Price adjustments: In future it will pay to frank your parcels in advance

Comprehensive adjustments are also being made to prices for international consignments. Swiss Post and the price supervisor agreed to these measures in early 2009. A CHF 2 rise in the customs clearance fee is planned for 1 April 2010. The opinion of the price supervisor on this matter is still outstanding.

Swiss Post is adjusting its counter prices for shipping parcels in Switzerland from 1 April 2010. Parcels weighing between 5 and 30 kg will then cost one franc less, while lightweight parcels up to 5 kg will cost one franc more. If these parcels are franked via the WebStamp online service and handed over for mailing at the post office counter, senders will be granted a one-franc discount. Customers can thus offset the price adjustments for lightweight parcels. The new prices are competitive in an international comparison: Already in 2009, Swiss Post was the least expensive national parcel service provider, together with the German and Austrian services, according to the European parcel price index. Significant cost increases

The price adjustments are necessary as the cost of processing items mailed over the counter has long since outstripped actual revenue. Inflation of over 6% since the last price adjustment in early 2003 as well as the increase in the heavy goods vehicle tax and substantial wage increases resulted in higher costs. Adjustments for international consignments

Many prices for international consignments (letters, parcels and courier items) will increase by an average of approx. 7% in all product categories. The last adjustment to prices for international letters weighing up to 20 g was made in 2000. With international consignments too, many of the products no longer cover their costs, and Swiss Post is having to make higher payments to the destination countries. Customs clearance charges higher than expected

Since 2008, and under the new customs ordinance, Swiss Post has been obliged to carry out postal customs clearance with its own customs agents for all postal consignments arriving from abroad. The consignment volumes expected at the time have not proven realistic. Prices must now be gradually brought into line with real costs. All price categories are expected to cost two francs more from 1 April 2010. Of all logistics service providers in Switzerland, Swiss Post still has the least expensive customs clearance fees. Furthermore, over 97% of imported items still do not incur a fee at Swiss Post. The verdict of the price supervisor concerning the customs clearance charges is still outstanding.

Up-to-date information relating to the adjustments mentioned above and all other adjustments to the product range can be found at www.swisspost.ch/offer10 The link will open in a new window

Information about WebStamp is available at www.swisspost.ch/webstamp

--- END press release Price adjustments: In future it will pay to frank your parcels in advance ---

  Die Schweizerische Post AG (company entry)