Parcels - more or less?

[Shaman Mao]

Seems to me that ever since the hike in parcel/packet rates a few weeks ago there has been a dramatic fall in the number of parcels I'm delivering. Anyone else noticed this? And is this a deliberate attempt to price us out of the market for some reason I can't quite get my head around?

[UnhappyGremlin]

Seems to me that ever since the hike in parcel/packet rates a few weeks ago there has been a dramatic fall in the number of parcels I'm delivering. Anyone else noticed this? And is this a deliberate attempt to price us out of the market for some reason I can't quite get my head around?

Yes parcels have fallen, and the price rises were deliberate in my view to make privatisation happen asap, and to show there is no real alternative. I think the first thing that will happen after privatisation is Parcel Force being sold for a quick buck. They should, and believe have, higher parcel volumes now due to the recent price increases.

[Shaman Mao]

It comes to something when a 1.8kg parcel costs £8.80 to post 1C. For a couple of quid more it can go special delivery! There's probably something in your parcelforce theory but it still doesn't make sense to me.
Also, if you sell on ebay Hermes now come up as the first delivery option.

[Glenno]

Seems to me that ever since the hike in parcel/packet rates a few weeks ago there has been a dramatic fall in the number of parcels I'm delivering. Anyone else noticed this? And is this a deliberate attempt to price us out of the market for some reason I can't quite get my head around?

Yes I have noticed the same. especially the LARGE ones. looking at the new price structure &size, it would appear that RM are doing what they said and putting all LARGE parcels thru Parcelforce and the rest thru us, whether Parcelforce can sustain this volume increase is yet to be discovered , and if they cann't guess where they will end up??

[Cut Off King]

It's simple,

As RM packet share increased and profits rise, privitasation seems less nessesary

Get rid of the profitable packet stream, profits fall and bobs your uncle, privatisation seems like the only answer to RM's problems

After privatisation....Early deliveries, cheap prices will hail the sale a success !

PS- low wages & cr*p T&C's are also the way forward.

[fishtank]

I think you give them too much credit.
I think it's just another f**k up in a long list of f**k ups because basically they don't know what they are doing.

[Regal]

Maybe its because the sales have ended and Easter is over and people who are already short of cash are saving for their holidays.

[db]

Maybe its because the sales have ended and Easter is over and people who are already short of cash are saving for their holidays.

Maybe you missed it when the guy from yodel came on the forum saying he was experiencing Christmas level deliveries!

[SpacePhoenix]

Locally it seems like parcels have dropped by around 50% since the new pricing structure was brought in and I think that includes Post Office branches so probably both Royal Mail Letters and ParcelForce are loosing a lot of traffic to other couriers.

[Shaman Mao]

50% drop seems about right. Bit worrying that someone thought massive price increases were a good idea.

[db]

50% drop seems about right. Bit worrying that someone thought massive price increases were a good idea.

I'm just hoping with the 130% increase on some of the parcels it will offset it!

[taurus88]

Haven't seen a significant drop on my own duty, personally, but I suspect if I counted, I'd be down 1 or 2 most days (and 1 or 2 fewer parcels for each walk every day across the board is a cataclysmic decline in business, as far as I'm concerned). What I have noticed is the big packets yorks are a lot emptier in a morning ... whether that's just coincidence or the time of year or what, I don't know. Either way I think it's a desperately misguided strategic move on behalf of Royal Mail. It is a move that one might describe as suicidal, but the sad fact is that these management types don't deal in suicide in this modern world. They simply turn the gun on you and I, instead.

[Hitcher]

Less packets delivered = Less Post Offices needed!

[SpacePhoenix]

Less packets delivered = Less Post Offices needed!

With Post Offices not being part of the RM group now i can't see why they're not allowed to offer services of RM's rivals

[fishtank]

Less packets delivered = Less Post Offices needed!

With Post Offices not being part of the RM group now i can't see why they're not allowed to offer services of RM's rivals

Inter-Business Agreement probably.