Daily Mirror

Parcel post box is a slot bigger

Royal Mail move to aid online sellers

- BY GRAHAM HISCOTT Head of Business graham.hiscott@mirror.co.uk

THE Royal Mail is launching the UK’s first ever parcel postboxes.

The company wants to give customers “more flexibilit­y” as online shopping becomes increasing­ly commonplac­e.

It has converted an initial 30 street postboxes so they have openings big enough for parcels.

The trial is aimed at small businesses and people selling items on eBay and other online marketplac­es, and not those returning unwanted goods.

A spokesman for Royal Mail Parcels said: “It is one of the many ways we are looking to make the lives of customers easier, giving them more options that suit how they want to do business. The trial is aimed at giving more flexibilit­y to online sellers running a business in their spare time and not keeping regular office hours.” Users must weigh and measure their parcel and use the Royal Mail’s Click & Drop online tool to calculate the postage. After paying, they can print a barcode to stick on the item before inserting it in one of the postboxes. The trial is under way in Leicester and Northampto­n. Royal Mail said it was the first major design change since postboxes were introduced. They first appeared on the British mainland in 1853. They were initially red, but were painted green after complaints. In 1874 they went red again after people said they could not spot them.

It is aimed at those running a business in spare time & not keeping regular hours ROYAL MAIL SPOKESMAN REVEALS REASON FOR TRIAL

 ??  ?? SEND OFF A man uses one of the postboxes
SEND OFF A man uses one of the postboxes

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