To think corner shops with Post Offices resent Post Office customers

[GivenchyDahhling]

Whilst on maternity leave I’ve been selling a lot of clothes on eBay. I use eBay’s postage label service then drop the parcels off at the Post Office. I normally go into town and use the main Post Office in the WHSmith but occasionally use the Post Office in walking distance (think it’s in a Londis or similar).

I have always found the couple who run this rude, unsmiling and unhelpful and they act like providing any Post Office service is the biggest inconvenience to them, but things came to a head today when I was told they would no longer be accepting my pre-paid labels because “they’re Royal Mail, not Post Office” (??)

I argued about this as I think if they’re using Post Office branding they have no right to do this. They claim it’s because of the space; but when I’ve used them it’s never more than 3 or 4 small parcels (ie containing a dress or a top) as I only use this branch when I’m walking. After a bit of research it looks like the real reason is because they don’t make any money for accepting these pre-paid labels, whereas if I bought postage there they would get a percentage.

Anyway; I started thinking about other Post Offices and again since I’ve been using eBay I’ve used four other similar corner shop outlets (just based on where I’ve happened to be) and all of them have been pretty unfriendly.

So AIBU to think that these shops resent providing (non profit making) postal services? And to think that if they are so unhappy about it they shouldn’t be a Post Office franchise?

I agree. But this is Mumsnet where people fall over themselves to excuse poor customer service and call the OP high maintainence / difficult / rude.

🤷🏻‍♀️

Only on Mumsnet!

The post office local to me is closing down because the shop owner no longer wants it in the shop. So yanbu op.

Haha oh no @plombear maybe I should brace myself! But to me it’s such a straightforward transaction - hand it over, they scan it, put in sack behind them, I get proof of postage. 30 seconds maximum!

I agree. In our shop the normal roll and the post office counter are about three feet from each other, but you'd think they were being asked to trek across the Andes if you need to, for example, buy a loaf of bread and post a letter

I have had similar experiences myself OP

"Royal Mail" is not the same as "the post office"

I would be even more annoyed by that @audacityofhope because you’re actually supporting the shop (which I think is how it’s sold to attract franchisees) - they probably resent the fact I never buy anything from the shop.

@Rosehip10 I understand that, but if I buy the Royal Mail service from eBay then I don’t think I ABU to want to drop this off at a Post Office as Royal Mail don’t have branch services (do they?)

they probably resent the fact I never buy anything from the shop.

Yep, I expect so. It tends to be sold as a “get more people in your shop” thing, so if the more people don’t spend anything... not that it excuses poor attitudes or customer service, though.

would it kill you to buy a pint of milk or a Mars Bar or something while you are there so that you add a tiny bit to their profitability? if no one buys anything because it's all so much easier online the shop will go bust and then you won't be able to use them at all.

“Only on Mumsnet” what apart from you you mean?

OP, I had no idea. I can see why they’d be annoyed tbh but they don’t have to be dicks about it.

I suppose it’s because I see the postal service (Royal Mail and the Post Office) as being a public service so just because they are located in someone’s shop doesn’t mean they’re not providing a public service - if I got bad customer service in a regular shop I would just vote with my feet and not shop there, but if you need postal services you don’t always have the choice.

Theres one in town I avoid, they closed the big post office there and for anyone living in town, this is the only one now. The shop till is by the front and the man glares at anyone walking out after going to the post office in the back. Yet the one in the next village to us, is the opposite, the guys who run it are great, very professional and helpful. They run a pretty large grocery shop alongside. Favorite is a proper old fashion PO on the way to town. Run by an older couple and they sell sweets, greetings cards and wrapping paper etc. But it's mainly just a PO.
Look around for another one you'll find a nice one. Our village one closed last year.

So they are paying to provide a public service to people like you who then refuse to actually purchase anything in their shop and you expect them to be nice to you? Good lord, I can see exactly why they don't want your 'custom'. Why not actually buy something from them occasionally - yes it's more expensive than Tesco but they are in there all of the hours god sends and you will only ever see a fraction of the work they have to do.
I wonder if when they decide not to keep providing said "public service" if you'll be queuing to put your money in and take over???

