I only have half a Post Office

Yes, that's right. Together with the rest of Exmouth I now only have half a Central Post Office. It moved into W.H.Smiths a couple of days ago and is now half its former size.

I went in today to buy a stamp to post an important document. Where are all the old staff? Where's Dave, where's Claire. This lot are new faces. Yes I can see they have been trained to smile their little socks off and come out with loads of friendly patter, but..

Ah I see one familiar face. At least they've kept Lesley on. She's good and she may be the longest-serving member of the old lot. I expect they need her to talk the others through their tasks. The others were good too and they had worked there at least 6 years.

I chat to a lady in front of me who has been thinking the same. 'They're a franchise' she says 'some of them are franchises.' Are they? Who owns the franchises?

I see an empty stand. It says 'collectibles.' I am not the writing police and I know that language is a changing thing. But surely the word is 'collectables.'

I liked my Post Office better before they dicked around with it. And I don't even know who 'they' are.

Comments

Big problem in the villages I think now, though there are some mobile post offices I think (?) and some shops get some services – by franchise??

We are a small town and ours moved from a lovely old building (Wetherspoons now) into the back end of a stationers a few years ago. The staff are very helpful, but it can get very hot in the summer, and the queues can get long. Rhiannon

 

So you had much the same, Rhiannon. I noticed the queues yesterday as the new shop has less counters. 

Apparently the new Post Offices are franchises and many more are due to happen. The Post Office also advertises these 'business oportunities' online. But why do they assume that the franchises will keep their previous customers? I go into Exeter at least once a week as I volunteer in the Peace Shop. For now I shall use their main Post Office which has not quietly disappeared its previously loyal staff and succumbed to franchishing.