As the Royal Mail distribute their latest price increase to their customer base it begins to beg the question – “are their days numbered?”
Since being privatised by the government back in 2013 the Royal Mail has become a private, for-profit company. But they are chasing their tails as mail volumes have dropped 25% since 2006 and the competition for what remains is stronger than ever.
People are very romantic about pricing, quickly remembering when you could buy a 1st class stamp for 27p but conveniently forgetting that was 16 years ago. Yet despite the huge increase in the cost of 1st and 2nd class stamps over the last few years, I still believe that the Royal Mail continue to offer an incredible value for money service for any letters or large letters. It’s the small parcels and anything over 2 kgs where the price becomes expensive;
Letters (up to 100g): £0.64
Large letters (up to 100g): £0.96
Large letters (up to 250g): £1.27
Large letters (up to 500g): £1.71
Large letters (up to 750g): £2.46
Small parcel (up to 1 kg): £3.35
Small parcel (up to 2 kgs): £5.50
Medium parcel (up to 1 kg): £5.70
Medium parcel (up to 2 kgs): £8.95
Medium parcel (up to 5 kgs): £15.85
And that’s just the standard service.
Then there is the Royal Mail Signed For service. This, in relation to a courier service is a like-for-like comparison. Yet the prices for anything over 2 kgs are anything but comparable;
Letters (up to 100g): £1.74
Large letters (up to 100g): £2.06
Large letters (up to 250g): £2.37
Large letters (up to 500g): £2.81
Large letters (up to 750g): £3.56
Small parcel (up to 1 kg): £4.45
Small parcel (up to 2 kgs): £6.60
Medium parcel (up to 1 kg): £6.80
Medium parcel (up to 2 kgs): £10.05
Medium parcel (up to 5 kgs): £16.95
Oh and you’ll have to take it to the Post Office to send as well.
But which Post Office? Back on 19th January 2016 The Mirror reported that a list of loss-making Post Office branches had been released highlighting 42 potential closures (for article and the list click here). If this goes ahead then there will be increasing pressure on the remaining branches as they take the strain.
Longer queues?
Slower service?
Times are a changing.
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