Royal Mail planning to scrap two popular services across the UK
Hi
I have just read this article in my local newspaper.
What is your take on it and how may it affect Royals Mail’s relationship with Amazon and us as sellers if they are able to get this bill passed.
0 replies
Seller_DSmBlrx75rMb8
I just tried looking into this and saw a post from someone on twitter asking RM about it. RM just said it’s media speculation, so it could go either way, to be honest. They could just be saving face, so they aren’t getting harrassed right now about it, but also newspapers/sites like click bait articles, so who knows? lol
Seller_77IcbQKVGdZo0
I expect at most times of years the volume sent on a Saturday is fairly low. In the most it will be items posted at Post Offices and Post Boxes. I can see the point of not having collections on Saturday if it saves money. It would be good if that price saving was then passed onto the customer in terms of no price rises for a set amount of time.
I think signed for parcels will be replaced by delivery confirmation. For example Royal Mail will confirm delivery with photos/GPS. This will mean a lot of smaller signed for items can be delivered straight through the letter box which gives a customer a better experience. This will save money as less items will need to be taken back to the depot.
Seller_bdSdLjti4IugQ
Seems strange that they would cut back days as they’ve started delivering parcels in my area on a Sunday now… Clearly the focus is to cut back on saturday deliveries of non parcels so postman would then work monday - friday as a set shift.
Seller_ZjZ4slOF0jHpk
My PO told me (though RM are particularly bad at letting the PO know what they’re doing), that they may be replacing Signed For with another service (like someone said, just delivery confirmation) and they’re looking at making ALL stamps (even the simple stick on ones) with scannable codes.
Seller_FkfPzn8kFMbY3
There are a few things to look at in this…
First of all it has to be ratified by the Houses of Parliament as RM has the Universal Service Agreement to get taken out of law.
Although supported by OFCOM, the MP’s and Lords are a different matter when it comes to ending a public institution service.
Secondly, Royal Mail are only looking at ending Saturday deliveries of letters (which are in decline) and signed for (which takes time to deliver) so they can concentrate on Parcels (which are on the rise)
I dont think it will impact us sellers too much as Amazon (including us sellers) are RM’s biggest customers and would find it very hard to believe that they would commit commercial suicide.
Royal Mail are also trialling Sunday deliveries and collections to accommodate mainly Amazon, and to keep up with the Jones’s
I think they are just trying to dump the USO so they can be more competitive and level the playing field a bit.
Seller_Rds42gzScDQFa
Don’t believe a word you read in the press
Seller_Iti0OkAyMPN7I
Based on conversations I have had with RM over the past couple of months relating to scanning and lack of, as well as delivery issues, there are some fairly major changes coming in that ALL delivered mail WILL be scanned / recorded, couple that with the recent announcement of RM’s investment in new sorting machinery, I can certainly see domestic services being changed in favour of business post but that will come at a cost and basic services as required by law will be streamlined not removed and it will be 2nd Class which will take the brunt probably with a 5-10 day delivery window.
Seller_vTCC47DVMGUB8
I think the part where it states
It would be a major shake-up of the delivery sector - but it needs the law to be changed first.
Means it may take a while to happen, if ever
They already do scan Large Letters with 2D barcodes, just not 95%
{Moderator Edit (Jessica) insults removed}
Seller_a6TQH14n0haom
RM can’t scan signed for items atm so god knows what VTR will like when they scrap the signed for and tracked 24/48 {Moderator Edit (Jessica) inappropriate comment removed}
Seller_nKqNWKHfZWsny
I am looking forward to the day when RM self destructs and all transport operators offer the same service for about the same cost.
Then you wont be tied to an out of date, monstrously incompetent company, which wont even admit it has a problem, with every aspect of its operation.
It is only the monopoly that keeps it going and they never last forever. They really do live in cloud cuckoo land. Its staff relations are so low, they must do case studies in Universities!
Yes the customer (buyer) will end up paying more, but for the good of business and customer alike in the end.
