Business attitudes towards cross-border sales and consumer protection Analytical report
Business attitudes towards cross-border sales and consumer protection Analytical report
Read MoreTag: Republic of Ireland
An Post seeking 15% rise in standard stamp price to 55c
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has today launched a public consultation following An Post’s recent application for an interim price increase in the price of the basic stamp. ComReg is the National Regulatory Authority for the postal sector in Ireland and its prior approval is required for postal rate changes in the reserved area.
If approved, prices for domestic standard letters (up to 50g) would increase to 55c; however, prices for mail in the 50-100g category (for example, a typical large letter) would decrease from 60c to 55c. In addition, business customers using An Post’s Ceadúnas (Permit) services or meter franking machines would also receive a discount of 1c per item. The effective date of any interim price increase, if approved, would be 1st March 2007.
An Post outlines in its application that it has, or will, absorb significant cost increases during the period from August 2003 to May 2007 (including wage increases of 18.9% under National Wage Agreements) and that it will have to meet further cost increases over the next 12 months including wages, energy and fuel costs; hence, its requirement for a price increase.
Overall, and on the basis of An Post’s application, it is estimated that the weighted price increase proposed for all ‘letter’ products is 9.6% based on the prices concurred with in August 2003. This compares with a movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 10.3% over the 42 months ending November 2006.
Read MorePall-ex signs up new Northern Ireland member to its network
Pall-Ex is set to strengthen its network further in Northern Ireland following the appointment of new member Reid Transport. Based in County Antrim, Reid Transport is one of Northern Ireland’s leading logistics companies.
Established in 1980, it recently re-located to a 75,000 sq ft purpose built logistics centre outside Ballymena to provide a faster and more efficient service to its customers. The company has an impressive fleet of over 60 vehicles ranging from Sliding Roof Euroliners and Refrigerated Trailers to Low-loaders.
It was specifically chosen to become the latest member of Pall-Ex – the UK’s leading “hub and spoke” palletized freight operator – because of its location close to Northern Ireland’s motorway network and its reputation for quality.
Adds Stephen Wallace, Group Sales Manager at Reid Transport: “We have been looking for some time to give our customers total UK coverage with their consignments and after meeting with Pall-Ex quickly realised that their network offered the most effective solution possible to our requirements.
Read MorePost office network ‘facing collapse’
Over a quarter of post offices have closed down since 2000 and the entire network faces collapse in the coming years unless the Government addresses fears over declining business and a possible loss of social welfare payments.
That’s according to the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) which claims hundreds of members are earning less than the legal minimum wage, despite remaining open for up to 50 hours every week.
Already this year, 44 outlets have shut their doors for the last time.
There were 1,409 post offices and sub-post offices in the network on January 1, but that figure has dropped to 1,365 just 11 months later. The vast majority are sub-offices, with only 84 full post offices left in the country.
“We’ve argued very strongly, without success, with An Post and the Minister for Communications, that the whole post office network is in serious jeopardy unless somebody takes radical action soon,” IPU general secretary John Kane told the Irish Examiner.
He said dissatisfaction with remuneration is prompting postmasters and postmistresses to leave the service, while concern is also mounting about the future of Government business — such as social welfare payments — which is carried out in post offices.
“We have 35 people earning Euro8,000 a year, which is below the poverty line. There’s 300 or 400 people who are earning less than the legal minimum wage,” Mr Kane said.
The union has suggested part-time offices, opening on certain mornings or afternoons rather than the current five-and-a-half day week, but said that this idea has been ignored.
Read MoreNew Eurodis Partner in UK and Ireland
A new partner has joined Eurodis, the European distribution network run by trans-o-flex, the combi-freight operator based in Weinheim: Tuffnells Parcels Express has been the exclusive delivery partner for the UK and Ireland since the beginning of November, replacing the previous partner Business Post. trans-o-flex decided to make the switch after a successful test phase: “Tuffnells are an excellent match for us with their great flexibility and range of services. Apart from parcels and pallets, they also carry time-definite and chilled goods and handle pick-up orders and partial deliveries. With Tuffnells as our partner, we can offer our customer-tailored solutions in the UK and Ireland in an ideal way,” says Klaus J. Heinz, trans-o-flex CEO.
For trans-o-flex, this switch in the UK and Ireland is only the latest step in the process of strengthening its international network. In October, Pan Nordic Logistics became the new Eurodis partner for Sweden. Before that, trans-o-flex’ subsidiary in the Netherlands entered the Eurodis network. Last year, the organisation which has been in existence since 1993 established its own management company, Eurodis GmbH. Its main responsibility is to establish and coordinate special trans-o-flex services Europe-wide. Via Eurodis, trans-o-flex guarantees full market presence in Europe and assures the customary rapid and reliable delivery of customers’ goods across European borders.
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