Next cost-cutting measure: Swiss Post removes free daily postcard

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“The purpose of the measure is to generate more revenue and thus improve the relationship between costs and benefits,” a Post spokesman said when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency. The post office is currently the only provider offering free postcards in Switzerland but “must act entrepreneurially and remain economically sound”.

In October, the post office notified customers about the change via email. “We would like to inform you about something new: starting from November 1, 2023, free cards can only be sent once a week.”

According to the Post, the Postcard app has been hugely popular so far: Nearly 800,000 cards were sent in the first year after its launch in 2014; Last year, eight million postcards were sent. The post office did not disclose how large the proportion of free postcards was. Currently, approximately 200,000 people use the app every month. A paid postcard costs 2.10 francs.

Postal profits halved

At the beginning of September, the postal service announced a savings program worth 42 million francs. At the time, it was said that this should be taken into account in personnel and material costs, as well as system expenses. Last week, the postal service announced it would stop distributing advertising through its Direct Mail subsidiary in 2024, leaving 3,855 part-time delivery workers jobless.

Post’s profits in the first half of 2023 have fallen by more than half compared to the same period last year. This figure still stood at 118 million francs; this is 141 million francs less than in the previous year. Even before the latest announcements, an efficiency program in logistics services had been launched and office space was pooled. (SDA)

Source :Blick