Increased Postage prices

[andy3665]

Why have RM nearly doubled the price of posting a parcel?

The parcels in our office have halved this week and we were discussing why, if they are gearing up to privatise, would they actively try and stop people using RM to post parcels???

We all read in the Propergander times that parcels are the future for RM.

[somerset]

I have heard people say shall use TNT or DHl. But they always come back to us ?

[SpacePhoenix]

Parcels seem to have dropped in volume here as well. Was flicking through the ebay forums the other day, looks like a good few ebayers are moving away from us.

[Hitcher]

...looks like a good few ebayers are moving away from us.

Until all the missing item complaints come pouring in!

[Budfrog]

I sometimes sell bulky or heavy items on eBay and have used http://www.parcel2go.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to get quotes. Whilst Hermes always come out cheap they have a poor reputation and I will not use them however TNT offer a good service with home collection and full track and trace at a reasonable price. In term,s of business customers I have heard good reports from DPD who can also offer to deliver within a 1 hour window. Even if RM are a little more expensive I always use them but this is just out of loyalty.

It is the smaller parcels and smaller businesses which are being heavily hit and there are even a few petitions against the rises : https://submissions.epetitions.direct.g ... ions/46737" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When I first saw the price hikes I thought that RM had scored an own goal particularly as this is the growth area of the market and there is now quite a wide choice of carriers. Amazon even have lockers at some retail outlets where customers can pick up their orders and companies like Local LetterBox will be offering another alternative to traditional mail delivery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_d2bQKaeKk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The way I see it to survive in this competitive market you need to have an innovative forward thinking management structure that values and rewards its employees and not one that deprives the day to day operation of proper budget to waste on WCM. I have no problem with bonuses for managers and staff but they need to be earned and based on real targets and achievements, not just used as a payment scheme to staff (managers) who are already well remunerated.

[rjack]

I do a collection from busy bee candles ( little plug for them ) they have told me that royal mail franking system is very good but the price increase means they now are looking to send some items with YODEL

[Lincox]

We are now a letters company managing the decline in parcels

[Budfrog]

We are now a letters company managing the decline in parcels

[Darren Bent]

It always amaze me with the decision Royal Mail make. I would try to win more business for parcels and scrap Door to Door for Posties so we will be more effective. I means 3 or 4 parcels is probably worth one lot of D2D for a walk.

[Budfrog]

It always amaze me with the decision Royal Mail make. I would try to win more business for parcels and scrap Door to Door for Posties so we will be more effective. I means 3 or 4 parcels is probably worth one lot of D2D for a walk.

With the competition literally queueing up I couldn't agree with you more.

What never ceases to amaze me is the total lack of commercial awareness that the decision makers in RM's higher echelons have ... quite astounding really.

[fishtank]

I can see these changes being fudged or even reversed unless it's part of cunning plan that we're too thick to work out.
My money is not on the cunning plan.

[db]

I can see these changes being fudged or even reversed unless it's part of cunning plan that we're too thick to work out.
My money is not on the cunning plan.

Who knows!

Moyra may indeed have a Cunning Stunt!!!!

[UnhappyGremlin]

I think the increases have been done intentionally. It's not like RM are unaware of our competitors prices, they are freely available. I think in part it's to make PF a more attractive proposition for buyers, as their workload has apparently increased by at least 4 times. So it's possible PF will be the first part of RMG sold. I do think they operate that far ahead. privatisation has been a long term plan, and has been slowly getting closer, but now it seems that RM are accelerating the process.

[Budfrog]

A large proportion of customers stay with the same supplier, either through brand loyalty or complacency, until there is a sharp rise in price. It is at this point that they will start to shop around and use price comparison sites. I think that these price rises have damaged RMs customer base in key traffic streams and whilst some competitors (Hermes) will struggle with poor QofS others (UPS/DPD/TNT) will either match or better RMs.

[krussel]

My friend who works on the counters has said that there has been nothing but moans and complaints about the rise. Some larger ebay users have simply walked out.