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18/08/2005
Royal Mail unveils postal pricing changes
The cost of posting letters and packages will depend on size and shape, as well as weight, under a new Royal Mail pricing structure, which will come into effect next year.
The new Pricing in Proportion structure, described as the greatest change in postal pricing since the introduction of the Penny Black stamp, is due to be introduced in September 2006, following approval from industry regulator Postcomm.
Under the new scheme, some heavier post, such as catalogues and books, will cost less to send than they currently do, but lightweight items that are also large and bulky, such as rolls of photographic film, very large greetings cards and video tapes, will cost more.
Royal Mail had argued that lightweight, but bulky or large, mail costs more to transport, sort, handle and deliver than regular-sized items.
The Pricing in Proportion scheme will apply to most of Royal Mail’s inland post, including first and second-class post. Around 70% of posted items are expected to be unaffected by the changes, while 30% of packages are expected to be affected, with around half costing less and the other half costing more.
Currently, a stamped first class letter weighing up to 60 grams costs 30p and one up to 100g costs 46p. Under the new scheme, Royal Mail will extend the first weight limit for letters to 100g, meaning that a first-class 100g letter will only require a 30p stamp, providing it conforms to maximum size and thickness limits.
The cost of sending a first-class large letter weighing 750g and less than 25mm will fall to £1.23 from £2.71.
However, the cost of sending a large greetings card, weighing less than 60g, would rise from 30p to 42p under the new scheme, while first-class postage on a 100g packet more than 25 mm would increase from 46p to 49p.
Commenting on the changes, Nigel Stapleton of Postcomm said: “This is a major change to the way people pay for their post. It will promote the development of a successful and growing postal market by allowing Royal Mail to bring its prices more closely in line with its costs. This is particularly important given the full liberalisation of the postal market in January.”
Postcomm had proposed to allow the changes to be introduced in April 2006, but delayed the implementation of the new scheme in order to give customers time to adjust.
(KMcA/SP)
The new Pricing in Proportion structure, described as the greatest change in postal pricing since the introduction of the Penny Black stamp, is due to be introduced in September 2006, following approval from industry regulator Postcomm.
Under the new scheme, some heavier post, such as catalogues and books, will cost less to send than they currently do, but lightweight items that are also large and bulky, such as rolls of photographic film, very large greetings cards and video tapes, will cost more.
Royal Mail had argued that lightweight, but bulky or large, mail costs more to transport, sort, handle and deliver than regular-sized items.
The Pricing in Proportion scheme will apply to most of Royal Mail’s inland post, including first and second-class post. Around 70% of posted items are expected to be unaffected by the changes, while 30% of packages are expected to be affected, with around half costing less and the other half costing more.
Currently, a stamped first class letter weighing up to 60 grams costs 30p and one up to 100g costs 46p. Under the new scheme, Royal Mail will extend the first weight limit for letters to 100g, meaning that a first-class 100g letter will only require a 30p stamp, providing it conforms to maximum size and thickness limits.
The cost of sending a first-class large letter weighing 750g and less than 25mm will fall to £1.23 from £2.71.
However, the cost of sending a large greetings card, weighing less than 60g, would rise from 30p to 42p under the new scheme, while first-class postage on a 100g packet more than 25 mm would increase from 46p to 49p.
Commenting on the changes, Nigel Stapleton of Postcomm said: “This is a major change to the way people pay for their post. It will promote the development of a successful and growing postal market by allowing Royal Mail to bring its prices more closely in line with its costs. This is particularly important given the full liberalisation of the postal market in January.”
Postcomm had proposed to allow the changes to be introduced in April 2006, but delayed the implementation of the new scheme in order to give customers time to adjust.
(KMcA/SP)
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