Online shops demand Royal Mail ups its game

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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More than four-fifths of UK online firms are critical of the Royal Mail, and accuse the service of "stifling" the development of their businesses.

Internet companies said they wanted the postal operator to improve its service standards in five crucial areas, including notification of the time or day of delivery and better weekend deliveries, according to a major survey of more than 600 online businesses by eBay, the internet auction giant.

More flexibility later in the day, with evening deliveries, evening opening times at post offices, and evening collection slots at postal depots were also cited by repondents.

The damning indictment of Royal Mail's services follows the revelation last week that the internet is worth an estimated £100bn to the British economy, according to a separate survey commissioned by Google UK. Of that, 60 per cent was online commerce.

While the Government is committed to privatising some or all of the Royal Mail, the criticism of the postal operator's services could help to shift the debate around how it needs to better support UK businesses.

According to eBay's online business index, 84 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SME) want Royal Mail to improve its services so as to encourage the development of their businesses.

Jody Ford, eBay's director of SME businesses, said: "That more than three quarters of our businesses have said that Royal Mail needs to improve is a fact that it must take seriously. Online businesses' reputations rely on good customer service and feedback.If delivery and collection times as well as opening hours are not enhanced, Royal Mail could stifle the growth of an important new market."

According to the IMRG and Capgemini research, UK consumers are expected to spend an estimated £17.4bn in the fourth quarter, up from £15bn last year.

The criticism of the Royal Mail will resonate with the Coalition Government, as it last week unveiled plans to hand the operator an extra £1.3bn over next fours years to reform the post office network. Ms Ford said: "Royal Mail is a vital part of the infrastructure that the UK needs to help drive economic dynamism. The Government needs to step up and recognise that Royal Mail is an essential part of the nation's economic infrastructure that needs to be upgraded, rather than treating it as a problem that needs to be fixed."

Last week, the House of Commons debated the main principles of the Postal Services Bill and decided that the bill should be given its second reading. Despite its privatisation push, the Government has promised that 10 per cent of the shares will go to the company's employees.

Ms Ford said: "Online businesses need new postal services that meet customer and business needs, and the Government must not shy away from making difficult choices, even if that means redefining the standards we currently expect from Royal Mail".

[not me]

Ms Ford said: "Online businesses need new postal services that meet customer and business needs, and the Government must not shy away from making difficult choices, even if that means redefining the standards we currently expect from Royal Mail".

so what do they thinks coming with prvitisation?

[andy2007]

Ms Ford said: "Online businesses need new postal services that meet customer and business needs, and the Government must not shy away from making difficult choices, even if that means redefining the standards we currently expect from Royal Mail".

so what do they thinks coming with prvitisation?

Whatever they THINK is going to happen. The actual results of privatisation, will be higher prices, and worse (and in Rural areas, very infequent) service!

[noggin1969]

according to a major survey of more than 600 online businesses by eBay,

[pinstripe]

Maybe businesses can agree what they want RM to do.
"Fears over business impact of later post" and "Fears over business impact of later post" are 2 topics in the news forum.
So what is it to be.
Earlier, more consistent deliveries or later, evening deliveries when people will be home?
Or how about 2 deliveries. One in the morning and one in the evening...oh wait, that would cost more.

[Wiggins79]

What do businesses want from RM? I'll tell you what they want: delivery's first thing in the morning when they arrive in the office. Delivery's of parcels they've ordered at the moment they walk through the door at home after work. And they want all this at no extra cost or even LESS cost to themselves. Ideally all staff on minimum wage to be available 24hrs a day 365 days a year. That's what they want.

[Wiggins79]

Forgot to add they also want the moon on a stick.

[Wiggins79]

Ms Ford said: "Online businesses need new postal services that meet customer and business needs, and the Government must not shy away from making difficult choices, even if that means redefining the standards we currently expect from Royal Mail".

And I love this loaded line. So does that mean? The standards are going to get worse? Because I can assure them, it ain't going to get better unless you start paying a fortune to post stuff. Ans exactly how many couriers are there that work through the night? The only late deliveries I've ever got from couriers were private or franchised ones who didn't have a choice as they have to work until they've shifted everything in their van or car.

[Wessex]

Ms Ford said: "Royal Mail is a vital part of the infrastructure that the UK needs to help drive economic dynamism. The Government needs to step up and recognise that Royal Mail is an essential part of the nation's economic infrastructure that needs to be upgraded, rather than treating it as a problem that needs to be fixed."

Other countries looking at how to deal with their own postal services look at RM as the example too avoid .What do the regulator , Hooper, davy and other so-called experts make of that then.I wonder if their haste in seeking quick privatisation is that the EU may introduce a moratorium on their failed experiment.

[ziko]

the internet is worth an estimated £100bn to the British economy, according to a separate survey commissioned by Google UK. Of that, 60 per cent was online commerce.

Wait a minute I thought mail volumes were dropping.... Could it be that someone is telling lies...

[Darren Bent]

Well no matter what we do we will never get it perfect.

If we start earlier and deliver before they gone to work, they won't like getting out of bed.
If we deliver at night we will wake the kids up and disturb their Corrie viewing.

There is always high street and supermarket for them to use.

[Postman Plodd]

our high street is mostly pound shops and charity shops, handy for picking up stuff to flog on ebay or if you need 24 tealights and ten packets of Rizlas but beyond that we're screwed.

[BELIAL]

My High ST has been mostly boarded up for 18 months