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Stamp costs rise to 'keep delivering quality'

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Stamp costs rise to 'keep delivering quality'
Photo: DPA

The cost of posting a letter in Germany is set to rise for the first time in 15 years – by three cents to 58 cents – to maintain standards, Deutsche Post chief Frank Appel said on Saturday.

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He said costs had risen significantly in the last 15 years and that the rise must be implemented in order to continue to deliver quality and pay staff reasonable wages.

Postage for the “Maxibrief” sized package will also rise from €2.20 to €2.40, while sending books and goods will become more expensive, as will international delivery.

A “Kompaktbrief” of up to 50 grams will cost €1.50 rather than the current €1.45 when sent abroad.

The average increase will be 2.8 percent, the Post said on Friday, and said its prices were still in the mid range when compared to other European countries.

Although Deutsche Post no longer has its monopoly on Germany's postal services, it still holds around 90 percent of the letter-sending business.

The steady shrinkage of the market is driving the company to the internet, where Appel said they were working on trying to create super-secure communications platforms. “The topic of security has developed a huge potential,” he said.

Deutsche Post, which is the biggest postal and logistics group in the world, has been growing in Asia in particular, and recently posted positive business figures.

DPA/The Local/hc

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