Surely they benefit in that it increases footfall in their shop, and that means more people who might potentially buy stuff? So even if they don't benefit from the transaction directly, they are still having people come to the shop who might not otherwise, some of whom could well end up spending money.

I doubt very much these corner shops decide to offer Post Office services out of the goodness of their hearts/community spirit @AGoodPodcastAndANiceCupOfTea - they do so because of the various benefits to them, like getting a % of sales and getting footfall. No, I’m not making money for them and yes I understand they’re a business but IMO if you are offering Post Office services you need to accept that sometimes you’ll have to accept parcels that are pre-paid (I think shop returns are the same thing) - if you can’t accept that then run as a corner shop without the Post Office.

I've never come across resentment from shops with post offices in them. Being a post office is part of the job of the shopkeepers, they must have chosen to do it. Post offices earn them money too. I do sometimes browse and buy something if I want to but there's no pressure to do so and I've not heard of there being so before this thread. There are three little post offices near me which I use, one more than most, and they are good places to go with lovely staff at the PO counter and the shop.

I agree with you op they almost always seem annoyed with me using them! But it's better than the 'self service' counters at WHSmith which are an absolute joke.

The post office at the back of our local convenience store are friendly polite and helpful. The PO is not forced on them, they get revenue out of it. They should treat you like any other customer.

YANBU. The corner shop (that was a P.O. too,) where I used to live some 10 years ago was full of miserable mardy fuckers. 3 women used to serve there and they acted like they hated their lives. They huffed and puffed and whinged at the smallest, most reasonable requests.

Also, I used to take ebay packages there, and would give them 8 to 15 packages a week, and the postage would be say, £33 postage for 11 packages, and they'd put them aside and take the money and say 'we'll sort all these when we have time.'

So I would give them the £33, and every week (for 3 or 4 months in a row,) I was getting complaints and negative feedback, and having to give refunds, because some of the packages were getting there with no postal label or stamps on. (And the customer was having to pay the postage, and a £1.00 charge on top) before they could get their item. Many packages I sent overseas didn't get there!

I couldn't prove anything, but I was convinced they were sending my packages (maybe 1 in 3) with no postage on...(and pocketing the money.) Especially the ones I was sending abroad as there was no way to track them like with the recorded delivery you could get here.

I lost loads of money, and actually complained to the manager of the post office that my ebay customers were receiving their packages with no postage label and I think the women behind the counter were not putting the postage labels on.

I never accused them of stealing, but I said 'SO many people have got packages with no postage label on, and I never see them put it on as they say 'we will do it after...'

I got a short shrift from the manager who said he would sue me for calling his staff thieves. (I didn't! I thought they were but I never said so,) and so I said 'stuff your stupid post office then! I will go where I won't be ripped off and where I will get better customer service!'

Annoyingly this post office was 10 minutes walk away and the next closest was 3 miles! Made my ebay selling more of a chore!

However, the entire shop including the post office closed down about 7 or 8 months later. And the manager, and his 3 staff were never seen again! Never did find out why!

If it’s such an inconvenience then they should just stop providing the service. No one is holding a gun to their head.

So what is the relation between Royal Mail and The Post Office? Does RM own the PO or something?

I am not surprised that the smaller shops feel like this when their livelihood has been eroded so extensively over the years.

Imagine if you go in let's say twice a week with essentially parcels that cost them in real terms, how many other customers do the same! What a lock in the teeth to know you're paying out for a free service and are struggling to survive.

Fwiw our post offices are so glad to be still open rurally that the service way surpasses what it did before they were part of these chains.

Yes I’ve had this before. I’ve had it from corner shops that take collect plus parcels too. Moaning about the size or number of parcels as they don’t have the space. Then don’t sign up for it!

In our local shop they couldn't be more helpful.