REDUCED RATES: Why does the media always emphasise things to depress? In a world where facts were reported we could have done without the scaremongering of the new postage rates and complimented Royal Mail for introducing vastly reduced rates. For example, on a first-class letter: 100g was 49p, now 32p, or 44p if fat or A4 size. A 250g letter was 99p, now 65p. A 500g letter was £1.90, now 90p. A 750g letter was £2.89, now £1.31. A 1kg parcel was £3.89, now £2.70. Reductions also occur on second-class rates. I would be more concerned how they are to maintain their profits while still offering what is acknowledged to be one of the best services in the world. There is something here for the privatised services to emulate. Let's start with the railways and water!

D BEAUCHAMP Greencourt Road Petts Wood

PRICE IS WRONG: I was in a charity shop in Bromley when I heard a man complain to his wife about the price of the books. I have heard similar complaints in other charity shops and agree the pricing is disproportionate. Is it greed or do the staff have no idea of the worth of a book? They seem to believe books published before 1960 are worth a great deal when they are not. I saw a book with a shop sale price of £1.25 and the charity shop had priced it at £1.79. Another example was a 1908 dictionary priced £8, not even in good condition. The situation might be different if all the money went to the charity but as is commonly known with many charities a large proportion of money donated goes towards administration. It is a sad day when charities are seen as being greedy.

R JENKINS Edward Road Bromley

BAD FORM: I had the voter registration form pushed through my letterbox on August 22 for collection on August 24. This would have been fine apart from the ridiculous collection time of between 9am and 5pm. Obviously as I have to work normal hours I arrived home to find a note saying they had "missed me" and they would call again on Bank Holiday Sunday between 10am to 6pm. What planet is the council on? The green A5 note indicated no-one was in - perfect for opportunist thieves. Secondly wouldn't it be cheaper to employ someone to come in the early evening and not pay overtime on the Sabbath. So now I will have to post it, envelope not supplied by council, of course.

MR J HALL Rectory Road Beckenham