It's just as bad here in England.
Royal Mail has gone from being a reliable, trusted service to an over-priced joke.
The government tried to privatise it years ago but everyone complained. However, they simply privatised it by the back back door and stripped it down slowly so that no one would notice (!).
Deliveries are slower, they come at any time of day (instead of first thing in the morning), and the prices have shot up.
The parcel division, which should be prospering with all the on-line ordering, is the worst of all.
I wanted to send something to Germany about a year ago and discovered that they wanted £30 to send it there. I got on the computer and very quickly found a courier who sent it for half the price AND they picked it up from my house AND it was tracked.
So, yes, the private carriers are going to get the business!