DM sector reacts angrily to Royal Mail stamp price hikes

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.printweek.com/digital/news/8 ... ice-hikes/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royal Mail's price increase for first and second class stamps has come under fire from the direct mail sector.

From today, a first class stamp costs 39p for standard letters that weigh up to 100g, while a second class stamp is now 30p for a letter of equal weight.

Royal Mail has also increased the price of stamps for large letters – 61p for first and 47p for second – hikes of 9p and 5p respectively.

Richard Higginbotham, marketing manager at CDMS, said any increase in mailing cost is going to have a big impact.

"Usually the cost of mailing the item is the largest in a campaign. Now more than ever, companies need to increase the targeted, focused nature of their mailings," he added.

Sending a packet up to 100g first class now costs £1.28, while a second class packet costs £1.08.

Royal Mail has said that all increases have been made within the parameters set by Postcomm.
The mail operator has also raised the price of its Special Delivery service, increasing it by 35p to £4.95 for standard packets up to 100g.

David Bland, chairman of ViaPost, which allows customers to send physical letters from their desktop, said the price increases showed "how little the Royal Mail understands its customers".

He said: "While already operating in a very tough economic environment, this price rise will cost UK businesses approximately £50 more per 1000 letters they send.

"Last year, the Royal Mail handled over 20bn letters in the UK, with 87% of them being business-related mail. Therefore, these increases in costs are going to have the biggest impact on UK businesses."

[Broxi51]

Wait until we get part privatised and then brought into equal pricing as the rest of Europe then mate

[Darren Bent]

I am happy about that :) as I want DSA and Direct mail to cost more, so perhaps they will be more careful with junk mail.

[eian687]

what with the price rises and the profits i bet we the workers get a crap wage rise

[johnsouthwales]

i don't think there be any changes in the wage structure in RM.. tea en tee could only suggest 15% paycut and with 1% raise over next 3 years in holland cos that's how it's evolved over there. i dont think tnt have overall majority, i think dutch government still have a 10% share which is almost totally privatised. funny that i still cant get much info on dutch postal workers tut..could swear its a secret lol

cant understand why a rise is needed. as we are the cheapest, it isnt competition at all when someone hikes up a price cos europe says so.

[rhino49]

http://www.printweek.com/digital/news/8 ... ice-hikes/

Richard Higginbotham, marketing manager at CDMS, said any increase in mailing cost is going to have a big impact.

Welcome to the real world - we've been absorbing impacts for the last few years - now you try it and see how many cuts in jobs and increases in efficiencies you will have to make to survive.

[johnsouthwales]

it's like any business especially manufacturing.. only so much can be absorbed trying to keep costs down until it breaks down. i've had to work faster for no pay rise for 3 years. ended up like a robot lol..mentally drained..got to a point even if they offered another pound an hour, there simply wasn't anywhere else to improve on. can't become more efficient when someone has maximised everything.. can only get so much blood out of a stone. take too much out and the stone becomes anaemic lol