How Much?

[UnhappyGremlin]

Just posted a small, 190g packet. £6.95. Jesus Christ

I'm sure it used to be a lot cheaper a few months back?

ive seen cheaper than that. that cannot be right! although i do agree with the price increases even if gremlin does not

There is nothing wrong with price increases, it's the way of the world and capitalism.
There is something wrong with more than doubling some prices overnight, when we have competitors, albeit s**t, that will do the same work (to a lower standard, granted), for less than we were charging to start with.
If prices had gone from say £3 to £3.50, we wouldn't have seen what is, apparently, already a 30% drop in packet volumes in 4 weeks.
And not to mention, less mail = bigger rounds.

[TFL001]

Was the value over £50 ? If it was Tou was provider with the correct service .. under 50 signed for .. under 20 1st or 2nd standard... Or if it needed to be there the next day this is also the correct service

[b780771]

Just posted a small, 190g packet. £6.95. Jesus Christ

I'm sure it used to be a lot cheaper a few months back?

Without looking at the price tables, I would suggest that a 190g packet for £6.95 is the Special Delivery price. 1st class would be £1.20 / £3.00 / £5.60 depending on the size, add £1.10 for Signed for. Or it's going abroad.

I posted a special delivery item yesterday weighing 48 grammes(0.048kg) & was charged £6.22.It was a bit more than I expected but not so much I wouldn't have paid it!

If we want the Royal Mail to thrive we'll have to pay for it.I still think we get a great bargain from our posties!

b780771

[smok3y666]

I forgot I posted this. Anyway, one of our better managers came down for a visit a week or so ago and I spoke to him about the price rises and he told me it is due to RM wanting to offload work onto Parcelfail (whether this has anything to do with the up and coming privatization I don't know).

[UnhappyGremlin]

I forgot I posted this. Anyway, one of our better managers came down for a visit a week or so ago and I spoke to him about the price rises and he told me it is due to RM wanting to offload work onto Parcelfail (whether this has anything to do with the up and coming privatization I don't know).

Yes it is, they want it to look profitable so it can be sold off ASAP as the first chunk of a piecemeal slice up of the company.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I forgot I posted this. Anyway, one of our better managers came down for a visit a week or so ago and I spoke to him about the price rises and he told me it is due to RM wanting to offload work onto Parcelfail (whether this has anything to do with the up and coming privatization I don't know).

Yes it is, they want it to look profitable so it can be sold off ASAP as the first chunk of a piecemeal slice up of the company.

or as its most likely going to be an IPO (when Joe Public can buy shares), it could be a strategic move to eventually cut staffing levels in Royal Mail letters.

PF already employs a lot of Owner Drivers after privatisation I can see this both increasing and a more of a franchise approach coming in.

After all when privatised the focus will shift from Service to profit and shareholders.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I forgot I posted this. Anyway, one of our better managers came down for a visit a week or so ago and I spoke to him about the price rises and he told me it is due to RM wanting to offload work onto Parcelfail (whether this has anything to do with the up and coming privatization I don't know).

Yes it is, they want it to look profitable so it can be sold off ASAP as the first chunk of a piecemeal slice up of the company.

or as its most likely going to be an IPO (when Joe Public can buy shares), it could be a strategic move to eventually cut staffing levels in Royal Mail letters.

PF already employs a lot of Owner Drivers after privatisation I can see this both increasing and a more of a franchise approach coming in.

After all when privatised the focus will shift from Service to profit and shareholders.

Can't rule out anything TBT. It's just my personal opinion that we will be asset stripped no matter how we're sold, as an easy and quick way to make money. I said in Aril when the prices went up, RM are trying to make PF look better to be sold, at which point RM will decide to change prices again to claw back some of that business.
I did wonder if it may be possible for RM to try owner-drivers for parcel deliveries and collections, though in theory this shouldn't happen with the recent advent of P&L.
But, you never know.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I did wonder if it may be possible for RM to try owner-drivers for parcel deliveries and collections, though in theory this shouldn't happen with the recent advent of P&L.
But, you never know.

Oh I don't know - 2 in van sounds like a perfect set up for franchising. Buy the van from Royal Mail, hire an assistant that can cover the round when you can't do it, Royal Mail get the best of both worlds, less people costs, less vehicle costs, no worries over getting cover etc etc.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I did wonder if it may be possible for RM to try owner-drivers for parcel deliveries and collections, though in theory this shouldn't happen with the recent advent of P&L.
But, you never know.

Oh I don't know - 2 in van sounds like a perfect set up for franchising. Buy the van from Royal Mail, hire an assistant that can cover the round when you can't do it, Royal Mail get the best of both worlds, less people costs, less vehicle costs, no worries over getting cover etc etc.

All in all Teebs, I think we agree that the future doesn't look good, and we are right to be worried.
We can't rule anything out, or put anything past them.
I do think that, for a while now, privatisation of RM has been 'prepped' in various forms by the company. They have positioned the company and the workforce in such a way as to allow themselves multiple options and directions in which they can take us. Which I do worry about. Because it is inevitable and unstoppable.