Universal Service

What is the point of competition in the postal market? According to a recent report for the government:

"Large companies have benefited from the full liberalisation of the postal market since 2006 with more choice, lower prices and better quality products, but "there have been no significant benefits for smaller businesses and domestic consumers," said the report. It found these customers were largely happy with the value for money now provided to them by the state-owned Royal Mail but said the current situation endangered the future of the universal service which could guarantee one price and next day delivery throughout the country." Source

So the big companies - that's the people that send us bills and junk mail - are getting great bulk deals, while small businesses and consumers (that's us) are getting no benefit and an actual reduction in service (single deliveries at unpredictable times, no Sunday collections).

I appreciate that parts of the Royal Mail need a big kick up the backside - the organisation sadly has plenty of jobsworths and strike-at-the-drop-of-a-hat militants - but the service we get here is really good, and I'd like to keep it that way, thanks. Is competition from other firms which do not have to provide a Universal Service really the best way to get some reform?



There is actually one of my parcels in that van. The post lady delivered it a bit later - I didn't tell her I'd been spying on her with a long lens.