Royal Mail losing monopoly

[hairsoup]

Just want to know what you all think about the new year regulation changes.

In case some havent heard, [ive heard all this second hand so i may have some details wrong] royal mail are losing their monopoly on residential post and their will be a level playing field for other companies.

As an internet retailer im going to keep a close eye on this, I imagine it will take at least a year for competitors to provide a reliable service and things might go backwards a bit. but overall i think it will be better to have alternatives.

As far as i know rm are exempt from vat at the moment, will this change in the new year or stay the same?

Also I have read on the royal mail website that in the summer their system will change from charging by weight to charging by dimensions. I imagine this will benefit some but be bad news for others.

[thekitchendesigner]

if it means having my post before 2pm then i'm all for it! crazy being self employed and waiting until after lunch most days for your post!

i rely on royal mail a lot for posting out design work too (to those who dont/cant download) and will also be keeping a close eye on it.

competition is healthy!

[Coding Monkey]

Just as long as City Link don't get involved.

I get my post before 8am. Can't complain.

[thekitchendesigner]

p.s

rung up royal mail to complain about the delivery times, and was told

"well thats just the way it is i'm afraid"

I have noted this as one of my top ten most helpful answers in 2005.

lets hope this may also change!

[Top Hat]

Just want to know what you all think about the new year regulation changes.

In case some havent heard, [ive heard all this second hand so i may have some details wrong] royal mail are losing their monopoly on residential post and their will be a level playing field for other companies.


Think this happened 1st Jan 2005.

As an internet retailer im going to keep a close eye on this, I imagine it will take at least a year for competitors to provide a reliable service and things might go backwards a bit. but overall i think it will be better to have alternatives.

From the people I've spoken too, the postie is still going to be doing the delivery, with the courier getting it to the local depot, prices seemed to be between, 1st and 2nd class post with a service level as 1st Class.

As an internet retailer im going to keep a close eye on this, I imagine it will take at least a year for competitors to provide a reliable service and things might go backwards a bit. but overall i think it will be better to have alternatives.

Have you tried Royal Mail PPI, save about 10% on your post bill and is much easier.

If you do look into alternatives keep us posted, its always interesting to know the alternatives.

As far as i know rm are exempt from vat at the moment, will this change in the new year or stay the same?

Yes RM are VAT exempt/Zero rated, don't think this will change in the future, If you're VAT registered it will make no difference anyway. You must charge you customers VAT on any postage charge you make.

Also I have read on the royal mail website that in the summer their system will change from charging by weight to charging by dimensions. I imagine this will benefit some but be bad news for others.

Yep, Changes happen on the 1 August, size of parcel will make a difference to pricing, no pricing is available yet.

[Jayne]

Well I had soon very important stuff to send to Estonia and it took 3 attempts to post it.

First time I tried, I was told I had to wrap it all in plastic bags..did that. Went back for the second go, this time it weighed too much 5.5 kilo approx and if I didn't split the weight, I'd have to pay nearly £46 for postage. Therefore I split them into 3 boxes for my third attempt and weighed them on digital scales, only to be told that one packet was 0.2 over?

I had to re-pack on the Post Office floor, with a cue of customers waiting and tutting. Most unhelpful I found, was Royal mail and very expensive too. Think it's would be cheaper to take it myself next time. :lol:

And, are the Post Office scales right :wink:

Jayne

[Coding Monkey]

My accountants sent me a load of information about how pricing is being changed to size in the new year and they kindly included all the correct figures. Could dish it out if anyone is interested.

I also sent my business partner something via first class and it took 3 weeks to arrive, but that was a one off.

[creative-keyrings]

Royal Mail are loosing the game. They cant handle post at christmas at all, ive had to wait 4days for 1st class mail to arrive and the same to send it.

I guess they just havent got enough workers to handle the christmas overload....

[Jayne]

I posted a painting, first class and it took a week to get their, not good service at all.

Maybe someone else should take over.

Jayne

[directmarketingadvice]

When I saw this thread, I was going to jump in and slag off the post office.

And, let's be honest, they've got a long way to go if they are to match the quality of service we've grown used to in the private sector.

However, I lived in France a few years ago, and their postal service is even less reliable. And I've heard plenty of horror stories about the US post office (and not just about the shooting!).

Maybe it's just a post office thing?

Steve

[ink4-u]

to be honest changing over the post would be more trouble that its worth, i think they just need to re think how they manage the business. get some skilled workers to do the job, some that can read would be great then i might get my own mail. I know what you mean about late post, i have him knock on my door at 7pm with the letters. Once they left them on the door step! i went mad. They were all wet, and another time they got me up at 5:30am all they need to do is sort it out!

[Coding Monkey]

Royal Mail price changes (ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/pip_indicative_prices_nov_2005_v1.2.pdf) for anyone interested.

[ink4-u]

thanks!

[hairsoup]

Its easy to slag it off, but I wouldnt want to be running it!!! It must be a logistical nightmare.