The Royal Mail have announced in the last few days major changes to the way in which their charges will be calculated from September 2006. These changes will apply to all mail within the UK, and that sent overseas. In their wisdom, they have decided to adopt the system used elsewhere in the world, where the cost is based on a combination of weight and volume. Although this may lead to a reduction in price for small heavy packages, it is likely to lead to substantial increases in packages with a high volume to weight ratio, such as bike boxes with frames, mudguards, and rims. Charges have yet to be announced, but on examples quoted on news bulletins I would not be surprised to see increases of at least 50% for such items. So, the message is, if you are planning to buy a classic British frame, save yourself some money and do so within the next 12 months. For my part, I will try to hurry along the dozen or so that I have in various stages of renovation prior to selling, so that they are available in that time.
Peter Brown. Lincolnshire, England.