Should we be worried about the loss of Post offices with SD

[pulseofthedead]

So I live in the largest village in Cornwall that relies on a pop up post office twice a week. I plan the rest of the week around journeys to other post offices.

So I could have an easy life. Postie comes and gets it from me but I choose to use the PO for the communities sake…

The guy that runs the pop ups covering a number of villages that have lost their PO.

So am I right in assuming that if the PO only takes a QR code, they do not make much on that transaction…

My worry is that if they do not sell enough  postage’s, the footfall will get less and those pop ups will cease to exist…

Or am I worrying unnecessarily…

[tommystrezures]

Let me clarify this for you. Crown and main post offices are paid different rates to those local plus and local post offices. In affect each group do exactly the same…. Serve their customers.

Most of the mains and crowns don’t have a shop if you will be it a convenient store or otherwise. Post office own the crowns and many of the mains where as all other post offices are largely independent small businesses. Due to the way post office limited pay sub postmasters that is why they need a side business to generally be profitable. So an example could be a crown may get paid 5p for something where as a smaller independent may only get 3p for doing the same thing. Bear in mind mains and crowns offer additional services eg passport services etc.

it’s all a bit complex however non the less  post office is being shafted over this by Rm and eBay.

[clearingmyshelves2025]

Are you referring to Parcel Postbox? My nearest one is over a mile away which would be 2 buses. All the others are more than 2 miles and no direct transport. They do seem to be located in built up areas rather than out in the sticks.

When they were first mooted I though brilliant! But no matter as I'm not selling anymore due to SD!

[therenewalworkshopltd]

The first one was added in December, but they have started to roll out to a lot more locations over the last month or two.

Obviously, it's going to take time to expand the network.

Link, though I'm not sure if it will stay.

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/parcel-lockers

[bazinga-games]

You are spot on - we don't use them so they are reducing the amount of places that offer the services.

My local postmaster has been saying for years that the POs are being killed off.  She says that 90% of her business is banking now - local businesses go to her because they've closed all the banks in our town.  Mind you, even the business banking users are dwindling because less and less people pay by cash now.

I went to Par market a month or two back and while chatting to a friend who runs a stall there I was amazed to see that nobody paid by cash there.  My friend says the stall holders all have card readers because no-one wants to pay by cash - even for £3 or £4 items!  Personally, I bought some stuff at the market and DID use cash - the stall holders were both surprised - and very pleased ( 😆 )

It's just the way things are going now 😐 

[pulseofthedead]

It’s all about control.  Our freedom of choice is diminishing. This latest thing is a clear example of it.

[andha-21]

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@forestfeline62 wrote:

Yes small independent post offices are on comission not a salary so this SD will finish them off the lady that owns our local PO is really stressed and upset she bought it 2 years ago to give her and her family a good life but now she is thinking she will have to close ,she has 3 staff too ,very sad, we like to support her as she is lovely and the service her and staff are very good at their job .Vinted works in the same way you or the buyer has to buy a label you can't just post your items and pay them there 

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Reading that an idea came to me. It would almost be self preservation for the Post Office to create their own selling platform.

Unless they've sold them off, they did have their own financial and insurance institutions and if they wanted they could scale packaging to bulk prices.

They almost have everything they need, apart from the site, to try/do it.

Best part, people get to support their local posties.

[jlovie]

The parcel postboxes are different from the lockers.

They're a bit like a postbox with a much bigger slot (big enough for medium parcels I think).

Parcel Post boxes | Royal Mail Group Ltd

I started using them during covid, and kept on afterwards.

The extra cost to use the PO doesn't make it viable for me now, but I'm lucky enough to have more than one parcel postbox nearer to me than my PO.

Locations here:

Find Your Nearest Parcel Postbox

Services near you | Royal Mail Group Ltd

I rarely visit my PO now. I just see it as just a sign of changing times. I saw the decline start when RM weren't competitive for larger parcels. I think the best chance for POs to survive is a combination with banking hubs.

[fatbobfan]

I agree but the RM and PO have to take some of the blame as they have taken the viability of the smaller PO counter away by making it more expensive to use/less convenient to use. Yes us users are part of the problem but when its made too costly and less convenient

In the good old days they had a share that worked, now, RM, Ebay,  presuming the V, etc etc are taking as much as they can at the PO cost. The PO removed services from the smaller branches, its all loss of revenue. 

As in your post further below, the worlds changed, its sad. 

[fatbobfan]

Educate me, so who decied to take away Passport, Car Tax and other services, always thought that was a PO decision, 

Not questioning, btw, trying to learn

[fatbobfan]

I thought mine was 15 mile round trip, turns out there was one just down the road.

Being a person of a centre age, and a penchant for crumpets will use the 3 mile walk each day 😂

[fatbobfan]

Hoping the PO are adpating more and taking in alternative revenues, to put a positive spin, what else are posters aware where the branches are supplying new services, Banking, Evri what else, anything coming?

[moldosgifts]

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@therenewalworkshopltd wrote:

Unless things have changed, then the counter service won't make any/very little from postage bought on Ebay etc.

You need to buy it at the post office itself if you want to support it I'm afraid.

Which of course will be more expensive to pay for it.

Another reason why online postage is cheaper.  No third party....

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5p i read on another post, not allot is it.