Tag: Royal Mail

New Royal Mail postage prices for April 2008

Posted by | Dec 20, 2007 | |

Royal Mail said today the price of a First Class stamp for a standard letter weighing up to 100g would rise 2p to 36p from April 7 2008 in line with the price controls set by the regulator, Postcomm, in 2006.

A Second Class stamp for a standard letter weighing up to 100g will rise 3p from 24p to 27p.

When the new prices take effect, Royal Mail’s stamps will still be among the very lowest priced in Europe. The average household now spends 50p a week on stamps, a fraction of the amount spent on telecoms.

Stamped mail makes an average loss of around 6p per letter and packet – and it will continue to be loss-making as the increases will not be sufficient to cover the deficit. The total loss last year on stamped mail was GBP 178 million.

Business customers who use franking machines will continue to get a discount against the price of a stamp. A franked, standard First Class letter will increase by 2p from 32p to 34p in April, while a standard Second Class franked letter will rise 2p from 22p to 24p, increasing the discount for Second Class franked mail discount from 2p to 3p.

For the first time, medium-sized businesses will get discounts on volume – the more they post, the lower the postage bill.

The full details of new prices are published on Royal Mail’s web site. Prices for bulk mail will also be changing, and in some cases will fall in real terms. Some prices for heavier weight items will also be falling to improve Royal Mail’s competitiveness in the growing home-shopping market.

Read More

DMA calls for caution over postal review

Posted by | Dec 20, 2007 | |

The DMA has warned the government not to place an “unrealistic burden” on businesses to fund a universal postal service when it publishes its review next year.

Secretary of state for business John Hutton announced the review on 17 December, outlining the government’s commitment to maintain the universal service while investigating the impact of opening the postal market to competition two years ago.

Royal Mail has introduced a range of proposals, such as pricing in proportion and zonal pricing, to help it compete more effectively in the new open market.

It has argued that its competitors have been able to cherry-pick the higher margin business sectors, while it has been hobbled with maintaining an affordable universal service for consumers and providing the final-mile delivery.

However, many of these new ideas impact more heavily on users of business mail, such as the direct marketing industry.

Walsh said he wasn’t sure how the DMA would be involved in the review, although it is a member of the Postwatch trade association forum.

However, he stressed that it is important that business users get involved, noting that the consultation would not include any direct representatives of large mail users.

Read More

UK Post Office Cash connections – 30 per cent increase in international money gifts over festive season

Posted by | Dec 19, 2007 | |

Cash gifts to destinations across the globe are set to prove popular this year according to research from Post Office® and MoneyGram.

An estimated GBP 2.3 billion is sent overseas from the UK through international money transfer services each year, and Post Office® and MoneyGram research forecasts a 30 per cent increase in cash gifting in the run up to the 2007 Christmas period.

Cash gifts from the UK are relied upon by people in both developed and developing countries, not only to help celebrate the festive season but also for day-to-day living expenses. In many cases money is sent to friends and family overseas to cover essentials such as food, education and medical fees.

Top destinations for international money transfers over the 2007 Christmas period are set to be:

• Africa including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya
• Caribbean countries such as Jamaica
• Central and Latin America including Brazil and Columbia
• Eastern Europe in particular Poland, Romania and Bulgaria
• New Zealand and Australia

MoneyGram was previously available at around 3,500 Post Office® branches, but now all branches are equipped with the latest technology meaning MoneyGram transfers can be sent to and received from all 14,000 Post Office® branches. Unlike some other money transfer services it is not necessary to have a bank account to send or receive a MoneyGram transfer.

Read More

UK: Ding dong merrily online?

Posted by | Dec 19, 2007 | |

It looks like an online Christmas for millions as the traditional Christmas day in front of the TV makes way for the internet, with almost 60 per cent of people saying they will spend time online – that’s according to new research from Post Office® Broadband.

56 per cent of people surveyed stated that they would be spending up to an hour online on Christmas day, with emailing and catching up with the news being the most popular online activities.

But with nearly 40 per cent of respondents predicting that other relatives would also be using the family PC on the same day, over 3.6million people in the UK are anticipating Christmas day “mouse rage” – a new phenomenon affecting families who argue over the use of the household computer. People living in the north-east are most likely to hog the mouse, spending up to four hours online.

65 percent of people in the Midlands intend to spend up to an hour online with 45 per cent planning to go online for between one and two hours. And in East Anglia 61 per cent will use the internet for up to an hour. Central Scotland will see 64 per cent of people using the internet for up to an hour and over half of those in North Scotland plan to do the same.

Most popular online Christmas day activities:

1. Emailing (49 per cent)
2. Catching up with the news (35 per cent)
3. Social networking (29 per cent)
4. Instant messaging (29 per cent)
5. Shopping (19 per cent)

Read More

EU lawmakers approve full mail competition from 2011

Posted by | Dec 18, 2007 | |

A committee of European Union lawmakers on last Tuesday 18th December approved EU plans to open the bloc’s 88 billion euro (USD130 billion) postal markets to full competition, setting the stage for final approval next month.
The European Parliament’s transport committee voted 37 to 2, with six abstentions, in favour of market liberalisation.
EU member states have approved the proposal and it will be debated before the full parliament on Jan. 30, with a vote set for Jan. 31. If it passes unchanged, as expected, the directive will become law.
The market for letters weighing up to 50 grams is currently shielded from competition. Mail above that weight is fully liberalised. The new measure would liberalise all mail delivery.
The new directive takes effect in 13 countries in 2011. The 12 new member states, along with Luxembourg and Greece, have until 2013.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the communist-led GUE/NGL bloc and Green Party members had sought to adopt amendments, including scrapping the measure. They were outvoted on 35 amendments and withdrew another 37.
The measure has sparked protests by postal workers in many EU nations, especially France, who fear job losses.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

How ready do you feel for the de minimis changes coming in July?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!




View ResultsHide Results

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.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest