Newsletter 46

A consumer-to-consumer parcel despatch and delivery service called myHermes has been launched in the UK by Hermes (formerly Parcelnet). It allows users to have parcels collected from their home and delivered anywhere in UK for as little as £3.99 each.

The service has been designed to appeal particularly to users such sellers using eBay-style auction sites. Features include 'safe place' collection and delivery, and an optional signature capture service. It is accessed though a new transactional web site, www.myhermes.co.uk.

The system will use the same network of local couriers who do existing deliveries for Hermes, and the company says it is intended to drive extra traffic volume through the business. Chief executive Carole Woodhead describes it as 'an easy and convenient service that is unique within the marketplace'.

The company adopted Hermes branding earlier this year to tie in its UK activities with those of its sister-companies on the European mainland, and boost cross-border delivery volumes. Hermes says it handles 22 per cent of all consumer deliveries across Europe.