Royal Mail to increase 'small' parcel size by month end

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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It looks like Royal Mail are definitely preparing to extend the dimensions of Small Parcels so that items of up to 350 x 250 x 160mm will be classed (and priced) as Small Parcels.

Following the consultation, the change means that over 80% of parcels delivered by Royal Mail will qualify as Small Parcels and it’ll now include the typical “shoe box” sized parcel. We’re not currently sure if the weight will be up to 1kg or 2kg, but definitely for those whose items are currently classed as medium or large parcels the price will plummet.

We’ve heard from Tamebay reader Brian that his Post Office has received the official bulletin on their terminal informing them of the change and that they will be receiving a new template with a live date of the 28th October. However Mark, another Tamebay reader was shown a live date of the 4th of November.

Interestingly the official (internal) Royal Mail memos apparently referenced the competitor prices from myHermes and Collect Plus, so it would appear that these companies have been hurting Royal Mail’s business.

Of course when announced this news could turn out to be a bit of a damp squib if the CWU’s planned Royal Mail strike goes ahead on the 4th of November. However drastically reduced prices will almost certainly tempt some business back from Royal Mail’s competitors once any strikes are over.

Bravo Royal Mail, now can we have an official announcement please? We like good new and with prices rising with almost every supplier we know a price reduction will be very welcome news!

[bensonhedge]

Yeah!! Bring on those packets.

[britwrit]

Interesting. I don't ship parcels regularly. Does this mean that Royal Mail has realized that - alas - a free market means you can't raise prices willy-nilly? Or are they trying to corner the market in this area? Or is it a little of both?

[db]

Interesting. I don't ship parcels regularly. Does this mean that Royal Mail has realized that - alas - a free market means you can't raise prices willy-nilly? Or are they trying to corner the market in this area? Or is it a little of both?

These size parcels used to be small parcels before the prices rises in April. All of us believe that they have make a right royal cock up with it and have decided to change the size brackets due to loss of business.

[DGP1]

God help us if there are more packets, I can't really cope with anymore...........and nor can many in my office.

[Lounge Lizard]

http://tamebay.com/2013/10/royal-mail-t ... h-end.html?

It looks like Royal Mail are definitely preparing to extend the dimensions of Small Parcels so that items of up to 350 x 250 x 160mm will be classed (and priced) as Small Parcels.

Following the consultation, the change means that over 80% of parcels delivered by Royal Mail will qualify as Small Parcels and it’ll now include the typical “shoe box” sized parcel. We’re not currently sure if the weight will be up to 1kg or 2kg, but definitely for those whose items are currently classed as medium or large parcels the price will plummet.

We’ve heard from Tamebay reader Brian that his Post Office has received the official bulletin on their terminal informing them of the change and that they will be receiving a new template with a live date of the 28th October. However Mark, another Tamebay reader was shown a live date of the 4th of November.

Interestingly the official (internal) Royal Mail memos apparently referenced the competitor prices from myHermes and Collect Plus, so it would appear that these companies have been hurting Royal Mail’s business.

Of course when announced this news could turn out to be a bit of a damp squib if the CWU’s planned Royal Mail strike goes ahead on the 4th of November. However drastically reduced prices will almost certainly tempt some business back from Royal Mail’s competitors once any strikes are over.

Bravo Royal Mail, now can we have an official announcement please? We like good new and with prices rising with almost every supplier we know a price reduction will be very welcome news!

"It looks like Royal Mail are definitely preparing to extend the dimensions of Small Parcels so that items of up to 350 x 250 x 160mm will be classed (and priced) as Small Parcels" so that's a REDUCTION in length from 450mm ( to 350 ) and width from 350mm ( to 250 ) but an INCREASE in depth from 80mm ( to 160 ).

[mushy124]

Bring it on all we have to do is your job start on time meal relief finish on time job done ( mind dont get caught in the cafe they will be all over you like a rash)

[barrowc]

"It looks like Royal Mail are definitely preparing to extend the dimensions of Small Parcels so that items of up to 350 x 250 x 160mm will be classed (and priced) as Small Parcels" so that's a REDUCTION in length from 450mm ( to 350 ) and width from 350mm ( to 250 ) but an INCREASE in depth from 80mm ( to 160 ).

No - there are two parts to the Small Parcel definition. If an item fits within all three of the following dimensions and is less than 2kg then it can be classed as a Small Parcel - either:

* 450 x 350 x 80mm, or
* 350 x 250 x 160 mm

(The second part was originally 160 x 160 x 160mm when Small Parcels first came in so they've bumped up the size on that part)

[Budfrog]

Am I being slightly naive in thinking that this should lead to the recalculation of model weeks in every MC and DO in the country and consequently DO revisions being revisited? Or have the planners built in contingency hourage to cope

[Surreypostie]

Am I being slightly naive in thinking that this should lead to the recalculation of model weeks in every MC and DO in the country and consequently DO revisions being revisited? Or have the planners built in contingency hourage to cope

You wil just get on with it.

[cyclemech1]

I think RM have shot themselves in the foot here.

Most ebay parcels are going to fall in the 'medium parcel' category costing £5.65 whereas, as has been mentioned, it is now £2.70 (dependent on weight).

Also. unless you opt for one of the 'Guaranteed' services, the compensation limit will only be £20.

Compare this to Collect+, operating from corner shops, where you would pay £3.99 for a jiffy bag or £4.99 for a medium parcel (again dependent on weight) and both offer tracking as standard and compensation of £50.

Ebay will be comparing postage prices when you opt for printing the postage label so I think that RM will be losing a lot of business here.

Another short sighted decision by incompetant management!

My original post dated 6th March 2013.

Ahem, I'm available to join RMs board in a consultative capacity for £10000 a day.

[UnhappyGremlin]

A manager told me that the change is in 'response to customer feedback'.
Presumably the question asked was 'why have you taken away all your parcels from us?'

Major cock up, as per usual. They'd better hope that it's not too late to get back some of the business they threw away.