More Royal Mail price rises

[darth_baggins]

Just got two emails from RM.

First, looks they're going to start charging for thermal labels unless you're using RM Tracked.

But on BPL via OBA/C&D there's some eye-watering price rises, including LL <100g up from £1.31 to £1.55. And crazily, £2.79 for 1st class where a stamp will be £2.60. So it will be cheaper to use a stamp than a business account?

It's getting to the point where low value items just won't be viable.

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2025-02/business-price-guide-march-2025-v1-ta.pd...

[knit-in-styles]

I was just coming on to see if this has been posted as just read the email re the T&Cs for the thermal labels. I use BPL and send second class mainly large letter. Probably not worth having a Royal Mail business account anymore.

Shocking re the LL price. I sell low value items and it is getting harder and harder to sell now with all these price increases. Even selling on a private account on here is ridiculous now with the buyer protection fee.

I suppose I could use RM48 but they are much more expensive by the time you add surcharge VAT etc

As a side, I sent a special delivery next day 1pm less than 500g through my Royal Mail business account last week. I was shocked to pay £10.22. I queried this as the base price did not match the latest guide but told it was correct as there was VAT, green charge and fuel charge to be added.

This week I had an exact same item to send same delivery special delivery next day 1pm less than 500g so I purchased the postage out with my business account and the cost was £8.45.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

It's because you have business account set at base.  So it does tend to be a little more expensive, unless your vat registered.

But if your sending a lot of LL, then it may be worth your while to talk to them about tracked services.

It depends on the quantity, but it could end up cheaper and it means a regular collection, instead of running the PO etc every day.

[knit-in-styles]

Thanks, I used to have RM24 and RM48 set up on my account but is disappeared months ago. I called them to see if it could be added back on but they said I don't send enough parcels to have it added back. I think I will just ditch my business account, and use online C&D

[custom-giftsuk]

That cant be right surely. So a LL 100g 1st class post will rise from £1.86 to £2.79? A 33% rise!
Also it, according to the pdf, will be more expensive to use an account for LL 100g 1st at £2.79 than a stamp which will cost £2.60 and £2.50 online stamp.

So its going from £1.86 to £2.79 for an account, and from £2.10 stamp / online stamp to being £2.60/£2.50

So it'll be almost 30p cheaper to get a stamp online than have an account. 

Same with a 1st class Letter going from £1.34 to £1.70 whilst a stamp or online costs £1.65.

Plus of course if you use an account, you get hit with all the surcharges for xmas rush/green charges etc

I can see lots of people leaving their accounts in their droves if this is correct, because why pay more for an account than you can buy an online stamp or stamp at your local Post Office for?

[custom-giftsuk]

On closer inspection  RM24 1st class LL is £1.75 on account and £1.82 for franking. So even with VAT added on to RM24 it's £2.10. A massive drop compared to the new 1st class LL. 

I wonder if there is an issue here. 

[custom-giftsuk]

According to my quotes it will be cheaper to use Evri ParcelShop Postable than Royal Mail 1st class (not that I ever would recommend that option)

[vagbolts]

Yes i seen this re the Thermal Labels.

How are they going to actually implement this? - i mean you will still be able to order the thermal labels off the online shop, so how can they stop you using them for RM24/48?

I guess the only way would be looking at your mail volume for each service and see if you are ordering too many labels, but with the inefficiency and disconnect of their systems i can't see them being able to competently implement this sort of check.

[custom-giftsuk]

My only thought is that they want to kill off 1st class post as UKGov have given in on 2nd class post but stating that 1st class is part of the Universal Service Obligation. The new boss doesnt like USO as it's binding but if he makes it so expensive to use.... then it'll die a natural death and they can go about moving the goalposts with the other services like 24/48 etc which aren't covered by the USO.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

LL's are classed as parcels.  So if your sending more than 20 per week, you should qualify.

So you would essentially be changing to Tracked services.

[knit-in-styles]

Oh really, thanks for that. The person I spoke to at Royal Mail never mentioned that.

[therenewalworkshopltd]

The important bit, is using "tracked services".....  🙂

[knit-in-styles]

Does anyone have a link to what the non business prices will be on 31st March. I can only find this on RM website however I have no idea what all the different categories are in this document. Thanks

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2025-02/retail-letters-price-guide-march-2025-v2...

[wyntersemporium]

That’s if you can find a evri shop that takes parcels local one up Road refused to take them as  they only get a small bag from Evri . So had to travel somewhere else in town to find a evri that could take all 6 parcels. 

[vintique*violet]

As a side, I sent a special delivery next day 1pm less than 500g through my Royal Mail business account last week. I was shocked to pay £10.22. I queried this as the base price did not match the latest guide but told it was correct as there was VAT, green charge and fuel charge to be added.

What on earth is a green charge and fuel charge?  

[knit-in-styles]

On business mail things like RM24 RM48 and Special Delivery these are additional charges. The fuel surcharge is now 8%. Of course VAT is then added. Basically money for old rope. 

[vintique*violet]

Thank you, what is the additional " green charge" for exactly? 

[knit-in-styles]

Just googled and from their website:

Green Surcharge

 
The Green Surcharge applies to some products for our account customers and will contribute towards funding decarbonisation measures in our network. Further information about Royal Mail’s ambition to reach Net Zero by 2040 can be found here.  

The Green Surcharge is applied on the product price after any discounts or commissions or other surcharges, and before VAT.

As of 31 March 2025, the Green Surcharge will be 5p per item, increasing from 4p per item.

The products covered by the Green Surcharge are:

•    Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed® by 9am, 1pm and Next Day
•    Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48®
•    Royal Mail 24® and Royal Mail 48®
•    Special Delivery Guaranteed Returns
•    Royal Mail Tracked Returns®

Green Surcharge will not apply to non-contract business and consumer parcel services or any items within the USO.

We will communicate any Green Surcharge rate changes at least 30 days in advance, via this page.

[vintique*violet]

Oh my goodness - thank you , the world is going to " h£ll in a hand basket"...

[direct.gifts]

And hidden in the small print of these price changes the green surcharge is rising from 4p an item to 5p an item.

Am I right that are are no changes to the public prices announced? Or will these be announced later. I really can't believe RM are not increasing the price of a stamp this year