Royal mail consultation on increasing small parcel size

steveE2

campdave wrote: »

Hasn't realised an implementation date had been made available - it's going to go ahead then, there's no way they can wait for the outcome then issue all the post offices with new plastic templates, unless they're going down the wonderful cardboard box templates again.

New size is 25x35x16cm

Royal Mail has launched a consultation on plans to revise the exception to the USO Small Parcel format which was introduced in April 2013. The new exception will enable customers sending items which do not exceed 350mm x 250mm x 160mm (approximately the size of a large shoebox) to be priced as Small Parcels. Royal Mail is of the opinion this would be a beneficial change for our customers, as it will enable more items to be priced as a Small Parcel. Customers who have bought the cube exemption size packaging will still be able to post as a small parcel with this extended size.
The changes are planned to be introduced on 28 October 2013.
All responses to the consultation should be submitted by 5pm on 16 October 2013.

cestlavie

the current sizing is nuts and sent me straight to collect+, which so far have been brilliant for me especially as they include tracking and insurance. i was in p.o the other day and some poor woman was trying to post an item in a largish box and was told it would cost over £50 to send. she was near tears not knowing what to do. as she left the counter - not having sent parcel - i told her about collect+ in the local newsagents. one lost Rm customer there.

Serendipitious

Let's hope there is some sense at last.... four eBay sales in four months is way below par for me, and the only variable that has changed has been the postage charges.

I too have seen customers leave the PO with their packages and I have completely revised the gifts I used to send friends via the post, I would rather put extra value onto a giftcard or similar for them nowadays instead of wasting 5.90 on a parcel.

ballisticbrian

It's funny how they did that until the company was privatised and then un-did it again (in effect lowered the price).

soolin

Fingers still crossed here, I'm not putting up the new stock until I know if I can use RM again or have to go to MyHermes.

YoJoJo

WooooooooooHooooooooooo!

So pleased by the new dimensions. After being hit by a car last night while cycling home and feeling quite awful today, this has really cheered me up. Can start selling more of my stock on eBay again.

soolin

YoJoJo wrote: »

WooooooooooHooooooooooo!

So pleased by the new dimensions. After being hit by a car last night while cycling home and feeling quite awful today, this has really cheered me up. Can start selling more of my stock on eBay again.

Ouch, sorry to hear about your accident.

Is there an annoucement somewhere then to confirm 100% that this is now going to change? I thinkw e all assume it will but I like to see it in black and white in case of issues when I drop my post off

justapoorboy

Why am I not surprised by this ?
There have been rumblings all summer that RMs parcel business had fallen on its face.

This summer my UK orders fell through the floor.
Orders for large items are also massively down.
I hate Royal Mail.

I have tons of stories of their ineptitudes, lies and couldn't care less attitudes.

Why am I not surprised that this "solution" is happening AFTER privatization ? Whats the betting that MyHermes and Collect+ will respond with offers of their own ???

soolin

justapoorboy wrote: »

Why am I not surprised by this ?
There have been rumblings all summer that RMs parcel business had fallen on its face.

This summer my UK orders fell through the floor.
Orders for large items are also massively down.
I hate Royal Mail.

I have tons of stories of their ineptitudes, lies and couldn't care less attitudes.

Why am I not surprised that this "solution" is happening AFTER privatization ? Whats the betting that MyHermes and Collect+ will respond with offers of their own ???

This all went to consultation before privatisation. Collect + and MyHermes also had extremely high increases earlier this year- they were first to take advantage of a captive market when they realised RM had shot themselves in the foot.

Remember though that there is still a parcel limit size for small parcel, and the requirement that one side must still be 160mm or less (6 and a bit inches) is not going to make a difference for a lot of people selling squarer or bulkier items.

justapoorboy

Bless you Soolin
I am of course aware of the prices rises by the other two but you are missing the point entirely.

RM has been and probably still is massively the dominant player in this market to the extent that they are effectively price setters.
RM is a HUGE business with the resources to employ economists to look at yield curves when setting their prices.

Collect + and MyHermes were merely following the leader. You can't blame them for that. It's just rational market behaviour.

Why would a business undercut by 2x when they can undercut by 0.5x for a similar market share. That would be idiotic.

Consultation - Shmonsulation
What a load of ********* That's PR speak.
You yourself said "RM usually only 'consult' when they know what the answer is going to be. " I do read your posts! The point there is the change will not take place till after the privatization.

RM are squandering the enormous goodwill they have enjoyed by Joe Public who have 'till now regarded them as a national service along the lines of he NHS.

RM are treating people, smaller online sellers in particular, like milch cows. They expected us to dutifully continue to use them no matter what they decide to charge and no matter the stupid size restrictions they decide to impose. Its this attitude by RM which has made me angry.

Most people are conservative in that they don't like change. Most would prefer their parcels delivered by the postman. Many find it difficult to believe that a courier / delivery service can be so much cheaper. It's up to us as sellers to make that clear to them and maybe give them a choice. Some people would even be willing to pay extra. For the rest they should know how overpriced RM have become.