Post Office.

choille

No that wouldn't be worthwhile & I don't think we'd get collected from here some how.

I'll just have to wait & see what the PO come up with when they look into things as they can maybe gently get to the bottom of what's actually happening.
I think the woman hates what she's doing & is stressed out & making a complete mess of things but it's affecting everyone as it's not as if you can just nip down the road.

The last owners were so gentle & helpful it's quite a shock & everyone is walking on eggshells now. There may be a problem with the phone line which does affect the card reader? My friend is now having problems with using her card there now also. The label printer is a computer broadband affair & speaking to another PO post master it appears that if a system goes down they all do & he was saying that that hasn't happened for a while so it would appear it's something that is happening behind the counter of my local PO - I think, but we'll no doubt find out soon.

Thanks for all your help.

QuackQuack_2

Reading this, and my own experience, has me wondering about the feasibility of opening open community posting points that could be run as home based businesses?

Basically setting up at home so you take in third party mail from local people. All you'd need is a set of scales, Smartstamp / PF account [plus Parcel to Go for good measure] and paying for a daily or weekly collection from RM (and some form of liability insurance/council permission too I guess).

Not sure it would work somewhere like the highlands, but it may be an interesting model to deploy elsewhere - particularly if you were happy to take mail early in the morning and late in the evening when traditional PO's were closed.

choille

Yes - it couldn't work here, but it would possibly work in a more populous area.
Thing is I like the idea of a local PO & in theory it should work, it did work really well until it changed hands. It is a public service & I think some staff forget that.

I did see a sign over a shop when I was over on the East coast - a P & I believe it's a pick up point for parcels - must look into that although it's 70 miles off.

hr9hr9

Hi

I live in a smallish village and we had a PO just like the one you describe.

I started to print my postage online (Royal Mail website) and then take the big bags to the little PO for collection. This made the Post Master quite angry as he doesnt earn on this type of postage! But it is a service that the Royal Mail and Post Office offered at the time so I took advantage of it. (think they still do)

If you have small items, I am sure there will be no problem leaving them ready for collection.

Also have you heard about myhermes ,if you send 2nd class items then they have a good range of postage groups.

0-1kg £3.30
1-2kg £4.19

I use them for longer items as Royal Mail won't accept items over 600mm(ish) long now unless sent via Standard Parcel which is £4.41 for up to 2kg

As an alternative to Royal Mail 2nd class I have had no problems at all.

Hope you find this helpful.

Regards
Helen

choille

Hi Helen - Sorry you have similar - so difficult.

I haven't heard of myhermes - I'll have a google. Many thanks for that.

I have nightmares almost the night before having to go to the local PO! I have left stuff for her to post in the past & she goes nuts about everything cluttering up her hallway.

She's moved from London & I think the whole culture shock is too much for her & she's taking it out on anyone who *tries* to use the PO.

many thanks for all advice - much appreciated.