Royal Mail

Our PO counter in a convenience shop/garage is tiny and they very quickly have more parcels than their space can cope with, so I am not taking business away from them by getting the postman to collect a parcel. They provide a lot of other services in addition to taking in parcels and in this rural area it’s the only place within over five miles that we can withdraw cash.

I try not to use the collection service as this is taking business away from PO counters. As it is ours is only open half days, so how long will it be before the post master (is he still called that?) gives up and we then have no post office or banking services. Nearest alternative post office is 12 miles and the bus costs nearly £4.

I notice that Lloyds banking group is closing more branches as so many customers use their App. I would love to go into a bank, even a mobile one, but can’t because they are all closed so I have to use banking apps. Vicious circle.

Sorry to hijack your thread

It was originally part of a larger concern, dealing with the telephone service as well.
Our postman/woman is pretty good, though we seem to go all week with nothing, then it all comes at once.
I know from delivering newspapers how annoying some letterboxes are. Some in the middle of the door, some at the bottom, some with no letterbox at all.

I definitely don't get a regular delivery service here anyway.
I get nothing, and then a large bunch of letters suddenly arrives. I've been pondering over it for ages.

Our postman is excellent, as are the relief chap and young woman when he on holiday. Always cheerful and knows everyone. The free parcel collection service is wonderful, saves taking a bulky parcel to the PO and queuing.

We have a lovely post lady. She is so esteemed that she is going to the Palace to receive the British Empire Medal this year. She is so over the moon because this was at the behest of the people she serves. She couldn’t believe it and posted a video holding the Palace communication. During Covid she collected prescriptions from the pharmacy and other things needed. She remembers so much about everyone. She knows where to leave parcels when people are out etc etc etc. Always a smile on her face and a hoot from her van as she passes. She has a heavy round in a busy suburban area. So she deserves praise and recognition.

I recently had an undelivered parcel from an ebay trader who used Amazon and had to ask for Royal Mail delivery for substitute item as they know all postal addresses.

Royal Mail is just a brand name, originally so called because it delivered Royal documents centuries ago.

It's just one part of a larger group.

I hardly get any mail! In our area they seem to save it up on a Friday and you get it all in a oner then. I'm just grateful it arrives at all. Christmas mail service was non existent. It took about ten days for my cards to reach people.

We can send a letter from one end of the country to the other for 85p, a small parcel for £3.25. Considering the logistics involved, I think that’s good value.

Every now and again, in an attempt to declutter, I will sell some things on eBay. I use Royal Mail for this. I charge customers for 2nd class delivery, print the labels at home and have Royal Mail come to collect the parcels from my home next day at a set time for no extra charge. I’ve yet to have a parcel go astray. Feedback usually appears 2-3 days later often with a comment “Super fast delivery.” or similar.

I know two postmen quite well. One is my local regular postman and the other is a friend’s partner. Both work very hard. They walk up to fifteen miles a day delivering the post.

Overall, I think it's still a very good service.