Autumn 2009

A parcel delivery service for packages of under 2kg, pitched directly in competition with Royal Mail's second class mail service, is to be launched by Home Delivery Network under the brand name HDN Lite.

It specifically targets businesses despatching large volumes of sub-2kg parcels – items such as entertainment products, books, electronics and clothing. HDN emphasises that it will not handle letters, but can accept the kind of small packets that are typical of Royal Mail's home shopping delivery business.

It is already up and running, and has been taken up by some of HDN's existing customers, including The Book People and Findel. HDN says this work alone is projected to amount to 2 million parcels a year.

The service was not due for public launch until the new year, and would not in normal circumstances have been unveiled this soon, but the Royal Mail dispute has prompted the company to bring forward the announcement.

 

The service will guarantee delivery within 72 hours, and will feature full track and trace as standard, allowing customers to follow their parcels both online and via HDN's dedicated customer service centre. HDN says this puts it ahead of Royal Mail's equivalent offering. Other optional features include insurance, proof of delivery and scheduled returns.

According to HDN chief executive Brian Gaunt: 'With continued uncertainty about the reliability of Royal Mail deliveries, the service is designed to meet growing customer demand for fully trackable and guaranteed delivery – all at the same price as competing non-tracked services.'

There are some echoes here of another mail dispute many years ago, when White Arrow Express, one of HDN's predecessors, mopped up a lot of former postal traffic. Plus �a change.