Why does my Post Office always try to upsell postage?

qetu1357

patman99 wrote: »

Basically a non-main branch Post Office gets a % of each sale of postage, Car Tax and other such stuff. This % is deducted from the running costs of that branch (Postmaster's salary, staff wages, electricity etc).
If this % fails to meet 40% for 2 years, then the Post Office is placed on a closure list. If the Post Office reaches 55%, it remains on an 'at risk' list and anything over this keeps it open.

The above was explained to me by a local Postmaster.

The problem however, is that they receive 0% on pre-paid stuff that theyt have to handle such as eBay/eBid parcels paid for online. Where a Post Office handles large amounts of pre-paid postage, despite having a large turn-over of mail, they may still end-up being shut-down due to the % earnings thing.

One reason why I always pay over the counter now as it could make the difference between my local P/O remaining open or closing down.

Excellent answer.

I always do my post through a main post office as the smaller ones will try to charge more.

Mindless_Clone

Yes, me too, accman68. Last time I sent something first class, it arrived the day after the thing I send second class on the same day. I honestly don't think they even look at the stamp. Same with the standard parcels. It has a bog standard stamp on it, no other tracking or sticker or anything and goes in one big happy sack as far as I can see.
If anyone can definitively tell me whether someone actually sits there and sorts out the first, second and standard parcels into relevant piles and prioritises the postage of them I'd be grateful. Until then I will believe they just send them all regardless of stamp.