PO Box fees up 80%

[deeps]

I've had a PO Box for years, but the latest price hike means I won't be renewing this year. I'm interested to know if any of you use one, and will you keep on paying the ever increasing charges? What will it be next year, another 80%?

Article said:

Invoices issued by the Royal Mail show the annual cost of renting a PO Box has increased to £170, up from £95 the previous year.

PO Boxes are used by tens of thousands of small businesses, as well as individuals keen to keep their residential address private, or those who travel away from home a lot. The jump represents a 170pc increase over two years, given boxes cost £62.85 in 2009.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/su...

[Pesty]

How on earth do they justify 80% rise?

[randlemarcus]

Pesty said:

How on earth do they justify 80% rise?

Probably because they are a pain in the posterior to run, and they'd prefer it if they didn't exist

[Defcon5]

What actually is a PO Box? Does it just mean your mail stays at the Post Office and you go pick it up?

[eldar]

randlemarcus said:

Probably because they are a pain in the posterior to run, and they'd prefer it if they didn't exist

Just like letters, really.

[jsc15]

I've got one. Have had it for about 10 years as the neighbours were getting annoyed with all my ebay stuff getting delivered there when I was at work. It means I have my own unique postcode as well.

Nowadays I use it less but it's still handy for items you know will be recorded, special delivery, or a bit oversized. The price hike to £95 this year is annoying though, and it if goes up much more I might need to reconsider at renewal next year

ETA....£170 now???? It's getting cancelled

Edited by jsc15 on Tuesday 12th April 22:47

[jsc15]

Defcon5 said:

What actually is a PO Box? Does it just mean your mail stays at the Post Office and you go pick it up?

It stays at the sorting office, which is 8 miles from me but handily on the road to work.

[Pesty]

jsc15 said:

I've got one. Have had it for about 10 years as the neighbours were getting annoyed with all my ebay stuff getting delivered there when I was at work. It means I have my own unique postcode as well.

Unreal. Never thought of that before. I am expecting around 6 parcels this week alone with ebay and amazon purchaes oh and nesspresso cartridges.

I always have to go pick these things up from my post office as I work to fund buying st off the internet.

If they had advertised them for such a purpose I bet loads would have got them especially with the growth of internet sales.
a) getting them money directly and b)saving them loads not driving around as much or processing undelivered stuff.

[deeps]

jsc15 said:

I've got one. Have had it for about 10 years as the neighbours were getting annoyed with all my ebay stuff getting delivered there when I was at work. It means I have my own unique postcode as well.

Nowadays I use it less but it's still handy for items you know will be recorded, special delivery, or a bit oversized. The price hike to £95 this year is annoying though, and it if goes up much more I might need to reconsider at renewal next year

ETA....£170 now???? It's getting cancelled

Edited by jsc15 on Tuesday 12th April 22:47

That's how I see it too, I accepted the rise from £62 to £95 last year, but then a jump this year to £170 is really taking the piss, and you can be sure if people pay it without a fuss the renewal next year will likely be nearer £300.

Someone asked above what a PO Box is, and to answer that it simply means that you collect your own mail from the local sorting office rather than having it delivered. They have a wall sectioned off in to numbered small compartments, and your mail goes to your number. Less work for them, but they obviously think that it's worth more.

I'm guessing they're testing the water to see how many boxes are cancelled, then if the remainder who pay 80% more this year bring in less money than last year, we'll be getting a letter offering reduced rates to come back, to which they'll be politely told to fk off. I hate greed.

[JagLover]

randlemarcus said:

Pesty said:

How on earth do they justify 80% rise?

Probably because they are a pain in the posterior to run, and they'd prefer it if they didn't exist

Exactly

They are not a charity and probably at the lower price they are more trouble than they are worth.

[sixspeed]

How on earth do they justify rises like that when it sounds like there's less actual work involved by people having them. Storage costs?!

[rhinochopig]

Pesty said:

Unreal. Never thought of that before. I am expecting around 6 parcels this week alone with ebay and amazon purchaes oh and nesspresso cartridges.

I always have to go pick these things up from my post office as I work to fund buying st off the internet.

If they had advertised them for such a purpose I bet loads would have got them especially with the growth of internet sales.
a) getting them money directly and b)saving them loads not driving around as much or processing undelivered stuff.

Don't know why but that really tickled me - have a

[loafer123]

I have a 5 ft box mounted behind my fence, with a parcel sized letterbox chute through the fence that means they can deliver the vast majority of parcels securely when I am out, which works well for me.