Royal Mail ‘plans to end Saturday letter deliveries and end signed-for parcels’ to keep up with Amazon
SIGNED-FOR parcels and Saturday letter deliveries are reportedly under threat as part of a major Royal Mail shake-up.
The plans are part of a review by the service’s new boss to compete against Amazon and a slump in demand for letters.
Simon Thompson, a former executive at Ocado and Apple, has launched a review of Royal Mail’s "whole product suite and offering", reports.
The six-month review aimed at cost-cutting will examine if customers want expensive tracked, signed-for and special deliveries.
It comes after customers appear to be increasingly happy for parcels to be left in a safe place or with a neighbour.
Royal Mail chairman Keith Williams has already suggested Saturday deliveries could be axed amid a decline in letters.
A final decision is set to be made next year.
These potential major reductions in services would require the Government to change the law requiring Royal Mail to provide a universal service.
The review does include a seven-day-a-week pilot that was launched earlier this year.
It comes as other postal companies such as PS, FedEx , DHL plus Amazon are stealing the share in the parcel delivery business.
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But any changes in the Royal Mail could face stiff opposition from the powerful trade union, the CWU.
However, a recent deal has been struck with unions to introduce greater automation and larger sorting offices.
This is so the company could keep up with increasing parcels deliveries.