an obvious consequence of Royal

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‘It is an obvious consequence of Royal Mai increasing its aims dispropodionately. They are walking a fine line between pricing people out of the maiket and increasing their revenues.’ said Mr Murray. Accordthg to Saga’s research, which was carried out by Populus. 51 per cent of people over the age of 50 wil send fewer Christmas cards than last year because of the higher cost of stamps. Whie 20 per cent of people over 50 said they will send lar fewer. cards, a further 31 per cent said they wil send ‘slightly fewer’ cads. Three in five people over the age of 75 wit send fewer cards. On average, all the people surveyed said they plan send 10 fewer cards each this year compared to last yea, the research found. Given that there are 21 mil. people over the age of 50 in the UK, the total number of cards sent this Christmas could slump by 210 mill.. Royal Mail has sought to minimise the impact of the stamp price rise by alovkhg arepre who get Pens. Credit. Employment and Support Allowance a Incapacity Benefit to buy 36 first or second class stamps at last year, paces.
The group has sent leaflets to homes in the UK detailing the scheme. To use the scheme, people need to provide a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions — a the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland — When they buy the stamps
however Saga, Ms Altmann said that mikons of people who are not eligible for the discount WI stil be affected.
‘Policy makers must not forget how dependent ordinary people are on the postal system. For many, their lives are enriched by both sending and receiving cards.’ ‘Many people wil be upset they cannot send as many cards as they have dzetui.unepruef previous years. This is an essenfial means of communicationand at festive greetinegrstirsnar’ ‘sting cards ” crucial iPiflifling
Saga, research found that nine out of ten people have friends on their Christmas card lists who they only correspond with once a year with annual cards. This rises to 93 per cent of people aged between 70 and 74.
A Royal Mail spokesman said that Saga’s findings ‘run counter’ to similar research that the postal group carried out. The spokesman said: ‘We have done some detailed consumer research that shaved that people are still intending to send as many or more Christmas cards than last year.’ He said that the group asked people how they felt about Christmas cards compared to e-cards. While significant numbers of people said they find electron, communication convenient, they still prefer physical cards, he said. (Hal. 2012)