Sizing up new postal costs

May 16 2006 By Evening Gazette

Size really is going to matter in a radical overhaul of the way the postal system works.

Royal Mail has announced that its "pricing in proportion" system will come in on August 21.

From then the cost of postage will be determined by the dimensions, thickness, and shape as well as the weight of an item.

Royal Mail claims that while some prices may increase, most will either decrease or stay the same and the changes will not bring it any further revenue.

Compact, heavy items will generally cost less or the same. Light but bulky items which, says Royal Mail, are more difficult" to process will generally cost more.

There will be three categories - letter, large letter and packet.

But it all sounds so complicated.

For example the formula for a letter: Size not to exceed 240mmx165mm. Maximum thickness: 5mm. Weights 0-100g. Content will include most letters, postcards, bill and statements, some brochures and catalogues, most birthday cards.

And for a large letter it is: Size not to exceed 353mmx250mm. Max thickness 25mm. Weights 0-100g, 101-250g, 251-500g, 501-750g.

It looks like post room staff will have to get their tape measures out.

The Royal Mail website advises: "If you regularly send the same items, for example CDs, once you've measured and weighed them, you'll know that they come under the large letter category, so you'll know how to sort them every time."

It also says all franking machines in the UK will be able to cope with the changes, although some weigh scales may need replacing.

But time is money in business and it sounds like this system will be a lot more time consuming, particularly for businesses that handle mail in a variety of shapes and sizes.

And will sorting office workers not end up spending more time dealing with mail if they are having to check that a parcel's dimensions meet the price paid for postage?