Some parcel charges to drop as letter fees rise

Chief executive Boley Smillie said the changes reflected the way people were using the service, with more parcels being sent than letters.

Standard parcel rates to the UK are being frozen or coming down.

‘[This] will be funded by a combination of internal efficiencies and the extra revenue we raise from an increase in the price of letters,’ said Mr Smillie.

And a new price cap of £5 is being brought in for returning parcels to companies which do not offer a free return service.

Charges for sending parcels of 250g or less to the UK will remain frozen at £4.38. A new 1.5kg category is also being introduced, which will come in at £10.50, while large parcels of 30Kg will be reduced from £60 to £30.

‘The implementation of a new 1.5kg weight category, coupled with the elimination of size and weight restrictions for small parcels, will result in substantial price reductions at most weights for parcels weighing over 1kg,’ said Mr Smillie.

The price of sending a letter to the UK will rise to £1.20. A local letter will cost 65p.

The changes will be brought in on 3 January 2024. Information on retailers affected by the returns price cap will be on the Guernsey Post website from 18 December.

Postal charges

Parcel charges to the UK from 3 January:

250g small parcel: £4.38 (price freeze)

1.2kg small parcel: £10.50 (20% reduction)

1.5kg medium parcel: £10.50 (26% reduction)

10kg medium parcel: £27.50 (33% reduction)

30kg large parcel: £30.00 (50% reduction)

Letter rates from 3 January:

Local to local letter (up to 100g): 65p

Local to UK letter (up to 100g): £1.20

Local to Europe letter (up to 100g): £2.61

Local to Rest of World letter (up to 100g): £4.29