Royal Mail cuts half its later collection times

[woofwoof]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28706022" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Collection times at almost half the Royal Mail's collection boxes will be brought forward to between 9am and 3pm.

Between 45,000 and 50,000 of the company's post boxes will move to the earlier collections.

Royal Mail says there will still be a late posting box within half a mile of areas affected and will add 2,000 post boxes to its 115,000 network.

The earlier collections will be picked up by delivery staff as part of their existing rounds.

The majority of those switching as part of today's announcement will be in urban and suburban areas, with an indicator tab showing whether a collection has been made.

Post men and women empty some 12,000 postboxes in rural areas and many of the new boxes will be in targeted at these areas, the company said.

Royal Mail said many post boxes no longer cover their costs: "Rather than decommission uneconomic postboxes, while staying within the regulated density requirement, Royal Mail will ensure their viability by improving the efficiency of its collections arrangements."

The regulator, Ofcom, requires Royal Mail to have post boxes within half a mile of 98% of households.

In response to the new plans it said: "Ofcom recognises the need for Royal Mail to become more efficient so it can sustain a universal postal service that consumers value highly."

"While the changes won't affect the majority of postal users, Ofcom expects Royal Mail to communicate clearly with any affected consumers and ensure that their reasonable needs continue to be met," the statement said.

[Deadly]

The thin end of a very thick wedge. I haven't heard the excuse that certain boxes don't cover their costs before

[hans solo]

the cull has started
was cwu involved in decisions or have they been told this is whats happening yet again by their masters

[raikky]

that's why shares went from 405 to 425 lol

[chrisj]

A very simple business decision... some boxes have very few letters in them day in day out and not economical
.
In the distant past when RM was a public service that sort of luxury might be justifiable but it just does not make economic sense when personal letters are forever dropping.

There will still be post boxes but they will just cover a wider area and some folks will also just have to get their letters to the postbox earlier or simply travel longer or go to the post office.

RM is now acting more like a proper business and there is more to come - still too many areas of waste inefficiencies and lost or unrecovered revenue from inadequate postage payments, from dsa, franked letters, ppis (?) and more. And too many managers in some areas.

In a strange way, some more comfortable posties will now make themselves more available for delivery OT thereby driving the amount paid down - dvbuk will be pleased

[Deadly]

I'm guessing collection drivers will be sent a preference form to submit, less hours, VR or transfer? Does anyone know when these earlier collections are intended to be rolled out?

[shepherdess]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28706022" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How soon do they expect to roll this out

[P739]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28706022" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The earlier collections will be picked up by delivery staff as part of their existing rounds

[dave72]

Post men and women empty some 12,000 postboxes in rural areas

I've worked in a rural area for 15 years and not once emptied a postbox or been asked to

[krussel]

Yes we heard about this. They want a 12-1pm collection whilst you go around your delivery. We used to do this years ago of course at 8.30am.

How will you do this with a HCT ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yes we heard about this. They want a 12-1pm collection whilst you go around your delivery. We used to do this years ago of course at 8.30am.

How will you do this with a HCT ?

and the clash with the PDAs bleating about Specials and 1pm.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

3 threads merged

[Yan Panik]

Just noticed this on the BBC News website.

Collection times at almost half the Royal Mail's collection boxes will be brought forward to between 9am and 3pm.
The earlier collections will be picked up by delivery staff as part of their existing rounds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28706022
That's a bit out of the blue is'nt it?

[Red Robbo]

Always been on the cards,I expect customers in rural areas will have to make their way to their nearest DOs for the latest acceptance time in the future.

[Lounge Lizard]

I'm sure "Collection times at almost half the Royal Mail's collection boxes will be brought forward to 3pm" is what I heard on the Radio 4 news bulletin and it made no sense.
But "Collection times at almost half the Royal Mail's collection boxes will be brought forward to between 9am and 3pm" does make sense for all the isolated rural boxes that are little used.