Royal Mail is looking to end Saturday letter deliveries starting from April 2021. This change comes as the postal regulator, Ofcom, has called for evidence on how Royal Mail’s services could be altered in response to the continuous decrease in the popularity of paper post.
The estimated cost savings of this change is estimated to be around £225 million for Royal Mail, but people are still sceptical as this would be a significant change in the service that Royal Mail currently offers.
It would mean an end to the nation’s beloved weekend letters, which many have grown accustomed to, and so it’s no surprise that people are concerned about this proposed plan.
However, Royal Mail is reassuring customers that the proposal will not affect the trusted mail service that they offer on weekdays and that the quality of service and security will remain the same. They will also continue to offer Saturday delivery services for packets and parcels.
In an attempt to make the transition easier, Royal Mail is introducing the “Five-day Service” where customers can still receive post on any five weekdays of their choice. This system has already been tested in some areas of the country and customers have responded positively. However, Royal Mail is offering customers the freedom to opt out of this service if they wish.
For customers who are worried about missing out on Saturday deliveries, Royal Mail has announced plans to increase the number of Post Office branches by 200 over the next 12 months. These will be extended opening hours, meaning customers can make use of the services on Saturday and Sunday as well.
The idea has been met with mixed opinions, as many customers feel let down at the proposal of ending Saturday deliveries, while others are supportive of the move as it could help to save costs. Royal Mail is currently consulting the public on the changes and is aiming to receive feedback until the end of 2020.
The changes may momentarily appear to be intimidating and inconvenient, however Royal Mail is confident that the proposal will enable them to maintain their current service quality, and achieve cost savings, without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
Whilst the proposal still needs to be discussed and decided upon, Royal Mail is looking to the future and is investing in new technology and services to ensure customers have access to a modern mail service in today’s digitalised world.
Royal Mail is staying positive and committed to delivering an exceptional service, even with the proposed changes in place. The idea of ending Saturday letter deliveries may be hard to accept, but Royal Mail hopes that customers understand and appreciate their actions, as it could lead to increased efficiency and cost savings that will benefit everyone in the long run.
