Fellwanderer

It most definitely isn't in my experience. In fact, I cannot recall ever being treated discourteously as a customer.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

nandywell

Yeh you're right, it's not all doom and gloom. I guess I've just been watching too many charming British films from the 50's and 60's.

Automotivehistorian

Sticking stamps on is indeed the custimer's responsibility. Why? I understand it is because if there is insufficient postage (because a stamp comes off) the jobsworth get complaints from on high. The problem does not arise when the staff use their printed sticky labels...BUTTTT what some offices do and this is strictly verboten...they write on the postage on the enevlope or packet and then collect the money, meaning to add the stamps or labels in due course when it is quieter. Our local office was notorious for doing this, because ...yes you guessed it....the items came back to the sender marked insufficient/no postage. That then means that the tills are out because there is no correlation between takings and stamps & labels, plus it means that the customer's items come back when they should have arrived. It happened to me once and I screamed at the local delivery office that the stupid idiots had taken my money and showed them where the clerk had written the postage amount inthe top corner! By golly was there a stink from the complaints but they just carried on. Now I ask the staff to affix a label then and there and make sure it goes into the bag.

Chevyman

Google the Royal Mail website and complain online

There is no excuse for shoddy service, especially from a business sector which is struggling to "avoid the axe"

"One appears to have dropped one's monocle in the soufflee"

Why not visit the Festive Fayre section?

Jackdaw

With you all the way, Nandywell.
It would seem that certain of our public services are run for the convenience of the staff and not the customers.
This will always happen if their is a monopoly in any given area - human nature.
I'm too old and enfeebled to fight the fight, but you are a young man - please get stuck in on my behalf.
Bless you!

Dame Starry

I can agree 100% with that - but I have to repeat what I said before, I have had to stick my own stamps on in the PO for many years now.

Maybe one reason is for security? If packages don't fit under the security screens, then doors/windows have to be opened up lowering the security and PO staff are quite vulnerable.
I don't know about these days, but they certainly used to handle a lot of money.

Do what Chevy says and complain on-line; I have had several queries dealt with very quickly and satisfactorily on line.
I also get most of my postage on line now.

DS x.

The Christmas countdown has begun - don't leave it all until the last minute!

nandywell

Right, well I rang that number and the woman on the other end was most helpful. I explained what had happened and she told me that while it is the responsibility of the customer to apply the stamps, if insisted upon, the clerk would have to apply the stamps in order to fulfil their duty in making sure items get sent and sent on time. I made the point very clear, although I believe I forgot to include it in this thread, that I suffer mildly from OCD and so cleanliness is a major issue for me. As I say, the woman was very helpful and I was provided with a complaint log number as well as being told that documentation would be on its way. Anyway, I just thought I'd bring some closure to this thread.

Thanks for all the comments, they really did help to combat any self doubt.

Nandywell

homeguard

We've a brilliant Post Office in our town, so friendly with two largish ladies who know everyone, and smile and chat and are so very helpful. They use a machine which prints out a little label. I stick my finger under the glass, and one of them grins at me and sticks the label on the proferred digit. I then stick the label on my little package - simple. Sounds great, doesn't it? But when you've stood in a queue for twenty minutes listening to the people in front of you telling the friendly largish ladies what they did on their holiday last week, it makes you want to stick your digit in the eye of a friendly largish lady!!!
However, better that than licking your own stamps, eh?

Regards,
HG

Carmel

Im glad you got it sorted nandywell.

Live each day to the full because one day it will be your last.