Royal Mail slipped out during the Christmas period that postage charges are rise again in April, first class by 8.3%, - three pence to 39p, while second class will rise by 11.1%, again by three pence to 30p.
Both the percentages are way above recent inflation rates, and for a period when inflation is expected to be very low.
To judge by recent proposals to provide capital, know-how and management from foreign postal services, and from international comparisons, our postal service is very inefficient. (The trade Unions have vetoed earlier attempts to privatise, or to bring in more efficient practices.)
Royal mail is under competitive pressure, especially from various forms of electronic mail, so substantial price rises could be damaging to it.
The removal of Sunday collections, along with bank holidays, means that if you miss the last Saturday collection in my area, - 11.00 a.m., you mail will not be collected until some undisclosed time on Tuesday, so you are facing a minimum five day delivery time. Deliveries here can be at any time from 9.00 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. If you receive one of the alleged 7% of first class mail, or 98.5% second class, which does not arrive within the promised overnight or three days respectively, you may feel that the service is falling apart.
Many, I suspect will increasingly use e-mails or text-mails, or even phone calls, where previously they would have thought of letters. E-Christmas cards, anyone?
This is one of the last antediluvian state-provided services which will require massive subsidies as it shrinks. How long will it be before it is reformed or privatised?
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3 comments:
It's a sign of the times, the post office really need to adapt itself to accomodate these modern times.
I'm not sure what the answer this......
I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter?
What are the Conservatives policies on the post office?
Regards
Tim
It's a sign of the times, the post office really need to adapt itself to accomodate these modern times.
I'm not sure what the answer this......
I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter?
What are the Conservatives policies on the post office?
Regards
Tim
The Tories have made it clear that they oppose closure of post offices, especially where they are the centre of local communities in rural areas.
Individual MPs have also been very involved in protests at closures.
On the Royal Mail, I am not aware of any policy announcements, but Alan Duncan, the shadow business minister, did welcome Lord Mandelson's proposal to encourage participation by private firms in aspects of the Royal Mail, though doubting the motivation of the government, whom he believes wants to raid the pension fund.
In general, eveyone seems to recognise that there is a problem with Royal Mail which will get worse. The Regulator, the Tories and some Labour MPs can see no alternative to partial or complete privatisation. On the other hand the left of the Labour Party and the trade unions want to soldier on.
To me, as I have said in earlier posts, the one price everywhere has to go, as the crowded city poor are effectively subsidising the wealthier and those who live more remotely.
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