Royal Mail stamp price Q&A

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... QandA.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What is happening to the price of stamps?

From April 30, the price of a first class stamp will rise from 46 pence to 60 pence and the price of a second class stamp will rise from 36 pence to 50 pence. The cost of other Royal Mail services, such as PO Boxes and mail redirection, will also increase.

Why is this happening?

Royal Mail has been given permission by Ofcom, the postal regulator, to set its own prices. Royal Mail says that its stamp prices are currently among the lowest in Europe. It also says that mail volumes in the UK have fallen by a quarter in six years. It argues that the price rises are necessary to put it on a more secure footing. It also says that the increases will allow it to maintain the so-called Universal Service, which is a Government-backed promise that post is delivered to every home in the UK, for one price, six days a week. Ofcom supports the rise.


Why are retailers upset?

Ahead of the price rise at the end of this month, consumers have rushed to buy stamps. This is because stamps bought at the lower price will still be valid after the increase. However Royal Mail has put limits on the number of stamps that retailers can buy at the old price. The postal service says that is has imposed the limits to protect its financial position and stop chains from buying their entire annual allocation of stamps at the lower price, which would hit Royal Mail’s sales. It also says that the limit has been put in place to prevent retailers from profiteering by buying lots of stamps at low prices and selling them on next month at the higher price.

So is there a national stamp shortage?

No. However retailers are seeing increases in demand of up to 400 per cent and some are reporting that stocks are running low. Royal Mail says that there are 45,000 retail outlets in the UK that sell stamps.

“We have more than adequate stock in place to meet customer demand. Stamps are available from a very large number of outlets across the UK,” it said.

[TeeferTiger]

So if ordinary 1st and 2nd are going up to 60p and 50p respectively, what are the large letter and packet prices going up to?

[Judgee]

Looking on the bright side. If we still get our 50 free stamps at xmas they will be worth more!

[PhilthyPhil]

So if ordinary 1st and 2nd are going up to 60p and 50p respectively, what are the large letter and packet prices going up to?

1c LL 90p
2c LL 69p

1c pkt 0-750g 270p
2c pkt 0-750g 220p

Notice they have merged the 0-250g, 251-500g and 501-750g price bands for packets.

[maisymoo04]

am not bein funny guys and girls but come on 60p isnt really braken the bank is it just pi@@ me off hearin everyone say to dear crap service etc.

[POSTMAN]

https://www.myroyalmail.com/mrm/appnews ... aspx?i=773" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Stamps supply – the facts

Sunday 15 April

You are probably aware of press and media reports about our supply of stamps. These are the facts that you should share with your peers. Please feel free to share with your friends and family.

There is no shortage of stamps available to our customers. We have more than adequate stock in place to meet consumer and business demand through some 45,000 outlets across the UK.
When the price of a First Class stamp increases from 46p to 60p on 30 April, it is imperative that all the proceeds of this price rise come back to Royal Mail.

We have lost £1 billion over the last four years. We need to put the Universal Service on a sound financial footing, through these price rises, for the benefit of everybody in the UK.

We are more than happy for retailers to receive the normal commercial return they obtain on stamps… and no more than that. That is why we put in place, in February, a prudent allocation policy for retailers to safeguard our revenues and ensure there are more than enough stamps for people to buy - both now and in the future.

Hopefully you will find this a useful summary. Please share this information with your teams, family and friends.

[Judgee]

"We have lost £1 billion over the last four years. We need to put the Universal Service on a sound financial footing, through these price rises, for the benefit of everybody in the UK."

We also need these price rises to try and compensate for the greedy,incompetent management and ridiculous plans they have brought in which have pretty much contributed to all these losses!

Clearly the best way to run RM at a profit would be to get rid of these blood sucking leeches who couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery and put someone more intelligent in charge! Forest Gump could make a better job of it!

[TeeferTiger]

So if ordinary 1st and 2nd are going up to 60p and 50p respectively, what are the large letter and packet prices going up to?

1c LL 90p
2c LL 69p

1c pkt 0-750g 270p
2c pkt 0-750g 220p

Notice they have merged the 0-250g, 251-500g and 501-750g price bands for packets.

Thank you for that! I send a fair few large letters (at the moment anyway-thanks DWP!)...