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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the post office should be grateful for my business?

25 replies

BoobleBeep · 03/12/2011 12:35

Ok I'm not sure if IBU about this or not so all points of view welcome!

Basically I run a small internet business and send a lot of packages per week. I take them to my local post office and leave them there so they can do them at their lesiure rather than holding up the queues, I have a tab there.

I spend about £600 per week there but they always roll their eyes when I go in and make me feel as though I am really putting them out.

AIBU in thinking it is their job and they should be grateful for the business or am I aksing too much?

They have 4 members of staff and I probably take in 20 parcels per day

OP posts:

lubeybaublely · 03/12/2011 12:41

YANBU, that's really unfriendly and bad service. A local man here does the same thing at my local PO with his many parcels, and he is always greeted with a smile and good service.

Could you print off your own postage and have royal mail pick them up? I've heard of some ebay powersellers doing that.

nojustificationneeded · 03/12/2011 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sarahtigh · 03/12/2011 12:45

my PO love my parcels as they get paid more if they weigh parcels themselves than if they just process already paid postage, I asked i was tolds that, it is pwrhaps a bit of a nuisance in run up to xmas with loads of parcels but as they do them at their leisure it still should be fine

I would just ask them do you want my parcels or not, otherwise they might be on the next village PO to close

PurplePidjInAPearTree · 03/12/2011 12:46

YABU to expect servitude and gratitude and fawning all over you for blessing them with your presence

YADDDNBU to expect a smile, a friendly word, a "How's your day" - all the normal social interactions that make up half-decent service.

tigermoll · 03/12/2011 13:13

I agree with PearTree, - ANYONE should receive pleasant service, regardless of how much money they are spending. You shouldn't expect special treatment just because you consider yourself to be spending a large amount of money.

Are they like that with everyone? Is there a chance you are being oversensitive?

Maybe (and I don't know you so don't take it personally) could there be another reason (apart from the parcels) why they aren't that pleased to see you? Are YOU always polite and friendly?

lljkk · 03/12/2011 13:17

It is weird that they are so unfriendly.
I bet it would be even more inconvenient to you to go elsewhere (& more expensive), though.
Are you sure they don't think they're making some kind of joke with you? Like "Aren't people crazy to buy the thongs you sell with George Osborne's face on them?" or such.
You could ask "Is there anything I could do to make this process more convenient for you?" in case they have a grievance they haven't wanted to bring up but actually would make their jobs easier if resolved. Might be timing, or how you wrap, who knows.

lljkk · 03/12/2011 13:20

600 quid for 120 parcels/week, they're fairly heavy, aren't they? 2-6kg each? I wonder if storage is an issue for them.
Does sound like old-fashioned English lower rank civil servant behaviour & terrible customer service, though, don't really take any pride in their job.

WholeLottaRosie · 03/12/2011 13:42

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spiderpig8 · 03/12/2011 13:43

Post office counter staff are always rude and grumpy .That is their reputation, people expect it and they have to make sure they don't disappoint.

WholeLottaRosie · 03/12/2011 13:44

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Saffra · 03/12/2011 14:42

At that level of spending, I think a Royal Mail collection would save you a lot of time (and, therefore, money). I have an online business account and a timed collection. It's MUCH better than trekking to the post office with bags of parcels. Can't imagine doing THAT now - esp with Christmas on its way.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 03/12/2011 14:53

I have two post offices within walking distance of home. I always go to the one slightly further away because basically the guy who owns the nearer one is a miserable twat.

The guy who owns the other is lovely.

MabelLucyAttwell · 03/12/2011 14:59

Next time you go in and see the eyes rolling heavenwards, you could say, "I'm so sorry. If it's too much trouble to bring my parcels to this Post Office, I'd be happy to go to ."

It could be that they are joking because you have brought some work for them to do.

squeakytoy · 03/12/2011 15:09

Is there not an easier way of doing this? A lot of small courier firms would probably be able to collect those from you cheaper than that. I run an ebay business and send out about 100 parcels a week, but everything is prepaid on paypal, and all I do is get proof of postage stamped at the post office and leave the parcels there. They dont take up much room though.

Anything heavier than 2kg or bulky is sent using couriers as they are much cheaper than RM.

MayCanary · 03/12/2011 15:42

We have nothing like the volume but our (small village) PO is run by two people known in this household as "The Grumpies". Why they are in a customer-facing/service job is totally beyond DH and I.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/12/2011 15:45

Don't get me started on Post offices. They really do need to train their staff in the art of customer service. The only saving grace about our post office is it has a machine where you can weigh and buy your own stamps etc and therefore avoid dealing with the grumpy and often inept staff.

Ragwort · 03/12/2011 15:46

I've often found PO staff to be the grumpiest around (and yes, I have worked in customer service myself ) - I've ended up avoiding so many different POs in the attempt to find some courteous and friendly service.

Panzee · 03/12/2011 15:47

I never use the nearest one to me because I always end up breaking one of their inexplicable rules and get tutted at like a naughty schoolgirl. Fortunately the one who runs the PO near my work is brilliant.

HairyBeaver · 03/12/2011 15:50

Slightly at everyone's eBay/online businesses.

I've wanted to start an eBay business for ages but can't think of a niche market

squeakytoy · 03/12/2011 15:51

I am quite lucky, we have 3 post offices close by. Two of them are staffed by miserable, unhelpful, and bluntly rude staff. One of them is staffed by pleasant, smiling, helpful staff, who chat, make eye contact, and do not huff and puff as if you are putting them to trouble by actually using their service.

Guess which one I go to.. it is the one that I have to walk furthest to, and has the bigger queue, but I dont mind as it is preferable to the disdain you get at the other two.

QuintessentialyFestive · 03/12/2011 15:52

Just take your business elsewhere if you are not happy!

If they find themselves without a job because the post office is closing our downsizing due to lack of custom, they can roll their eyes all they like!

Ragwort · 03/12/2011 15:59

We used to live equal distance between two very small, rural POs - they both had the same 'half day closing' - this was very recent, when most shops gave up half day closing years ago .

Another PO had a stroppy sign up saying 'If you buy you car tax on line you are helping to close POs' - I was tempted to put up my own sin 'If you smile and are polite to customers you are helping to keep your PO open' .

Ragwort · 03/12/2011 16:00

sign

JenFestive · 03/12/2011 17:07

I have used a number of different Post Offices over the years and have never been served by anyone who isn't grumpy. It doesn't seem to matter if they are busy or quiet, they seem to scowl at everyone. I'm sure it is the policy that they only employ the moodiest of people, maybe they have a scowling test as part of the interview and if you smile at any point you don't get the job

Llanarth · 03/12/2011 18:14

You're crazy to be going to the post office!

If you are paying £600 a week on postage you would be so quids in by getting an online business account and a daily collection.

If you spend £100 a week, you qualify for online discounts (e.g. you pay £1.92 online versus £2.61 at the post office for a 750 g parcel 2nd class). When I did the sums, those savings were sufficient to cover the £700 a year collection fee.

Packetpost offers even greater savings, (£1.74 for a 750 g parcel), and it kicks in at 5000 items a year, which you are already meeting.

If you do move to home collection and packetpost, make sure you tell them their attitude contributed to it!

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