Royal Mail to Roll Out Parcel Postboxes

Royal Mail is rolling out the UK’s first ever parcel postboxes to make sending parcels as easy as posting letters. It is just one of the ways Royal Mail is investing in its network to meet the growing demand for parcels – driven by the rise of online retail.

The 1,400 parcel postboxes will be positioned on high streets, at mail centres and in other convenient locations across 38 towns and cities. It means small businesses and online marketplace sellers can despatch customer orders outside regular office hours using Click & Drop, Royal Mail’s market leading online labelling system.

Customers will be able to buy online late into the evening for next-day delivery. Online sellers who might be running a business in their spare time will benefit from the flexibility of posting parcels 24 hours a day, just like a letter.

The introduction of parcel postboxes across the UK represents the first major change of use for the postbox in its 160 years and is one of the biggest innovations in parcels since the launch of Parcel Post in 1883. It follows the successful trial of 30 parcel postboxes in Northampton and Leicester between August and November 2018.

The first phase of a wider-scale parcel postbox roll-out later this year will involve converting pre-existing meter boxes, which include a wider aperture and secure design for mailing larger items. Following the launch, Royal Mail will assess the prospect of adapting and updating pre-existing letterboxes to the parcel postbox format.

In 2018, Royal Mail delivered 1.3 billion parcels to addresses across the UK ­– more than all other couriers combined.

The postboxes will be introduced in locations across the UK including Birmingham, Leeds, Aberdeen and Cardiff***.

Mark Street, Head of Campaigns at Royal Mail, said: “The wide-scale introduction of parcel postboxes is one of the many ways we at Royal Mail are looking to make the lives of our customers easier. The parcel postboxes trial last year was a success, and we hope that the wider roll-out gives added flexibility to online sellers who might be running a business in their spare time and not keeping regular office hours.”

Source : Insight DIY Team and Royal Mail

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***List Of Parcel Postbox Locations