition, the department is in the process of installing an automation counter to all 24 post offices throughout the country for the convenience of its clients. Through these automation counters, the public will be able to pay their water, electricity and telephone bills as well as renew their driving licenses and road tax.

According to Bolhassan, the department, under its Client’s Charter, promises “J+1”, which means delivery by the next working day.

Read More

Ski costs slip in dollar-stricken USA but head east for the best downhill bargains

Costs may have tumbled in the USA but bargain-hunting skiers will find the best value by travelling east to Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia, according to the Ski Resort Report by Post Office® Travel Services.

Borovets in Bulgaria emerges as the cheapest ski destination¹, half the price of ski equipment and living costs in the fashionable resort of Vail, Colorado. Romania (Poiana Brasov) and Slovenia (Kranjska Gora) are also significantly cheaper than long established resorts in the big three ski destinations – Switzerland, Austria and France.

But Canada, hit by an 9.5 per cent drop in its dollar value against sterling, was by far the most expensive ski destination of 12 surveyed by the Post Office®. At GBP 457.56 for the seven items compared, the resort of Banff was almost three times as expensive as Bulgaria and 27 per cent more than Vail – where the weak dollar has resulted in a price drop of 30 per cent in the past two years.²

In the mainstream European market, the survey shows that Italy still offers best value for ski equipment and resort costs – well ahead of traditional favourites Austria, France and Switzerland. Germany, better known as a cross-country ski destination, is also good value this year – one of only two destinations where prices have dropped³.

The Post Office® found wide variations in the prices charged across Europe. Ski equipment hire varied by around GBP 60 whilst a six day lift pass cost just GBP 82 in Poiana Brasova, Romania but GBP 144 in Soldeu, Andorra – no longer the bargain destination it was a decade ago.

And in its shopping basket of items regularly purchased by skiers, Post Office® Travel Services found the total cost to vary by almost GBP 300.

Read More

TNT, Hermes cancel plans to offer universal postal services in Germany

TNT NV’s TNT Post and Hermes Logistik Gruppe said they have cancelled plans to offer mail services to retail clients and small companies after the German government decided to introduce minimum wages for the postal industry.

The two companies will not implement plans to expand the 13,500 parcel stations of Hermes to mail acceptance stations.

TNT Post said it will therefore not offer a universal mail service.

The German government last week decided to extend minimum wages of between 8-9.80 eur per hour, agreed by services union ver.di and an employers’ association dominated by Deutsche Post World Net AG, to the whole industry.

Hermes Logistik Gruppe is a Hamburg-based logistics group.

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!



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.

 

Pin It on Pinterest