Prior and Non Prior postage stamps from 1 January 2019
Wednesday 28 November 2018Greater choice in stamp tariffs from 1 January 2019
Today, customers use other means than the letter to convey urgent messages. 94% of consumers and 92% of business customers are willing to accept a longer delivery term for their letters, provided next-day delivery remains available when needed. This is what a bpost market study among more than 1000 citizens and 500 businesses shows. To address this situation, respond to the sharp fall in letter volumes and ensure constant service quality, from 1 January 2019 bpost will offer both a Prior and a Non Prior service for domestic mail.
Every customer, anywhere in Belgium, will be able to choose between a Prior stamp (next-day delivery) or a Non Prior stamp (delivery within no more than three working days). This will safeguards the possibility of next-day delivery of letters throughout Belgium.
All existing stamps remain valid and offer the existing delivery term up to and including 31 December 2018. After that date, all existing stamps will automatically become Non Prior stamps.
New Prior and Non Prior postage stamps will be available through the existing bpost sales channels from 1 January 2019.
New stamp tariffs from 1 January 2019
On 1 January 2019 bpost will adjust its tariffs. For domestic mail sent within Belgium we will make a distinction between Prior and Non Prior:
Non Prior stamp: 0,92€ (by 10) | 0,95€ (by unit)
Prior stamp: 0,97€ (by 10) | 1€ (by unit)
The tariff for a standardised item to an address within Europe will be €1.40 when at least five stamps are purchased and €1.46 when up to four stamps are purchased.
For items to an address outside Europe, the international tariff will be €1.62 when purchasing five or more stamps and €1.68 when up to four stamps are purchased.
In total, the average tariff rise for all domestic mail products in 2019 will be 4.6%.
Stamp prices below the European average
bpost is adjusting its tariffs to deal with the continuing decline in letter volumes. Letter volumes have decreased by 20% over the past five years.
With the introduction of its new price table for the Prior service, bpost's pricing remains below the average European stamp price (€1.24 for a comparable service). In addition, the average impact on the monthly budget is very limited, at €0.13.
Customers can calculate the price themselves at www.bpost.be/tarifs.