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| - British postal operator Royal Mail, which has been delivering mail for more than 500 years, announced plans Wednesday to collect parcels from UK homes in the wake of the pandemic. "The new service -- Parcel Collect -- means postmen and postwomen will now be able to collect parcels as well as deliver them on their daily round," the former state-run company said in a statement. "It is one of the biggest changes to the daily delivery since the launch of the postbox in 1852," Royal Mail added. The company has experienced a surge in parcel deliveries as Covid-19 fuels online shopping. Parcel Collect will pick up a maximum of five packages per address, avoiding the need to visit a postbox or postal office. Each item will be collected for 72 pence (94 US cents, 79 euro cents), in addition to postage costs and following an online booking. The new service will also collect pre-paid return items for 60 pence each. "This is certainly an opportune moment to be launching the offer," said Nicholas Hyett, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Not only are people reluctant to leave homes to deliver parcels, but the surge in e-commerce sales should also be good news for the dedicated returns service." Hyett told AFP: "In apparel in particular, returns are usually very high and if Royal Mail can both deliver and collect those parcels, that may work better for both the end customer and the online retailer." The nationwide launch follows an initial roll-out of Parcel Collect in western England. Royal Mail employees have enjoyed elevated status during the coronavirus pandemic thanks to their key role in delivering virus test kits and helping businesses survive the economic fallout. The company also stepped in to help the likes of Amazon fulfil its deliveries during Britain's nationwide lockdown for around three months to late June. Royal Mail is however facing a slump in its core letters business as people increasingly go online to communicate. rfj-bcp/bmm
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