Post Office's free fast-track Drop and Go service now available at over 11,000 branches - two week discount available to users of pre-paid postage service

- Post Office® provides fast-track pre-paid postage service at over 11,000 branches across the whole of the UK
- Special discount available to new and existing Drop & Go customers
- Discount of 20 per cent when sending selected small and medium inland parcels from 2-15 September*

The Post Office’s new Drop & Go pre-paid postage service is now available at over 11,000 branches across the UK, and from 2-15 September customers will benefit from a 20 per cent discount when using Drop & Go to send selected small and medium parcels through Royal Mail services.

Customers using Drop & Go can simply hand over mail at their local Drop & Go Post Office. The branch swipe the pre-paid Drop & Go card, check everything is in order and the customer can leave, letting the Post Office team deduct the postage costs from the card as they go. The service aims to save small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other regular mailing customers such as internet sellers valuable time – and now they are also set to enjoy a 20 per cent discount on selected parcels.

Post Office Commercial Director Paul Brown said: “Our branches are visited by over a third of the UK’s small businesses every week. These businesses play a hugely important role in our economy so we must make it as easy as possible for them to use our services.

“Drop & Go is providing a much quicker, simpler and more effective experience for these businesses, as well as frequent private sellers on the internet and other customers who use these services regularly.

“We know these discounts will be welcomed by existing Drop & Go customers and we hope that new customers will also be encouraged to take advantage of the service.”

The Drop & Go service is a welcome development for regular senders including internet power sellers. A recent study showed that 392 million items were sold through person-to-person sales website eBay in the past year – with a third of UK adults in on the action. The research also showed that 23 per cent of UK adults sell over 21 items per year through services such as eBay.

Both new and existing customers can benefit from the 20 per cent discount, which applies to medium parcels up to 2kg and small parcels between 1-2kg. The deal begins on 2 September and is scheduled to run until 15 September.

With the discount, Drop & Go customers will be able to send a Second Class medium parcel up to 1kg for just £4.16 – a saving of £1.04 on the standard price of £5.20. There will be a £1.13 discount on First Class medium parcels up to 1kg – with the price falling from £5.65 to £4.52.

Nick Langdon, Managing Director of Royal Mail Parcels, said: “We’re pleased to be able to offer customers this promotion in conjunction with the Post Office. Parcels are an increasingly important part of the service we provide.

“We are proud to say we are playing our part in fuelling growth in the online retailing sector.”

Drop & Go is now available in over 97% of Post Office branches across the UK. Information on Drop & Go is available on postoffice.co.uk and in participating branches, with application forms both online and in branch. The Branch Finder service at postoffice.co.uk can locate customers’ nearest participating branches with the help of the Drop & Go service search option.

In May this year, Royal Mail also announced it is working with the Post Office to launch the UK’s largest ‘click and collect’ network to support online shopping growth by providing greater choice of convenient parcel delivery options for online retailers and their customers.

The Post Office serves around 18 million customers a week, including a third of all small businesses across the UK. Some 99.7% of people are based within three miles of a Post Office branch, making it a focal point for many rural communities.

* 20% off the standard inland postage on all Royal Mail Medium Parcels up to 2kg and all Royal Mail Small Parcels 1-2kg sent between 2nd September and 15th September 2013 (both dates inclusive). Discounts exclusive to new and existing Drop & Go customers only. Small Parcel: 450mm length x 350mm width, no thicker than 80mm over 1kg and up to 2kg will be only valid for the discount, Medium Parcel: 610mm length x 460mm width, no thicker than 460mm and weighing up to 2kg and Small Parcel Exception: 160mm length x 160mm width, no thicker than 160mm and weighing up to 2kgs. 1st Class and 2nd Class label products only. Postage must be fully purchased at the Post Office, and the parcel sent on the same day. Conditions apply. Post Office reserves the right to extend, reduce or withdraw the discount (and/or the period during which it is available) at any time.

Post Office Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registered No 2154540. Registered Office: 148 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HQ. Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trademarks of Post Office Limited.

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