New postal charges came into force at the start of the week, and were generally welcomed in this area. The Post Office is now pricing letters by size as well as weight. The new system, called Pricing in Proportion (PiP) divides mail into three categories: letter, large letter and packet. First class letters now cost 32p, second class 23p. Large letters cost 44p (1st class) and 37p (2nd class). New bigger stamps, marked 'large letter' have been introduced for this new post category. The thickness of a letter can also increase the cost: ordinary letters must not be thicker than 5mm or they are counted as large letters. The post office is selling plastic templates that show the exact size and thickness allowed for each of the 29 different price bands. This paper asked Post Office customers their opinion of the changes. Student Jenni Ogden, 21, said: 'I'm posting job applications and finding that the new system is cheaper as the weight allowed for a letter has gone up to 100gms.' Sarah Horton, of Stokeinteignhead, agreed: 'It's a fairer way of doing it,' she said. 'Smaller letters cost less.' 'It's ridiculous to pay more for larger items,' said Linda Evans, of Newton Abbot. 'Sometimes you don't want to fold A4 items – but you have to pay more if they are unfolded. It's just a way of making more money.' Jackie Hickman, of Kingsteignton, brought her children, twins Thomas and Andrew 10, William eight and Katie, six, to post letters. 'I don't know the price of first class stamps anyway,' said Mrs Hickman. 'They don't put the monetary value on them any more, they just print 1st on the stamp. I think people will probably be oblivious to the changes.' 'I think the new system is fairer,' said Peter Manley, 37, of East Ogwell: 'The charges now reflect the actual cost of sending. A4 items do cost more to handle.' Local Post Office staff also said all was going well. 'It's in line with European rates now – and most prices are working out cheaper,' said Chudleigh sub postmistress Jo Haws. 'A lot of people here use Ebay and large letters and packets are now cheaper to send than they used to be. By Christmas, all the post will be sailing through.' Kingsteignton's Post Office manager, who did not want to be named, said: 'We have no problems at all here. 'Costs are the same or cheaper for 80 per cent of post.' Hazel Baldwin, postmistress at Ashburton, said: 'In the main, people do gain from the new system – and some things are a lot cheaper.'
