Tag: Royal Mail

Postwatch: Inquiry into post office closures

Posted by | Dec 5, 2007 | |

The House of Commons Business & Enterprise Select Committee has just announced a new inquiry into early experiences of the Post Office’s ‘Network Change Programme’ for restructuring the sub-post office network. It will also look at the implications of the changes to the Crown post office network and the transfer of many such offices to retail outlets, such as branches of WH Smith.

The Trade & Industry Committee (which this Committee recently replaced) examined the Government’s proposed framework for a new round of post office closures in two reports earlier this year. These reports persuaded the Government to refine the access criteria and their application. The Committee will now look at how the process is being carried out in practice.

The Committee intends to focus on:

– experience of the local consultation process so far;
– the extent to which final decisions have taken local views into account;
– the nature of the proposed 500 ‘Outreach’ services and service quality;
– the role of Postwatch in the current Programme and in the future;
– how changes to the Crown post office network interact with sub-post office closures;
– the future of both Crown and sub-post office networks.

Postwatch will submit evidence to this inquiry and appear before the Committee.

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Business Christmas cards prompt consumer purchases of up to GBP 100

Posted by | Dec 5, 2007 | |

company as a direct result, new research revealed today.

The survey, conducted on behalf of Royal Mail by YouGov, shows that 69 per cent of consumers make a purchase of up to GBP 100 after receiving a card from a company such as a high street store. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of all consumers who made a purchase spent over GBP 100, and 12 per cent spent over GBP 500.

The study is unveiled as Royal Mail reminds businesses of the last posting dates to ensure that they send their Christmas greetings on time and do not leave customers and suppliers feeling neglected. Companies with a global customer base should plan ahead with their Christmas card mailings – the recommended last posting date for festive greetings to destinations such as Australia and South Africa is 7 December.

The research also revealed:

– 84 per cent of consumers prefer to receive company Christmas cards through the mail, compared with only 3 per cent who prefer email greetings
– This figure jumps to 91 per cent for the over 55 demographic

Thierry Saada, Director of Sector Marketing at Royal Mail, said: “A Christmas card sends an important message that you value your customers and our research shows that consumers respond well to this personal touch.”

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Royal Mail online docket system (ePro) will be switched off

Posted by | Dec 5, 2007 | |

Please be aware that shortly the current Royal Mail online docket system (ePro) will be switched off. If you have an ePro account and have not done so already you should contact Royal Mail and ask them to set up your company on the new OBA system, then add MCM Direct Ltd as an approved user (our posting location number is 9000216307). Royal Mail’s telephone number is 08457 950 950.

For those of you who currently hold docket books I would suggest that you set up an OBA account as above as I believe that the docket book system will be phased out in the future. There is also a benefit in that you no longer need to keep and manage the books.

Kind Regards

Martin Collier

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Strictly Come Dancing judges give First Class rating to Royal Mail’s Christmas Stamps

Posted by | Dec 4, 2007 | |

Royal Mail today prepared for the busiest day for the sale of 1st Class Christmas stamps by teaming up with judges Arlene Philips and Bruno Tonioli from the hit show Strictly Come Dancing.

The full set of stamps, which depict angels and the Madonna & Child, can be purchased in Post Office branches nationwide and are available in 1st Class, 2nd Class, 78p and GBP 1.24 values.

To coincide with the availability of these stamps, Royal Mail’s recommended last posting dates for Christmas delivery are Thursday 20 December for 1st Class mail and Monday 17 December for 2nd Class items. For Special Delivery items, the last recommended posting date is 22 December. For airmail cards and letters to Western Europe, the last recommended posting date is 13 December; for Eastern Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan it is 10 December; and the rest of the world is 7 December.

Bruno Tonioli said: “Royal Mail is certainly keeping in-step with the festive season this year. If I had known the theme was going to be angels I would have put myself forward for the face of the 1st Class stamp.”

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail, said: “At this busy time, Royal Mail asks that people remember to use the postcode on their Christmas cards to make sure friends and family receive their festive messages as quickly as possible.”

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

Posted by | Dec 3, 2007 | |

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.

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