After more than three years of price stability, the application includes, among other changes, a price rise for standard domestic letters of up to 20g by EUR 0.10 to EUR 0.80.
Deutsche Post recently applied for approval from the Bundesnetzagentur (German Federal Network Agency) responsible to introduce its new prices for letter mail products and additional services. After approval has been granted, which is expected to take place in June, the new prices will come into force from July 1, 2019 and apply until December 31, 2021.
After more than three years of price stability, the application includes, among other changes, a price rise for standard domestic letters of up to 20g by EUR 0.10 to EUR 0.80. In comparison: The average European charge for a standard domestic letter, according to an up-to-date comparison of 31 countries, is currently EUR 0.97.
The prices are also to rise by EUR 0.10 for the compact letter (Kompaktbrief) of up to 50g to EUR 0.95, for a large letter (Grossbrief) of up to 500g to EUR 1.55 and for a maxi letter (Maxibrief) of up to 1,000g to EUR 2.70. After more than fifteen years of price stability, the postcard is to cost EUR 0.60 (previously EUR 0.45) from July 1.
Some prices will also rise for additional services and cross-border letter mail items. Standard international letters (Standardbrief International) are thus to cost EUR1.10 (previously EUR 0.90). In comparison: The average European price in 31 countries of a Standardbrief item to other European countries is currently EUR 1.57.
In addition, compact international letters (Kompaktbrief International) will in future cost EUR 1.70 (previously EUR 1.50) and a postcard outside Germany EUR 0.95 (previously EUR 0.90).
For business customers with large quantities of mail, the price increase from July 1, 2019 will be compensated to a large extent as part of downstream access including an infrastructure discount. Downstream access customers will be informed about the timing of the next discount adjustment in the second half of 2019.
New postage stamps and addendum stamps on sale in good time
For the stocks of postage stamps not used up by June 30, addendum stamps to the value of EUR 0.05, EUR 0.10, EUR 0.15, and EUR 0.20 are already available in the retail outlets and online. The first stamps with the new postage rates will be available in the retail outlets and online in good time for July 1, 2019. Existing stamps and also addendum stamps from previous years can continue to be used for franking items sent via Deutsche Post. No exchange will be necessary. In addition, individual stamps for any desired postage charge can be printed by one of the 1,200 stamp machines throughout Germany at all times.
Future redirection service for twelve months only
From July 1, the redirection service will also change. Since consumer demand has increasingly changed over recent years toward a twelve-month redirection period, the offer to redirect for a six-month period will no longer apply in the future. In retail outlets, the twelve-month service will cost EUR 29.90 in the future, but the price of an online order will remain at EUR 26.90. Business customers will continue to pay EUR 49.90.
Price changes for Express items in retail outlets
After three years of price stability, the introductory price within Germany for time-critical Express items of up to 500g for the DHL ExpressEasy product ordered in a retail outlet will increase to EUR 13.50 from July 1, 2019. At the same time the price structure is being simplified and the weight limits are being reduced so that domestic ExpressEasy products from 500g to 5kg will in the future incur a standard charge of EUR 16.50. Customers can save by using online franking, which is at least EUR 1.50 cheaper, depending on the product. The prices of additional options with specific delivery times will remain unchanged.
