Post Office, Lordship Lane

[Lynne]

What's gone wrong with this place? I can understand the queues before Christmas, but now too? I've had to go three times in the last few days and each time there's been a very long queue. Yesterday afternoon it was out of the shop and past the bus stop. In the rain too. I've seen several instances of elderly and disabled people put to some difficulty by this. Yesterday there were only two counters open (in spite of another member of staff sitting there doing other jobs, I presume.) This meant that when anyone came in for travel money or business that counter was out and when the parcels collection driver came, the only other counter shut down so the staff could attend to him. So for one period there was no-one to service "ordinary" members of the public. So there we stood, waiting, in the rain. We do pay for usage.

[cella]

Totally agree. I limit my trips to the Post Office to twice a year. They perform a really useful role and business in the community but, although receiving a long overdue makeover this year, they still haven't stepped up to the mark. A smaller space with no apparent thought to the logistics of squeezing in Amazon and parcel deliveries, retail at low level so waiting kids are chucking it around in the floor and queuing customers (it took 45 minutes at Christmas) with demoralised staff seemingly superglued to their stools. A miserable experience all round and yet with such potential if properly managed. More of this is waiting to happen sadly.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4105062/Post-Office-close-franchise-37-Crown-offices-loss-300-staff-cut-127-financial-specialist-roles.html

[bels123]

I've started going to Camberwell PO instead, have hardly had to queue there.

[uncleglen]

I have seen PO counters in WHSmith outside of London. Given the enormous cost of maintaining premises in London this would seem to be the way to go. EBay for example now offer a Collect at Argos facility, and for medium parcels and above the other couriers are much cheaper than the PO. No Government has done anything to protect the basic infrastructure of London and now we are reaping the whirlwind

[steveo]

A queue at the post office = a whirlwind?

Really?

[Bic Basher]

uncleglen Wrote:

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> I have seen PO counters in WHSmith outside of

> London. Given the enormous cost of maintaining

> premises in London this would seem to be the way

> to go.

You don't have to go very far to see a WHSMith managed Post Office in Forest Hill.

East Dulwich PO was proposed to become a franchised branch, but was rejected and the refurbishment is the result.

I suspect they're short staffed after Christmas.

[Huggers]

i like the Rye Lane one

[worldwiser]

Every newly refurbished PO I've been to recently has a self-op machine for parcels, Signed For, Special Del etc. I do not understand for the life of me why they didn't take the opportunity to install such a service in ED.

[Vik]

The Rye Lane one has gone and the one in Camberwell closed for a (MUCH needed) refurb until 14/1.

If you drive or don't mind the walk, the Crosswaite Avenue sub Post Office is always quiet and the staff very helpful.

[Louisa]

The walk to DV PO is always pleasant enough. Nice people too.

Louisa.

[mikeb]

@ Vik - thanks. I had no idea that parade existed!

[Nigello]

Lynne - Why not ask to speak to the office manager, vent your frustration and then ask how you can put your points to someone in control. I understand that letting off steam here and finding out whether "it's not just you" is useful, but it is only useful to you. Letting your comments be known to the powers that be, maybe evening copying it in to our MP, would be much, much more useful.

[PeckhamRose]

Absolutely no point complaining to the Post office Management. It is now a limited company and is no more a 'service' despite the fact that many hard working posties are still nice and still consider what they do a service.

You may as well complain about banks closing.

Catching Forest Hill Road Post office at the right time and there's often not many people in there.

Of course sometimes the queue can be out the door.

But they are a lovely friendly lot specially if you smile and say hello.

[Nigello]

Absolutely no point complaining to the Post office Management.

I disagree completely. It is much better than banging on about it on an impersonal, virtual community made up of thousands and thousands of posts and comments.

[Phlox]

Must be due to closure of Peckham PO.

And perhaps flu season. I remember when there used to be a sub PO in Melbourne Grove. We were lucky.

[singalto]

I had to queue for ages a few days ago which I find difficult. A man wanting foreign currency was able to jump the queue so I have decided that from now on, if there is a long queue, I will go to the foreign currency window, ask for ?5 of ? and do whatever else as an afterthought!

[Angelina]

ye - no idea why foreign currency takes priority at all - doesn't make sense and I don't think it should happen.

[Jeremy]

Angelina Wrote:

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> ye - no idea why foreign currency takes priority

> at all - doesn't make sense and I don't think it should happen.

Bigger profit margin than posting parcels, I guess.

[DulwichFox]

Never hear people moaning about Queuing at Franco Manca .... Moxons .... William Rose...

We are British. Queuing is what we do well. :)

Foxy

[Angelina]

yes but Franco Manca and the shop queues are not the same as old people waiting outside in the rain - probably waiting to get their pensions

[picapica]

Camberwell post office shut for refurbishment.

Re-opens 19/1/17.

[alice]

So camberwell closed; Peckham gone; DV moved to tiny spot. OP is not a surprise.

[twinhunters]

I queued for a hour last night only 1 service point open , queue in street most of day , lady that was serving I'm sure was on a go slow , 😩

[johnhinton]

Hang on, Alice, the DV post office may be smallish, but the staff are very helpful and it is altogether far more pleasant than the old DV post office. There's an ATM and the pharmacy wrapped around the post office (or vice versa) is similarly much, much nicer than it used to be.

[Northern Star]

The post Office on forest hill road is good.