First class delivery gets stamp of approval

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DOES a first class stamp guarantee you a first class service? It would seem the answer is yes.

The price of a first class stamp rose to 60p on May 1 – a 14p increase, or 30 per cent.

This week The Evening Mail launched an experiment to see if customers are really getting value for their money when they send a letter by first class post.

We sent 15 letters to addresses across the UK and monitored how long it took for them to arrive. The envelopes were posted at 9.30am Wednesday May 2, at the sorting office in Abbey Road, Barrow.

On their website Royal Mail state: “We aim to deliver most first class mail by the next working day, including Saturdays.”

All 15 letters reached their destinations, ranging from Glasgow to Brighton, in good condition, the next day. Recipients were in locations that included major cities and remote areas, both locally and further afield.

Royal Mail does not guarantee next day delivery of first class post but the latest figures show they are on track to hit their quality of service targets for the year in the LA postcode region.

Royal Mail spokesperson, Morag Turnbull, said: “Royal Mail provides one of the most comprehensive and best value services in the world, delivering to almost 29 million addresses, six days a week. Our 93 per cent next day delivery target is challenging and the highest for any major European country.

“We are pleased that, as these results show, we have exceeded this target and are delivering a really good service for our customers. This is down to our local postmen and women who are determined to deliver the best possible service to our customers.”

Meanwhile, a number of businesses have voiced concerns that the cost of stamps could have serious negative consequences for trade.

David Hymers, managing director of Cumbria-based mail solutions firm Totalpost, said the change could cost the average business £800 a year.

He said: “This is a significant amount for a small business to be aware of, especially during a double-dip recession.

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