Swiss Post is reducing its letter prices and simplifying its range as of 1 July 2009 as agreed innegotiations between the postal operator and the Swiss price supervisor.
The postal operator is thus implementing the measures announced in March reducing the priceof many letters by up to 20% next week with all letter prices including VAT. The company hadalready announced that the adjustment of parcel prices and prices for international consignments,originally planned for 1 April 2009, will be deferred for a year.
The letter price advantages for customers are set to cost Swiss Post around CHF 200 million ayear but will help companies and consumers keep costs to a minimum amid the current economiccrisis, Swiss Post said.
The main measures involve a comprehensive price reduction for most business customers, withSwiss Post bearing the cost for the new VAT rate for letters weighing up to 100 g. All businesscustomers who are able to claim back VAT will benefit from price reductions of around 7% on itemsweighing less than 100 g.
In addition, large letters up to B4 format will be as much as 20% cheaper. Large A Mailletters weighing up to 500 g will now cost CHF 2 instead of CHF 2.20 (up to 100 g) or CHF 2.40(101-500 g). Heavier large A Mail letters (501-1,000 g) will cost CHF 4 instead of CHF 5. The250-gram weight limit will no longer exist. Furthermore, registered mail will also be lessexpensive. In future, all registered mail items weighing up to 500 g will cost CHF 5. The formatand weight limits, which are already the most favourable in Europe, will be thus further simplifiedby the new letter prices.
For private customers, a regular A Mail letter weighing up to 100 g will still cost CHF 1 anda B Mail letter of up to 100 g will cost CHF 0.85. These prices were introduced on 1 January 2004.In real terms, prices have remained at the same level for the last ten years. In internationalcomparison, Swiss Post’s services are already among the most cost-efficient, the company commented.
