Post Increase UK 2012

[DZAMBO]

It is hard for all sellers no questions about that, especially ones who selling heavy items with small selling price, and I think some sellers will still to make sales but with that postal prices sales will go much down….
For my items and my shipping prices for overseas will not changes and for some my items I will lost from postage charges for my items but this is only way on eBid to compete with UK sellers where I still think much more exist potential buyers from overseas for USA sellers…
For my home buyers I not worry much not many around but for USA my potential buyers shipping prices is not that bad or I will lost from the shipping charges…
At least I will be only one on eBid still around with that cheap and low shipping prices for my overseas buyers…So…if potential buyers from overseas visit eBid I hope will buy much more from me if looking for the same or similar items like my…
Without much buyers no auction site can make it much…and time to time seller will lost from shipping prices if he is selling for overseas buyers but I think will not lost all or for every item…not much choice for me and if I raise my shipping prices for overseas I think is just no way to compete with UK sellers….if I sell only for USA buyers that will be much worse for me…either way is not good but shipping prices from postal service will go up in the future too…In the end I just try to help eBid like whole auction site with that low shipping prices and bring more buyers…even if I lost some of the money for my shipping prices is not going to hurt me that much but I hope eBid like whole auction site can benefits from that with hopping many buyers will be around and that is more important to me from loosing couple $ time to time….because most of my items and my prices and shipping prices just can’t round up much more profit or round up much more loses…....

[johnwash1]

For my items and my shipping prices for overseas will not changes ...

Why am I not surprised? Perhaps because I doubt Royal Mail has many customers in Tennessee!

[DZAMBO]

Why am I not surprised? Perhaps because I doubt Royal Mail has many customers in Tennessee!

Doubt or not…
I send usually USPS First Class International Mail ‘’anywhere’’ in UK… (And top of that NO extra charge for multiple items)
So…Royal Mail I think I not use…not even my buyers from UK will ‘’use’’ Royal Mail….heh…...but that buyers will receive item from me very quick and very cheap…how much I will pay for that shipping my buyers don’t care…buyers will pay only price for the shipping I set ‘’officially’’…

[Juliebabe25]

Yes these hikes are really going to hurt online sales.

Either less profit for sellers or higher prices for buyers.

[iwiw60]

UK Merchants Face Postal Rate Increase
By Ina Steiner
EcommerceBytes.com
March 28, 2012

The UK postal service Royal Mail is raising postage rates effective April 30, 2012. The price of a First Class stamp for a standard letter will rise from 46p to 60p. The price of a Second Class stamp for a standard letter will increase from 36p to 50p. The cost of a Large Letter stamp up to 100 grams will rise from 75p to 90p for First Class and from 58p to 69p for Second Class.

According to Royal Mail, price increases are needed to put the Universal Service on a sound, sustainable and secure basis, after taking a loss on its core mails of almost 1 billion pounds over the last four years.

According to Royal Mail, increases are needed to maintain its high postal service standards. "Royal Mail's next day target of 93% is the highest for any major EU country. We also deliver six days a week while many EU countries only provide a five day delivery service."

Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, put in place a regulatory framework that will apply for seven years and set out measures that it said would "ensure that UK consumers and businesses continue to benefit from a universally-priced, affordable postal service, six days a week." (Link to Ofcom statement.)

Royal Mail, which reported a 120-million-pound loss last year in its core Universal Service activities and has had negative cashflow for a number of years, said it has been calling for a different approach to regulation for some time.

More information is available on the Royal Mail website, and new rates are available on this page.

[astral276]

S'pose it's still cheap.

The Penny Post was introduced in 1680. One penny in 1680 would be worth in 2010:

Current data is only available till 2010. In 2010, £0 0s 1d from 1680 is worth


£0.53 using the retail price index
£7.87 using average earnings

Source: http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/index.php

[bunsock]

I notice with the new rates the maximum compensation for lost and damaged items remains at £46. This used to be linked to the cost of a 1st class stamp (x100). Either they have forgottten to change this or, more likely, it hasn't been increased.

[booksntings]

I am not trying to defend Royal Mail, but how much would it cost an individual to personally take a letter to its destination?

With regard to other enterprises setting up an alternative system, this will not happen, it is not profitable, that's why we have got the increases.

I know that delivery times are patchy throughout the UK, but generally speaking when you considor the amount of mail dealt with on a daily basis most things arrive within the time frame given.

Whoever the carrier there will always be exceptions.

I know this will make a few people cry out with fits of outrage, but it is all part of today's society, I want it now, I want it as cheap as possible or for free.

Hope I have not offended anyone with my comments, but this is only my opinion.

[CarnoustieCats]

I have had more trouble with 'carriers' than with RM... so am sticking with them as much as possible
... now I have got over the initial shock that is!!!

[Pink_Panther]

On ebid - I'm gonna pass it on - It costs what it costs!
On the bay I'm gonna pass it on and add 50p to offset the percentage fee ebay take off the post - cos post costs what it costs there too!