Amazon free delivery could END as new charge considered on online shopping drop-offs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/13023 ... ing-charge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BRITONS may no longer be able to enjoy free deliveries on packages as the Department for Transport is considering putting a compulsory delivery charge on all online orders.

The change has been suggested by scientific advisors who said that it would help combat traffic congestion and emissions through cutting down on “unnecessary over-ordering” online, The Times reports.

Online shopping – and home deliveries as a result – has seen a surge in use amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recent ONS statistics show that internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales reached 32.8 percent in May.

By contrast, this same ratio was just 18.9 percent in February – prior to the UK’s lockdown measures.

The mandatory charge for deliveries could be seen as comparable to the carrier bag charge that was enforced some years ago, in that it puts an extra cost on the consumer in order to encourage more environmentally-friendly behaviour.

It’s thought that the DfT might set up a public consultation before it makes a decision.

Data published by the department shows that road transport nitrogen dioxide emissions fell by 77 percent between 1990 and 2017.

However, for vans the opposite is happening. DfT data also shows that annual nitrogen oxide emissions from vans has increased by 43 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to the Mail.

This issue is compounded by offers of free delivery and also free returns if an item is unwanted or doesn’t fit, for example.

Nitrogen dioxide pollution can have a range of harmful effects on human health – in the lungs, particularly.

Exposure to the pollutant can cause inflammation of the airways, increase asthma attacks, and reduced lung function, the American Lung Association notes.

Older diesel vehicles including vans are known sources of Nitrogen Dioxide, and they are travelling an increasing number of miles on UK roads, figures show.

This May, Royal Mail revealed that 45 percent of UK adults have been receiving an increased number of parcels since the UK’s lockdown measured began on March 23.

Over half of those surveyed said that receiving parcels in the mail had become more important during lockdown than it was before it.

In other efforts to reduce the harmful effect they are having on the UK’s air quality, the DfT also offers a grant of up to £8,000 which certain businesses can use to help purchase an electric van.

At the start of this year, Royal Mail announced it would roll out 87 electric vehicles in London in addition to the 30 that are already in service.

Paul Gatti, Royal Mail Fleet Director, said: “We are delighted that we can expand our fleet in London with more electric vehicles.

“This will allow the business to continue to deliver letters and parcels safely, efficiently and in the most environmentally-friendly way possible as we continue to shift to low emissions technologies.”

Meanwhile, Royal Mail has also revealed which parts of the UK have been receiving the most parcels during lockdown.

Their findings were based on the number of deliveries per individual address, rather than in each region as a whole.

With that in mind, Central London came second-highest on the list, with Lerwick, the capital of Scotland’s Shetland Islands located between the UK and Norway, hitting the top spot.

David Gold, Director of Public Affairs & Policy at Royal Mail, said that data showed that “parcel delivery is just as important for our rural customers as it is for our city customers”.

[Woody Guthrie]

The title of this piece is nonsense.
Amazon free delivery isn't free.
It's subscription based.

[deltaforce]

Online shopping has surged because partly you haven’t got to drive to the shops, pay for parking just to find nobody stocks what you want in the area and besides, one van full of parcels is less polluting than 100 cars going to the shops.

[Dindin]

The title of this piece is nonsense.
Amazon free delivery isn't free.
It's subscription based.

don't they do free delivery when you spend over £20.

[Munchboii]

Well lets hope so, over 25 specials for me today on my rural. All from Amazon f*cking crazy

[Woody Guthrie]

The title of this piece is nonsense.
Amazon free delivery isn't free.
It's subscription based.

don't they do free delivery when you spend over £20.

To be honest there is no such thing as free delivery.
The cost of delivery is always factored into the overall pricing somewhere.

It's really just a bit of consumer psychology, most people would rather pay £10 for something with free delivery than £7 with £3 delivery.

[Mr Rush]

with Lerwick, the capital of Scotland’s Shetland Islands located between the UK and Norway, hitting the top spot.

Some pedantry here: that should read 'between Great Britain and Norway'. How can the Shetland Islands be located between the UK and anywhere else without being outside it?

[30+YEARMAN]

Nothing is free the postage is included in the price of crap you are buying.