Primary Audience: West Midlands DTC founder
Summary: Shipping is no longer a fixed cost. If carriers can change surcharges with 14 days’ notice, founders need a monthly ‘shipping P&L’ rhythm.
Suggested Posting Day: Thursday
If your delivery costs only get reviewed “when they go up”, you’re already late.
From the Birmingham side of the fence, shipping isn’t a rate card. It’s a moving set of surcharges, rules, and surprise fees.
Royal Mail is putting its Fuel and Energy Surcharge up from 11% to 16% from 3 May.
And they’re cutting the notice period for future surcharge changes from 30 days to 14.
That’s not a Royal Mail rant.
That’s a reality check for every founder still pricing delivery like it’s a fixed cost.
Mini-example I see a lot:
A West Midlands brand sets “Free delivery over £50” and leaves it there for 12 months.
Then packaging creeps up, weights drift, surcharges move… and suddenly you’re shipping £49 orders at break-even.
Practical takeaway:
Put a 30-minute “shipping P&L” review in your calendar every month.
Look at cost per shipped order, surcharge exposure, and the top 10 SKUs causing oversized parcels.
Then adjust your thresholds, packaging standards, or delivery promises before the margin leak becomes a panic.
Question:
When was the last time you changed your shipping setup based on data, not complaints?
Source Notes:
- Royal Mail Prices 2026 (Fuel and Energy Surcharge 11% → 16% from 3 May 2026; notice period 30 days → 14 days): https://www.royalmail.com/prices2026
- Royal Mail terms changes (confirms surcharge and notice-period change): https://www.royalmail.com/termschanges