Just an idea!

[nykkieberry]

Just struck me as I was hauling my latest bag of bootie for ebay down to the Post Office: why doesn't the post office install automatic posting machines in supermarkets that weighs your parcel or letter, allows you to chose your postage options, prints a postage label and then accepts your parcel? so much easier than dragging yourself to the post office? what do you think? does any country do this?

[darth vader]

this sounds seriously like a bloody good idea and why don't you write to Royal mail about it? - Offices are allowed to frank their own letters/parcels so i don't see why joe public couldn't do it too. And why don't they have a weighing machine next to a postage stamp dispensor so you can decide how much it needs on it? (if you ask them that too i'd be grateful. Oh and while we're on the subject can you ask them what happened to my postcard for my mum sent from Whitby in 1979......)

[katejess]

This is far too sensible, therefore, it will probably never happen!

[rinkytink]

If such a device existed I think that the Post Office would then have to double check each parcel just to see if it had the correct postage on it. That would create twice the work for them.

[nykkieberry]

Rinkytink - my point was that it would weigh your parcel, you pay the correct money then it franks and accepts it - rather like a parking ticket machine giving you your ticket back once you have paid? Therefore parcels wouldn't need to be checked. I am sure in this technological age there would be some way of fraudproofing it so that it only accepted parcels with the correct postage....

[indiesinger]

That's all very well and good, but it would put a hell of a lot of people out of work.

[rinkytink]

Ahhh....I'm with you now !

[nykkieberry]

No probs Rinkytink! Indiesinger - like computers? cars? sewing machines? ATMs?? Vending machines? Washing machines ? The Internet? Even stamp machines? A valid but not realistic argument. I would also think that it would possibly create more work for the PO as a whole as it would increase usage? I know I would be much more inclined to use the service if it was easier than having to cram a visit to the post office in my lunch hour that is out of my way and has no parking! The parcels would also still have to be collected by PO staff. The machines could be assigned to a local post office so they don't lose out? They are just physically offering the service somewhere else?

[indiesinger]

I'm talking about village post offices, like my dad owns. They don't make enough money to be cost-effective and if people start using external post-weighing machines, a lot of direct business is lost. Any money made on a new scheme would not be given back to the trade lost at sub-post offices.