Postal Strike Impacts Small Businesses |
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A recent report by the British Chambers of Commerce reveals that over £2.5 million of small business post is being delayed every time there is a postal strike. The BCC used data compiled for the 2006 Competitive Market Review to calculate the figure based on how much franked mail is typically sent by small businesses throughout the UK every day.
According to the 2006 Review by industry watchdog Postcomm, SMEs in the UK send 8,219,178 of franked mail every day. Costs range from 22p to 32p which means a total value of between £1,808,219 and £2,630,136 is delayed each day of a postal strike. A spokesperson for the BCC is quoted as saying: “Most smaller sized businesses have no option but to use Royal Mail and collectively spend millions of pounds each day on their post. This series of strikes is doing nothing but cause delay and frustration for those who rely on the postal service and the sooner it is resolved the better.” Indeed many SMEs are turning to other services in a bid to minimize the disruption to their service. One enterprising website (http://www.postalstrike.co.uk) even suggests a number of reliable alternatives to the Royal Mail in the form of courier firms and parcel delivery services. The site recommends visitors to avoid sending important items by regular post until the dispute has been fully resolved and the backlog of undelivered mail completely cleared. Important items include such things as passports, visa applications, travel tickets, legal documents, postal medications, or indeed anything else of personal importance to the sender or recipient.
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