Swiss Post is piloting new 'on the doorstep' home delivery services in selected areas of Switzerland and is also adapting mail prices for private and business customers as of 1 January, 2016.
In some areas, the postmen now even sell garbage bags.
The postal operator explained that this gives its customers the possibility to integrate their postal transactions in their daily routine in an optimal way. The new home delivery service complements the existing network of access points.
The service is currently being tested in the cantons of Aargau and Bernese Oberland as well as several districts of Basel.
In the coming six months, the new concept will be tested in 20 regions, representing 41,575 households. After evaluating the results at the end of the trial period, Swiss Post will decide whether to continue with these additional services.
Carrying out postal transactions at home is part of a series of pilot projects that Swiss Post has launched to improve customer focus. Since the beginning of April, it has been testing the popularity of an adjusted third-party product range at 20 selected post offices. In July, around 70 post offices started realigning sales and consulting businesses.
From next year onwards, Swiss Post will be changing the prices of some of its products. Individual items sent abroad as large and maxi-letters/MiniPac International will become up to 2 franks cheaper for both private and business customers in response to the growing volumes of smaller shipments.
In contrast, the prices for letters of up to 20 grams will increase by 10 centimes due to increased costs in destination countries. The last adjustment was in 2010. However, the majority of postal services and prices, including prices for domestic A and B Mail letters of up to 50 grams as well as domestic parcel prices, will remain unchanged next year. The prices for A and B Mail have not increased since 2004.
Studies have shown that Swiss Post’s prices for letters and parcels are among the cheapest by international standards.
