[Update] The Royal Mail strike thread

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

At the moment I don't have an alternative to RM. For the forseeable future (12 months) I'm going to be relying on customers sending me items via 1st or second class mail and me using the same service back. Nobody else does simple door-to-door delivery of mail at that level. You're right that I don't care who takes care of the mail. This is why my attitude is if the RM workers won't do the job I'll happily pay someone else in their place.

It's also why they'll never get one iota of sympathy from me. The worst thing is if my business goes under as a result of orders being lost or delayed, there's not a single thing I can do about it.

That's very confusing.

There are alternatives to RM and you've said that you'll happily pay someone else in their place, what is the problem?

In the long term, from their perspective as a business, your custom is more important to them than your sympathy. Vote with your wallet, job done.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

There are alternatives to RM and you've said that you'll happily pay someone else in their place, what is the problem?

Who else offers envelope deliveries like the RM? I'd love to know.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Who else offers envelope deliveries like the RM? I'd love to know.

Here are a few, and a few more.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Here are a few, and a few more.

Most of those would cost more than the RM. And 'selling' those new companies to potential customers is a battle in itself. Most people prefer to stick with what they know, in their own 'comfort zone'. Asking them to use alternative companies (most they wouldn't have heard of) may not sound a massive job but is likely to be enough to take their business elsewhere.

The normal procedure is for someone to put a document in an envelope then drop it in a post box. Many people would simply not deviate from this.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

Most people prefer to stick with what they know, in their own 'comfort zone'.....many people would simply not deviate from this.

So, we've established two things.

1. The majority of people accept the status quo and see no need for change.

2. Change and the option of change are not necessarily always good things.

Now, where were we on the RM workers decision to strike?

[Russ]

You missed out on the third - their actions will gain little public support especially those who are likely to suffer financial loss. These people are the one who are more likely to be in favour of breaking up the RM's monopoly and giving them competition.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

You missed out on the third - their actions will gain little public support especially those who are likely to suffer financial loss. These people are the one who are more likely to be in favour of breaking up the RM's monopoly and giving them competition.

Apparently not.

As you said yourself as far as the competition is concerned "Most of those would cost more than the RM".

On that basis I think we can agree that the competition needs to make itself more financially attractive to customers without RM doing it for them.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Apparently not.

As you said yourself as far as the competition is concerned "Most of those would cost more than the RM".

On that basis I think we can agree that the competition needs to make itself more financially attractive to customers without RM doing it for them.

I assumed you would have realised my point about potential 'competition' - if their pricing wasn't the same or more attractive then they're hardly 'competition'.

What I do involves documents (once I get more established I'll go in to more detail on CF) being posted to me, and after a few days I return them. 99% of the mail involved comes via 1st class mail, your average envelope delivery.

What I (and the people I do business with) prefer to do is put it in an envelope, put a stamp on and put it in a post box.

On that basis there is currently nobody who offers a service (other than RM) that facilitates that. So right now there is no competition, no alternatives. The RM effectively have the potential to strangle my income. There's nothing I can do to change that. They do not have my support and never will.

If the government were to open up the RM's monopoly it would suit us all. No longer would their workers be able to hold us to ransom. We'd simply use a different company.

[Mr Angry]

As I said Russ - I think we can agree that the competition needs to make itself more financially attractive to customers.

The fact that they are not currently inclined to do so is not the fault of RM staff (striking or not).

[Russ]

You're missing the point on that though - it's not a case of them not being financially attractive, the point is there ISN'T any competition for standard door-to-door deliveries and envelope collection.

I've said several times that nobody would claim the workers don't have a genuine greivance. But potentially disrupting the lives of people who have no say in the matter is inexcusable and will build up resentment against them. Sure they're looking after their own interests but who's looking after mine?

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

You're missing the point on that though - it's not a case of them not being financially attractive, the point is there ISN'T any competition for standard door-to-door deliveries and envelope collection.

I've said several times that nobody would claim the workers don't have a genuine greivance. But potentially disrupting the lives of people who have no say in the matter is inexcusable and will build up resentment against them. Sure they're looking after their own interests but who's looking after mine?

Any number of the earlier linked to alternatives will provide the services - at a cost.

As to who is looking after your interests as a start up business that'll be Lord Mandelson in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business - who incidentally is the largest single shareholder in Royal Mail - which is owned by his employer HM Government.

This, rather succinctly, shows just how much the Government cares for businesses and individuals.

Oh what tangled a web they weave.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Any number of the earlier linked to alternatives will provide the services - at a cost.

OK we'll move on from that as you're seemingly missing my point.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

As to who is looking after your interests as a start up business that'll be Lord Mandelson in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business - who incidentally is the largest single shareholder in Royal Mail - which is owned by his employer HM Government.

Is Mandelson threatening to disrupt my business? No. Is the RM? Yes.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

This, rather succinctly, shows just how much the Government cares for businesses and individuals.

A sentiment it would seem, shared by the RM's union.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

As I said Russ - I think we can agree that the competition needs to make itself more financially attractive to customers.

The fact that they are not currently inclined to do so is not the fault of RM staff (striking or not).

However the competition might not need to do anything if the staff at RM finish the company off.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ B

OK we'll move on from that as you're seemingly missing my point.

Ok Russ, what exactly is the point that you think I am missing?

Originally Posted by Russ B

Is Mandelson threatening to disrupt my business? No. Is the RM? Yes.

Is his capacity as the principal shareholder of the RM, a senior cabinet minister in the Government which owns the RM and the architect of the recently failed privatization and subsequent drive for "modernisation" I hardly think he's blameless.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Ok Russ, what exactly is the point that you think I am missing?

That there IS no competition for the RM at the moment for my needs. There may currently be delivery companies but what they offer is more expensive and does not rival what the RM can do for me, therefore they can't be considered legitimate 'competition'.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Is his capacity as the principal shareholder of the RM, a senior cabinet minister in the Government which owns the RM and the architect of the recently failed privatization and subsequent drive for "modernisation" I hardly think he's blameless.

Who's going on strike, him or the RM?