Royal Mail has revealed some of it’s iconic red postboxes have undergone a “glow up”, making life much easier for senders.
The organisation’s new pilot scheme boasts technical advances and it is hoped the convenience will boost the falling numbers of those using the postal service. Earlier this year, Ofcom said its latest research revealed most people do not need letter delivery six days a week, with the number delivered each year having slumped from 20 billion two decades ago to around 6.6 billion now – and it’s set to drop further to four billion in the next few years.
Meanwhile, many have been discouraged from using the postal service. Since 2022, Royal Mail has hiked the cost of a first class stamp six times from 85p to £1.70. It has also increased the cost of a second class stamp over the same period from 66p to 87p.
Royal Mail took to TikTok on Thursday (April 10) to highlight its new scheme in a video. “Old box, new tricks!” they wrote in a caption. “Some of our postboxes have had a glow up that includes an extra-large opening to accept larger parcels for the first time.”
But that’s not all. As a member of staff explained in the clip: “Did you know Royal Mail are piloting digital postboxes?” they asked their account’s 64,000 followers. “These new postboxes feature a new solar-power scanner and an aperture that’s twice the size of a normal postbox.”
The move will make it “even easier to send small parcels”, according to Royal Mail, who went on to showcase the process in their video. “To post the parcel, just scan the 2D barcode on the parcel and the slot will open for you. Pop your parcel in and you’re good to go.”
The Royal Mail employee added that you can also use the Royal Mail app to receive proof of posting as well as track deliveries. “Five digital postboxes are being piloted in the Ware, Fowlmere and Hertford area before being rolled out across the UK,” they revealed.
Supportive of the endeavour, one TikTok user responded: “Such a good idea, I’ll definitely use them if they come to Manchester.” Another person hailed: “These would be a life saver for me. I post dozens of small parcels a week.”
A third TikTok user enthused: “This is brilliant, saves going to the post office, saving time in queues. Love it. Although there’s a parcel postbox near me that fact this does proof of postage is brilliant.”
A fourth declared: “Great idea! Be good if you could large parcels too bit like inpost!” To which Royal Mail replied: “We have Parcel Lockers too. You can find your nearest on our app!”
However, a fifth pondered: “This is awesome, hopefully it won’t suffer battery shortage during winter (only few hours of sunshine).”
Meanwhile, Royal Mail said the latest prices rises (April 7) were the result of cost pressures and its requirement to deliver letters to all UK addresses six days a week. It added that the number of addresses it delivers to has risen by four million between 2004/05 and 2023/24.
