Royal Mail has launched a consultation on changes to its parcel range involving a reduction in the number of weight bands and the introduction of two broad categories – small and medium parcels.
The proposals, which will mainly affect consumers and small non-contract business customers, include a new second class service for parcels of 1-20 kilos to replace the existing standard parcel product. This will include a signature on delivery option.
The number of weight bands will be reduced from 15 to seven from April next year.
Small parcels are defined as items that weigh up to 2kg and are no larger than 450mm x 350mm x 80mm in size.
The definition of medium parcels is items that have dimensions larger than the small parcels size but no bigger than 610mm x 460mm x 460mm, and up to 20kg in weight.
Royal Mail will no longer deliver parcels over 20 kilos – instead customers will be given the option of using Parcelforce.
Royal Mail said the introduction of two broad parcel categories would bring it into line with postal operators in Germany, France and Italy. Parcels are priced by weight but the size of a parcel has an impact on the cost of collecting, transporting, sorting and delivering an item.
