Post office inconsistant service

ThinkingOfLinking

My local post office also refuses to put the house number or postcode on the printed proof of postage slips, or stamp it like any other post office does. This is despite them knowing that these bits of information are required in the event of any claim..thankfully I've never yet had to make a claim but I dread the day I do!

juno

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

My local post office also refuses to put the house number or postcode on the printed proof of postage slips, or stamp it like any other post office does. This is despite them knowing that these bits of information are required in the event of any claim..thankfully I've never yet had to make a claim but I dread the day I do!

Write it on yourself. How is the Royal Mail going to know if that is the post office's writing or not? If you're really worried then get a friend to write on it for you.

martindow

Crowqueen wrote: »

Reading Crown PO used to be a bit crusty, strip lighting, dirty carpet and junk that would make Woolworths blush, but about four years ago they tore everything out and started again and it makes for an awful lot more pleasant service when you go in. I don't use it that often but the staff there are ultra-professional. I also use the self-service stamp kiosks as they encourage people just looking for simple postage facilities to use the stationery counter or the machines.problems and there's usually quite a good queue.

I usually use my local sub-PO which is excellent, but on occasion I also go to the crown office in Reading. I would second the comments on the staff. There is also a queuing system with numbered tickets and seats, so you don't need to work out the fastest line to join and be annoyed by unexpected openings and closings of windows. The counters are open without full height glass barriers which make it feel much more pleasant.

Crowqueen

The only problem with Reading that for a town that size there is only one Crown PO. I guess there is one in the Hexagon but we could really do with one e.g. out by the university. There is one up near Christchurch but it's a full mile to the uni campus and there's a parade of shops where there really should be one and isn't.

macfly

bartelbe wrote: »

I decided to write this after an experience in a branch other than my local one. As usual with the post office, only two of the four counter were open, at the busiest time of day. One member of staff was busy with a massive set of parcels. At which point his colleague simply wanders off. Ten minutes later she comes back with a cup of tea, by which point the queue has reached epic proportions.

Were is the commonsense in that? Deal with the queue, then go for a break when it is quiet. At least wait till your colleague is actually free to serve people.

take your breaks when there isn't a huge queue.

In most offices, there's always a queue. So you mean, don't take one at all. Or do you have a quick head count before going? How many people in your common sense opinion is acceptable to walk away from?. Or how long do you wait if that number never falls?
The other clerk was dealing with someone, unless they were his parcels.
I suggest if you want to run a business - buy one.
Or keep doing the Harry Enfield "You don't wanna do it like thaaaat!"

bartelbe

macfly wrote: »

In most offices, there's always a queue. So you mean, don't take one at all. Or do you have a quick head count before going? How many people in your common sense opinion is acceptable to walk away from?. Or how long do you wait if that number never falls?
The other clerk was dealing with someone, unless they were his parcels.
I suggest if you want to run a business - buy one.
Or keep doing the Harry Enfield "You don't wanna do it like thaaaat!"

I have worked a lot of customer service jobs, and I wouldn't walk away to take a break at the busiest time of day. It is poor service, and it is also unfair on your colleagues, who you are dumping the work on.

In this case it was about half four, just when everyone finishes work. There is no way the Post Office is that busy all the time. Now I hate what has happen to Postal system, I would quite happily give Royal Mails its monopoly back, and get rid of the likes of Citylink.

However the attitude displayed by some Post Office staff does the organisation no favours. It harks back to the 70's, when the customer came last. Taking your break when it is quiet, completing proof of postage correctly, giving customers the tarifs they ask for. These are not big things to ask for.

Goldiegirl

I think I'm quite lucky with my local post office.

The staff always take the trouble to see if something is large letter. I normally write out a CoP to take in with me, but if I've just got one or two parcels, they'll do one for me and it's always correctly completed.

When I've been queuing, I've noticed they always give a full range of postal options to anyone who asks, and don't just push the most expensive service.

Of course, it's not perfect. There can be long queue and only two of the three windows open, so I try and go in at a quiet time. About 11am is good, after the pension rush, and 4pm is quiet too, after the school mums rush.

kalsha

"I normally write out a CoP to take in with me, but if I've just got one or two parcels, they'll do one for me and it's always correctly completed".
What do you mean by you write out a CoP yourself??? I thought that is what they print out. I feel that the PO's I go to are reluctant to give out CoPs. I always wondered if they got paid something for taking in my parcel and printing a CoP?

Crowqueen

COPs are often now printed as till receipts but there are still forms which you can download or buy in yourself to fill in before you get to the PO. They then stamp them and the value is in the stamp rather than a handwritten ticket.

In the Reading PO they used to give out COPs but I so very rarely get them. In principle I know I should. In practice --- well, they are thrown out when I clear out my handbag and never needed. It would be different if I were running a business but I'm not so they end up in the recycling.

macfly

bartelbe wrote: »

In this case it was about half four, just when everyone finishes work. There is no way the Post Office is that busy all the time.

Everyone finishes work at 4:30? Well, clearly not if you work in a Post Office. Or a shop. Or any normal job really.
No way the PO is busy all the time? People don't make appointments, they come in at random. You simply cannot predict the size of a queue. I've been in hundreds, and seen a queue build in a couple of minutes. There are many occasions, more so at this time of year, when the counter staff would be nailed to their chairs all day if they couldn't leave customers waiting. That's unacceptable for any worker.
What you are saying is "serve me me me". A common attitude these days.
I made no comment on the rest, much of which is reasonable on the surface. You, and others here, know what service they want. There are thousands of complaints every year from people who claim they haven't been asked if their item was worth over £46. Or having asked for recorded delivery, then say "this will get there tomorrow won't it?".
Obviously therefore it has to be a ones size fits all service.