How much money does the post office make?

System

so does no one know the figures?!

Savvy_Sue

berbastrike wrote: »

so does no one know the figures?!

I suspect there's a complicated formula, depending on no. of stamps sold, cost of parcels dispatched, benefit payments, other business done (road tax, passports, identity checks) etc etc etc. It may even vary from month to month according to what was done in the previous month!

Why not ask them, if it's quiet?

System

I might ask them I suppose

paulwf

Post Offices vary in attitude a lot. When I was a regular Ebay trader - and other traders found the same - some POs would view you as a nuisance whereas others would work with you to save both parties time. We could drop a sack of parcels off and pay for it the next day when dropping off the next lot, they could process it when they were quiet.

System

paulwf wrote: »

Post Offices vary in attitude a lot. When I was a regular Ebay trader - and other traders found the same - some POs would view you as a nuisance whereas others would work with you to save both parties time. We could drop a sack of parcels off and pay for it the next day when dropping off the next lot, they could process it when they were quiet.

that is what im worried about, is their actually any benefit to them of me spending £200 per week?

techspec

paulwf wrote: »

Post Offices vary in attitude a lot. When I was a regular Ebay trader - and other traders found the same - some POs would view you as a nuisance whereas others would work with you to save both parties time. We could drop a sack of parcels off and pay for it the next day when dropping off the next lot, they could process it when they were quiet.

The ones that view you as a nuisance are on a fixed salary.

The ones that bite your hand of for business are usually owners on a salary + commision.

As stated above - the ones that need trade will often allow you to drop off the bag and pay on return. Make sure you are a bit clued up on prices though - as the new owner of our local PO stated sending parcels by dearer methods to get more money out of customers. It backfired and he lost custom.

All PO's should welcome the trade though - cos poor performing ones are first for the chop. It's a balancing act though, especially if theres only one cashier, and you have a bagfull - the people behind might start going elsewhere too.

Sally22_2

Depends what contract they are on to what they get paid for processing each transaction. They aren't likely to tell you what their renumeration is.

As stated above - the ones that need trade will often allow you to drop off the bag and pay on return.

This is not allowed. They wouldn't allow you to get credit on the shop/retail side with their own money and let you come and pay later, so why would they give credit on the PO side when it isn't their money to give credit with.

techspec

Sally22 wrote: »

Depends what contract they are on to what they get paid for processing each transaction. They aren't likely to tell you what their renumeration is.



This is not allowed. They wouldn't allow you to get credit on the shop/retail side with their own money and let you come and pay later, so why would they give credit on the PO side when it isn't their money to give credit with.

Whether its allowed or not - several in our area do it. They dont post them until you pay - so you have to go back.

One insists on a deposit, based on the estimated cost - but all the others just let you pay later.

paddyrg

Just to point out, many smaller offices are effectively franchises who really do want and need your business!

The 9-10 Monday example was a f'rinstance, and will vary branch to branch depending on the local make-up of population. But since benefit books and pensions are electronic now, the branches love ebayers to get the business that would otherwise mean closing.

PS - how much they make on each stamp/parcel - of course it is commercially sensitive information, much like Tesco won't tell you what they make on a pint of milk. Suffice it to say it is enough to be viable but not to drive around in a new Jag.

paulwf

techspec wrote: »

All PO's should welcome the trade though - cos poor performing ones are first for the chop.

Maybe it has changed a bit now but during the cull a few years ago my local PO was the grumpiest most unhelpful man you've ever met. From the day they closed his branch and paid him off with early retirement you've never seen such a happier person!