At the moment, given the qty/size etc of items we post, RM is the best solution. However, just because they are the best for my needs doesn’t mean they provide a good service.

I HAVE to use them given the choice we have, I don’t CHOOSE to use them, big difference.

…I think you are giving RM too much credit there to be honest. About twice a week I get a neighbours letter. Of around 30 Recorded parcels posted each week, maybe 13-20 actually bother getting a signature. Of around 100 special delivery parcels posted every month, maybe 3 get lost for over a week.

I’ve had recorded parcels sent to me, left in our recycling bin! no note saying to do so and again no signature obtained. The list goes on and on.

That’s just my limited experience, I assume i’m not unique. So to say that no-one else can provide the same service as Rm is a VERY good thing!

Whatever happens to Royal Mail (private or not) YOUR postal costs will rise.

In public hands the service will stay nationwide, ie; the same cost for a letter 1 mile down the Road OR 250 miles to some scottish island (assuning you are in the SE, etc).

If it is privatised (even partially) much of the service we now get, will go. Any firm that comes in will want to keep the profitable parts & dump the letters to scotland for 36p (just like DHL or similar does now, charge twice as much for the highlands for parcels).
(INTERESTING THOUGHT: Do people sending parcels, that are based in the Highlands, have to pay a differnt zone rate to sent to the South????)

Under Labour, G Brown’s part privatisation plans are in a mess, it all very well when the whole system is swimming in ££££££ssssss, but when it gets a bit rough, off they (private Co’s) go, and get out quick or go into admin/bankruptcy etc,

The Goverments ‘competition’ rules, that allow the likes of UKmail etc’, to undercut mail posting costs, then just collect the sack & dump it on Royal Mail for delivery, is absolutely disgusting…………….
If any of these so called mail co’s had to do all the job, ie: pick up & dediver to the addressee. you can be promised, they would not want to know.

This has been so typical of this Goverment & so many projects they have entered into, have flounded, but ‘NO’ they still say in their arrogant way, that they are right……

Please do not read this as I am a steadfast supporter of Royal Mail, but there is & never will be an alternative, so either we get used to it (right or wrong) or put all of our postal prices up, so much that Mail order will become thing of the past, not the future.

It’s alright for the sellers that use DHL etc’ & sell items of enough value to use them, but many.many sellers sell in the Low £££sss bracket, so how else are we supposed to get it there.

At the time of the last big strikes, a few years ago, I suggested on Tamebay, that all ebay saellers could start a postal service & collect & deliver each others post from other areas……………..mind you. this would have to be at a similar rate to RM. So the seller that posts a 100g LL for 47p 2nd class, can then send it to Scotland & the seller in scotland can get the end 6p (or whatever’s left) for delivering 10 miles down the Road……………NOT SURPRISINGLY there were no takers or imput from others, even though i was intended as a light hearted joke, at the time of a bad situation.

Today’s Managers, think they know all & everything….Just look at how many CEO’s have fallen on heir own swords. I was bought up with the attitude that experience takes time…..something today;s Bosses do not seem to understand.

Finally, (sorry for the length), Even if RM was sent to the postal service in the sky, it would take decades to re-establish a similar service. the only way would be that a new operator would take over Royal Mail as it is.
PO’s, Postboxes, Van, Sorting centres etc, etc,.
BUT who would be there employed, the only one’s that know how , Yes the existing staff.

The government then applies pressure to Royal Mail to achieve more profit (i.e less subsidy) to meet their political agenda (part or full privatisation).

Strikes that do not have a crystal-clear principle behind them very rarely benefit workers in the longer term and arguably make the government’s agenda more attractive to the majority of the general public. I’m sure that the postal workers have many strong points to talk about – but the complexities of those issues and the prevailing economic circumstances are against them receiving majority support. The company are undoubtedly acting in a way that is driven by the political / financial pressures being applied by government.

From a (small volume) seller’s perspective, so far I’ve found that there still isn’t another single delivery company that offers the universal service flexibility, value and convenience for my buyers that Royal Mail does.
For that reason, the strike / privatisation issues are very strong on my ‘risk radar’. A change is gonna come…