replaced by the internet, La Poste defends its choice

RED STAMP. La Poste has announced the forthcoming abolition of the red stamp, replaced by a service via the internet. Criticized, La Poste defends itself.

[Mise à jour le 21 juillet à 14h04] The decision drew some criticism. This Thursday, July 21, 2022, La Poste announced that it would end the red stamp, the stamp that allowed a priority letter to be sent so that it arrived in the recipient’s box the next day. A service less and less used by the French who favor digital, costing the company dearly and with a consequent ecological burden, which the mail distribution service has therefore decided to stop. Exit therefore this historic possibility, replaced by a service combining digital and paper (read below).

A choice made by La Poste which has been the subject of several negative remarks, some believing that this new device will exclude those having difficulties with digital technology. But La Poste denies this: “for customers who are far from digital, it will be possible to send a red e-Letter from a post office, on a machine or with the help of an adviser equipped with his Smartéo. ” In addition, the “green letter” device is still maintained as it is, allowing mail to be sent within three days.

The reservations about this new system also concern the confidentiality of documents. Because those sent via the new red e-Letter must be printed by La Poste, questions have been raised about the guarantee that the mail is not read by the postman in charge of printing it. Just announced, the removal of the red stamp is the subject of some criticism. But La Poste justifies its decision, considering that the reliability of the shipment now takes precedence over the speed of arrival: “if urgent shipments are decreasing, mail for everyday use, mail with legal value and the sending of small goods remain important for French society. The expectations expressed by the 22,000 professional and private customers consulted by La Poste focus on the reliability of delivery, mail tracking services and consideration of the environmental impact.” And to recognize that “the use of the Red Letter tends to disappear.”

Why is the red stamp removed?

The historic red stamp of La Poste will indeed be removed announced the company, which allowed to send a priority letter which was then distributed within 24 hours to its recipient, in metropolitan France. But as with all postal services related to sending mail, its use has fallen sharply in recent years. La Poste has therefore chosen to end this service, as it is, and replace it with a new product that mixes digital and paper delivery. It will be available from January 1, 2023.

The red stamp will therefore be removed, mainly due to a change in communication and document transmission habits, the immediacy of the Internet having revolutionized exchanges between people. “The use of the Red Letter is tending to disappear; households sent 45 Priority Letters per year in 2010, only 5 in 2021. Digital means, emails, SMS etc. have been widely adopted for urgent shipments”, is it explained in a press release.

If the red stamp is also removed in its current form, it is also for ecological issues ensures La Poste. According to its figures, switching to a red e-Letter (and extending the delivery time for green letters to three days instead of two) will reduce its CO2 emissions by 25%,

What will the red stamp be replaced by?

The red stamp, if it will disappear in its current form, will be replaced by a new type of letter: the “red e-Letter”. This is a product that can meet specific needs for urgent shipments, such as cancellations. Thus, the approach will be both digital and both paper: you will have to send your letter to the La Poste site, before 8 p.m., which will then be printed by a La Poste center located near the recipient and distributed the next day. . An offer that will be offered to 1,49€ against €1.43 for the current red letter.