Post Office during lockdown

[CaramelBuff]

I run a small business that sends out around 15 to 20 parcels a week.

Does anyone know if the post office will be closed if we are put on lockdown?

Leaving the house to go to the post office would be classed as work for me but not sure whether the post service will be operating. Can anyone from Italy, France or Spain shed any light on this?

Also, am due a delivery of DIY materials from Wickes in a few weeks. Am I right in thinking these sorts of deliveries will likely stop?

Ours is open as usual.

The countries in lockdown have kept post offices open.

That’s a relief! Thank you

The posties are classed as key workers

They are even coming to an arrangement of delivering medical supplies and prescriptions to people in need

Royal Mail are key workers.
Most post offices are ran by franchises (so McColls/WHSmith or independents) so they may close in some circumstances eg if the postmaster is high risk. I would keep checking the website for your local one.

I would recommend printing your own postage labels at home and then just dropping the parcels off once a week.
I also run a small business where I need the post office, but I send 30-60 parcels a day. I have dropped to three days a week and I literally walk in with my sacks, say thank you and walk out. That is me, going to work, and the lowest risk I can make it without affecting my business.
I hope sales will pick up again this week now my customer base aren't so worried about their pay not being covered.

Mine is a franchise one but I could get to the nearest town if I needed to.

I don’t want to get caught out in limbo between accepting money for orders, making the items but then not being able to post them out. I might switch to selling pre-made items rather than made to order.

@delilahbucket I do the same - either print postage at home or use my Drop & Go account. I hope things pick up for you too.

I'm looking at setting up drop and go, but can it be used for overseas parcels, or only if being sent to a Uk address?

@elouera I’ve used it before for overseas parcels. As long as you have enough money in your account they will process any parcels as they normally would in the post office.

If you're just dropping off, do you have one of the new parcel post boxes near you so you can avoid some of the trips into the post office?

www.royalmail.com/d8/parcel-post-boxes

@uselesstrees the one nearest to me is actually inside the post office so I’ll check out which other ones are close by. Thanks