Stick a red stamp on an envelope, it will be over next year. La Poste announced this Thursday morning several changes to its mail range, which will be implemented on January 1, 2023. A modernization supposed to better meet customer needs, while improving the ecological footprint of the postal service, according to the company. .
First modification: the red letter, which is the priority letter used for urgent one-off shipments, becomes hybrid. Renamed e-letter red, it will be sent by individuals directly online on the laposte.fr website or from a post office terminal. La Poste will take care of printing your documents in printing centers located near the address of the recipient and will distribute them one day after sending them online. In short, slipping a red letter yourself into a mailbox will no longer be possible.
If the red stamp disappears in its physical form, it is because the public has less and less recourse to it, while the service is very expensive for the company. “Digital has become commonplace for urgent shipments,” says Philippe Dorge, general manager in charge of mail at La Poste. But at the Poste de Popincourt, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the announcement of this dematerialization divides. “It’s a good measure for the environment,” rejoices Alex, a 40-year-old musician. But doing these steps online requires personal energy that was not necessary when we printed our documents ourselves. And for people who are not used to digital, the Post Office will have to make a real communication effort, ”he judges.
La Poste guarantees confidentiality
Régine, she feels “dispossessed” in the face of this measure. “Whether it’s the staff printing my documents, putting the red stamp on my mail… It makes me feel like I’m assisted”, regrets the 60-year-old personal coach, who is also worried about a possible intrusion into her private life.
A feeling shared by Laurence. The 63-year-old retiree believes that this new measure will make sending a priority letter “five times more complicated. Disillusioned, she adds that she has already been the victim of hacking. “During this period, mail was the only tangible and secure way to send my shipments,” she says, before emphasizing that she does not think that the Post Office is capable of ensuring the security of its data.
But at La Poste, we assure you: the confidentiality of exchanges in this red e-letter will be guaranteed, the printing machines being automated and located in secure spaces. Especially since the employees of La Poste are bound by a professional oath which commits them to secrecy on the information to which they could have access in service.
The removal of the Red Letter will allow the company to remove three air links and three hundred road links in France, thus avoiding the emission of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, according to Philippe Dorge, who is delighted to reducing the Post’s carbon footprint.
The new red e-letter will be marketed from 1.49 euro for shipments including no more than three sheets (compared to 1.43 euro for the priority letter today), the cost of the envelope and the paper being included in this amount. For people who have red stickers in reserve, don’t worry. “There is no deadline for using the stamps already purchased, explains the director in charge of mail at La Poste. We plan to exchange terms over four years. They can be exchanged for a dematerialized version at the post office. »
A new service for large shipments
The green stamp, the most popular with customers, will continue to exist and its price will remain the same, stagnating at 1.16 euros. But its distribution time is changing, going from a distribution in two days to a shipment in three days. “Customers’ priorities remain price accessibility and service reliability,” comments Philippe Dorge. This modification of the deadline allows us to guarantee that the costs of sending do not refer to the price of the green stamp. »
Finally, a new type of letter will join the range next year: the Turquoise Service Plus Letter, offered for the most important items that need to be traced by the sender, such as sending checks or small goods. It will be delivered within two days, the sender will receive tracking notifications as their mail travels. This letter will be offered from 2.95 euros and its price may vary according to its weight, limited to 2 kg. A lump sum compensation will also be awarded to the buyer in the event of excessive delay in the distribution of the envelope.