Post Office delivers more choice for sending parcels

Post office shop sign against wall and one hanging

More delivery options at the post office

The Post Office announced that, from today, 07 November 2023, for the first time in its 360-year history, parcel customers will be able to send packages using DPD and Evri, as well as via Royal Mail. The end of the monopoly means more choice, and hopefully lower prices, for postal users.

The roll out of the new parcel services will take place at selected branches in time for the peak Christmas delivery season. Customers are still able to compare and purchase package postage online for drop-off in Post Offices.

This move has been on the cards for some time. The Post Office had already announced that it was going to open up access to courier companies, as well as Royal Mail, from March 2021. The new deal runs through to 2032.

Royal Mail has been plagued by poor service. It blames high levels of staff absence and strike action (18 days this year) for failing to meet delivery targets set by Ofcom. In May 2022 the regulator opened an investigation. When the strike ended in July 2023 it said that it was losing £1 million a day.

In 2012 Vince Cable led the privatisation of Royal Mail. Two years later he faced huge criticism for undervaluing the Royal Mail shares, which cost taxpayers £750m in one day, following a damning National Audit Office report.

As with most privatised services, things go wrong and consumers lose out. At least consumers will now have more choice and competition should, in theory, help prices.

Whilst most consumers welcome the news, there are some concerns. Bryony Lewis says “Our local Post Office has been offering Evri for a few months now – very handy! Does mean even longer queues though.”

Lisa Marie Godfrey wonders whether it will mean longer queues at her Post Office “I live in a small town and usually there’s at least 10 people queuing.” But you can do a fair amount on line. Send a parcel anywhere with the Post Office and the Post Office states that there will be some self-service kiosks for dropping off parcels. In response she says “If they’re bringing in more self-service points, that would be really positive!”

Small businesses welcome the news, too. Ruth Bradfield, founder of The Little Black and White Book Project, says “Wow, hadn’t heard this news, that’s great! Makes parcel drop offs a lot more streamlined. And if RM go on strike again this Christmas, hopefully it means small businesses don’t get as crippled again. Off to sign up for an Evri biz account to cover all bases.”

James Francis sums it up, saying that it is a “Smart move, Post Offices need more services available – gives consumers choice, means RM may up their game and gives more reasons for post offices to stay open and staffed.”

According to new research commissioned by Post Office:

“76% of the UK population send parcels each year. More than one in three (37%) tend to shop around to find the best delivery deals while almost half (48%) wish there were more delivery providers available to choose from at one location when they are posting parcels.
The announcement, which comes in the run-up to the busy Christmas period highlights new research showing that 40% of people admit sending parcels at Christmas can be stressful as they worry that it could get lost (47%) or won’t arrive in time (43%). 84% UK adults consider Post Office as a reliable place for their parcels to be dropped off, so this new service aims to help further reassure customers when sending parcels at this time of year.”

Help with complaining about deliveries

Courier problems – Ofcom takes some action at last 01/04/23 new guidelines for sending and receiving parcels if you are disabled

How to complain about a delivery, online and mail order

What to do when deliveries don’t reach you

Further help with consumer issues

Top 20 Tips How to complain effectively

If you need more help, information and tips with how to quote Acts, template letters and advice on how to complain effectively don’t forget the GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS!

101 Habits of an Effective Complainer provides you with more tips

Purchase and download templates to gain redress swiftly

Christmas Deliveries – What are your rights?

How to save money by haggling

Yesterday at 12:24

hand holding a green hose with water spraying out

What does the hosepipe ban really mean for water customers?

12 Aug at 15:07

brown background words an end to subscription traps above a lock filled with blue pound signs

Action on Subscription Traps – it’s about time!

10 Aug at 23:37

Newsletter Sign Up

If this site or a response from me has helped you, please consider buying me some chocolate (don’t like coffee!) to help me continue to provide this free advice. Thank you!

Buy Me A Coffee

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Empowering people with gusto

“The critical thing is empowering people and part of empowerment is making people understand their legal rights more and it’s theirs, being able to identify the persona in authority to make a decision and having the elbow when somebody says “no” to say “well I’m sorry..” and those are the three things and I think you do that with gusto and are an example in that regard.”

“How to Complain

Helen Dewdney’s How to Complain is a masterclass in asserting your rights with wit, precision and just the right amount of righteous fury. It’s the book every consumer didn’t know they desperately needed – until now.”

“101 Habit of an Effective Complainer

If complaining is an art form, Helen Dewdney is Rembrandt. This book is easy to follow, beautifully written and – above all – teaches us that complaining effectively doesn’t require rudeness or angry sharp elbows. Dewdney’s book is a brilliant reminder that being a successful complainer (or getting what you were entitled to in the first place) is simple to achieve and can even be fun. Her superb how-to guide isn’t for ‘complainers,’ it’s for anybody who has ever been a consumer and been let down – it’s for all of us.”

“How to Get Free PR and be Paid for it

Helen Dewdney writes with fearless clarity and she’s done it again… She’s one of my few and regular go-tos, especially for how to approach consumer issues or in the event of an urgent sense check. This book is packed full of great and creative ideas for building up excellent PR, establishing yourself as the expert and keeping the momentum going. She is – hands down – a mega star in the world of consumer affairs and in this latest book, on PR, she shares how you can do it for yourself.”

Rob Rinder

Journalist, TV Judge barrister, presenter