India Post – Bangalore at General Post Office (GPO), Raj Bhavan Road, Bengaluru. | Photo Courtesy: Murali Kumar K
Nitesh Kuntadi, an independent book publisher in Bengaluru, visited his neighborhood post office last week to use India Post’s ‘Book Packet’ service (used to send books across the country). But when he got the information that the service was suddenly stopped, he was shocked and had to send the book by ‘registered post’.
As of December 18, India Post decided to withdraw its long-running Book Packet service, which had helped many independent book publishers send books to their customers at nominal postal charges. With alternative options costing almost 50% more than the book packet service, publishers in Karnataka are concerned that their customers will be okay with the added postal charges.
“With the Book Packet service, we can send a 200-page book anywhere across India for ₹ 20-25. Even if the books were heavier, the price would have gone up nominally and we wouldn’t have had to spend more than ₹ 30 to post them. But, now we have to use Speed Post or Registered Post. Other options like post should be looked at,” Mr. Kuntadi said.
Speed Post works well for publishers in the 200 km range (around ₹36 – ₹37) but it gets expensive when going beyond 200 km. This is when publishers opt for registered post, which costs around ₹45. “There is a huge jump in weight both in speed and registered post. Till now we were charging ₹30 as shipping charges from customers as we don’t have to wrap our books. Now, we have to charge ₹50 as shipping charges from customers as we have to wrap the books and pay more for shipping. “We don’t know if customers are willing to pay this extra fee, this move could potentially affect knowledge delivery,” Mr. Kuntadi said.
These changes in postal services are due to the Post Office Act, 2023 which replaced the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. The new law came into effect on June 18.
“According to the new rules, the book packet service has been merged with the book registered post. It is a matter of integration. We know that customers are still not fully aware of this. We will promote it through social media and other means of communication,” said Chief Post Master General (CPMG), Karnataka Circle, S Rajendra Kumar. Hindu. He said that the discount given on newspaper posting is continuing.
Within Karnataka, independent publishers mostly get their orders from rural areas in North Karnataka districts, such as Belagavi, Vijayapura and Ballari and other districts. Although private courier options are now available and prices are almost at par with India Post, their limited reach and lack of proper tracking services keep publishers away from choosing them.
“I have sent more than 10,000 book parcels through India Post in the last five years and have not received a single complaint. Their service and network is very good. We can track our packages online. Also for our customers, receiving their parcel is easy as postmen do not change frequently unlike courier services. Even if the books don’t arrive, we return them through India Post in two-three days, but private services are not that diligent,” said Ranganath of Nudi Pusta.
He noted that he advises his customers to pick their books, give them a week’s time, and ship them together instead of ordering them right away to save on shipping fees.
published – December 25, 2024 at 02:16 pm IST