This tariff comparison tool presents the tariffs – applicable on 1 January – of all operators for sending a – commonly used – 2 kg parcel. For every destination, in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe, you can check which operators provide their services. In addition to the tariffs for that destination, you will find a great deal of useful information such as the minimum and maximum dimensions and weights, whether a standard insurance is included, or even collection at home.
With this tool the BIPT wishes to better inform consumers, reduce the obstacles to postal services and foster competition in the market.
Objective
The purpose of the tariff comparison tool, as with the online map www.postalpoint.be showing all the postal operators’ postal points, is to increase transparency for the small user. These initiatives enable the BIPT to show consumers the possibilities in the postal market and, particularly, in the booming segment of parcel and express delivery. Providing users with information on postal services will reduce the obstacles to the use of postal services and foster competition in the market. Indeed, the C2X segment, where the small user sends items him/herself, is currently still small, but has a strong growth potential due to the popularity of channels to sell second hand goods among other things.
Information
The BIPT tariff comparison tool, a pivot table you can download from this page, is based on tariff information from the website of the European Commission concerning the Cross-Border Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/644 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 on cross-border parcel delivery services). However, that web page of the European Commission, launched in 2019, is still little-known among the Belgian small users of postal services. Moreover, for a proper comparison, it would be recommended to populate it with even more information regarding the services of the various operators. With this tariff comparison tool, the BIPT wanted to solve that issue. In consultation with the operators concerned, a set of additional (meta)data concerning the services was defined and in addition the choice was made to focus on the 2 kg parcel, a common choice in the e-commerce environment or the environment of second-hand items. Apart from this type of parcel, which notably already includes home delivery, other cheaper options are available. Therefore in the columns ‘O’ and ‘P’ the tariff for such a 2 kg parcel delivered in a parcel shop or a PUDO point (including parcel machines) is given. As it happens a number of operators offer such a reduced tariff for specific destinations. Finally, for the most extensive as well as most recent information column ‘Q” refers to the website of the operator concerned.
Available data
The tariff comparison tool presents the rates – applicable on 1 January – of all operators falling under the scope of the Cross-Border Regulation, and thus active in and outside Belgium. The focus lies on the common 2 kg parcel. For every destination, in Belgium or in another EU Member State, you can check which operators provide their services. Then, all tariffs for this destination will be listed, as well as useful descriptive information. The additional information will concern the minimum and maximum dimensions and weights, as well as, for instance, the provision of a standard insurance or even the standard collection at home. As already stated above, any cheaper alternatives, i.e. a similar 2 kg parcel delivered in a parcel shop/PUDO point, are listed in columns ‘O’ and ‘P’ of the pivot table.
Manual
When opening the Excel file, you get to see a pivot table where you can enter the desired destination on the top left. Then, you will find all operators which deliver 2 kg parcels at that destination listed in the rows. You will find the following information in the columns:
- Name of the operator;
- Country of destination;
- Product name;
- Tariff;
- Estimated delivery time in workdays;
- Basic insurance included (Y/N);
- Track & Trace;
- Maximum weight;
- Maximum height;
- Maximum width;
- Maximum depth;
- Minimum weight;
- Minimum height;
- Minimum width;
- Minimum depth;
- Self-deposit in postal point (Y/N);
- Additional product characteristics according to the operator;
- Name of possible cheaper alternative (delivery in parcel shop);
- Price of cheaper alternative (delivery in parcel shop);
- Website of the operator;
- Tariffs including VAT (Y/N/Not applicable);
- Extra fuel surcharge (Y/N).
Disclaimer
The tariff comparison tool is intended as a first guide with the wide opportunities offered to the small user in the current postal market. The information in this tool is provided by the operators. The BIPT is thus not responsible for any possible inaccuracies. These are the tariffs applicable on 1 January. If you wish to consult the latest information, click on the provided links to go to the website of the operator concerned. There, you will also find the generally wide range of optional services.
Some operators did not report any 2 kg parcel for the Cross Border Regulation of the European Commission. As a consequence, the tariff comparison tool does not reflect the totality of the possible options offered to the consumer, but it is a first (and strong) step in that direction. In consultation with the operators, the BIPT will continue to verify where developments and further improvements are possible.