Royal Mail will soon collect parcels from your doorstep - here’s how much the service costs

The Royal Mail will soon pick up parcels from people’s homes around the UK, in a bid to expand the services they offer as more and more people opt to shop online.

Although the postal service already delivers parcels, and launched parcel post boxes last year, it is now joining the likes of DHL and Hermes by offering parcel collection.

‘One of the biggest changes since 1852’

The new Parcel Collect service has been trialled in parts of the west of England, but is now available nationwide.

The postal company said it was "one of the biggest changes to the daily delivery since the launch of the post box in 1852.”

The service will be available every day except Sunday. It will cost 72p per parcel to use it, plus standard postage costs. Pre-paid return packages can also be collected for 60p per item.

You will be able to send up to five parcels at a time, and your local postie can either collect your parcels from your door or from a designated safe space.

The parcels can weigh up to 20kg and can be a little over twice the size of most aircraft hand luggage.

How can I use the service?

In order to use the service you have to book online, either via the Royal Mail website or the app.

This can be done from five days in advance up to midnight the day before collection, but customers will have to make sure their postage is paid for, alongside printing their own labels and paying for the service online.

Royal Mail chief commercial officer, Nick Landon, said, “Royal Mail Parcel Collect is a fantastic step forward for all of our customers. It makes it easier to use our services than ever before.”

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