Postal services made headline news again yesterday – featured on the BBC, Sky News, The Times, the Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, the Daily Mail, the Sun and the Daily Record – with the Greeting Card Association (GCA) welcoming the clear timetable laid out by Ofcom as it considers changes to the ‘universal service obligation’ (USO) that currently keeps stamp prices in check and ensures second class mail is delivered six days a week to every household in the UK.
However, the Association now fears the report will lead to heightened concerns among small businesses and consumers that Ofcom intends to rubber-stamp a move to second class deliveries being cut to three days a week with an uncapped and unregulated price for sending letters first class.
“We will continue to engage directly, and in good faith with Ofcom as they assess the direction of USO reform over the coming months,” stated GCA chief executive Amanda Fergusson. “However, we are concerned that their proposed timetable takes us one step closer to the dismantling of a postal service that’s affordable and reliable. Our members have been clear that moving to a second class delivery service that’s limited to three days a week, will mean customers buying and sending cards will have little idea when they’ll arrive.”
She continued: “Those members, and the consumers they serve, rely on a postal service that’s reliable, affordable, and national – they’ve already told us loud and clear they’re not getting it. Any changes to the USO must prioritise the needs of small businesses and consumers – not Royal Mail profitability.”
Ofcom’s data indicates greeting cards are critical to how Royal Mail is perceived by end consumers. Cards are the most frequent things UK consumers post, and 42 per cent of customers now say sending cards is the only time they use Royal Mail.
Royal Mail’s David Gold will be attending the GCA AGM and conference in Bristol on 19 September enabling members to hear directly about Royal Mail’s plans and put their questions to him. Places are still available.
To book tickets visit www.gca.cards/2024-gca-conference-and-agm-thursday-19th-september-2024/
Top: Postal services were back in the news yesterday following a new timetable laid out by Ofcom.
