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Consumerism

PO

You can do everything in the Post Office nowadays. I suppose that’s why they’re calling them Post Shops instead. They sell cards, telephones (mobile and fixed line), music CDs (what’s the point of those year CDs, eg 1970 including hits from 1970? I was born in 1970, but why does that mean I would identify with the music from 1970?), footy mascots, office supplies. You can also pay any of a multitude of bills, get photocopying done, etc, etc, etc.

All of which means I have to wait ten bloody minutes just to buy a book of stamps.

By Daniel Bowen

Transport blogger / campaigner and spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association / professional geek.
Bunurong land, Melbourne, Australia.
Opinions on this blog are all mine.

8 replies on “PO”

How I remember the horror of “just nipping out to the post office” beside the Federal Court building on William Street at, say, 1.45 pm.

20 deep queue every lunch with a maximum of two counters open.

The horror, the horror.

Or finally getting to the head of the line just to have one of the counters close and a complicated transaction at the other.

I’ve seen queues not far from the front door. They’ve reduced the number of cashier spots and closed the branch at East Caulfield. And, apart from a handful of outlets (either in areas poorly served by public transport or agencies), opening hours are only 1950s standard. There are not even extended hours before Christmas!

Following the lead of the banks and public transport companies, how long will it be until Australia Post encourage ‘off-system’ stamp sales? Certainly the queues give that signal.

Why can’t all newsagencies and milkbars be allowed to sell more than a few stamps? After all they already sell envelopes and boxes. Postpacks and more stamps would complement their range.

More radically, maybe even the big supermarkets and 7/11 could be permitted to sell post products.

Australia Post outlets are a lazy monopolies, and this is an area crying out for reform.

When I was on maternity leave, I’d walk with the pram to the PO to pay bills. I can remember such long long waits. I guess being a person not on a lunchbreak, I didn’t worry so much then.
Now, when having to buy stamps or a postpak, I have to visit the PO on my 45 min lunchbreak and it’s pretty much over by the time I’ve made my purchase. One time I left work just on 5 and made it to the PO near work before it closed at 5.30. The wait was a heck of a lot less!
Must say, I’m really glad that bills can be paid online now…

I always go to a 7-11 for stamps. Only problem is they don’t have a book, just a continuous roll.
Roger

I hardly ever send anything through the mail now. And when I do, I tend to, errr, use other people’s envelopes.

A unique business opportunity presents itself. Dress up like a tram conductor and work the queue, selling stamps to the time poor for 60c each. If they boot you out of the PO, do it in the street. Would be an excellent publicity stunt.

If I had been say, 17 in 1970, and I associated even half the songs on the CD with a boyfriend or some significant event, I’d pick it up for just the nostalgia value.

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