But our message actually refers to the Mail by Bike Post and Go stamps which, we understand, will be in Post Office self-service kiosks and the Post and Go machine at The Postal Museum, but not at Royal Mail Delivery Offices. More information here.
UPDATE 14 SEPTEMBER: Rumour from Stampex is that there will be no more special Post and Go issues. More about this after our break when there will, hopefully, be confirmation or otherwise.
I may be a bit behind but, am I right in thinking that with this issue RM did not send any to delivery offices? Is this the new name for enquiry offices which usually have the type IIIA machines?
ReplyDeleteI've used both terms delivery offices and enquiry offices to mean the same thing, as enquiry offices are - I'm sure - always at delivery offices, because that is why people make enquiries, for things which haven't been delivered from those offices. Doubtless if I am wrong somebody will put me right.
DeleteAny confirmed news yet on the potential cessation of special Post & Go issues?
ReplyDeleteDoes the fact that the rumour of no further pictorial have other implications, so currently no 2018 printing of the machin (small size) or the large labels have appeared. Branches have been told use what they have, so many oddities have surfaced.
ReplyDeleteWhich lead to the question, is the end nigh for the Post & Go stamps, over the last year or so many of the franchised post office which replaced Crown (or as they now like to call the directly managed) branches have had SSKs. Now the Ealing Branch run by WHSmiths is relocating due to re-development of the bloc in which the current store is located, has no mention of SSK in the Post Offices letter.
https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/ealing-w5-2nh-139006/supporting_documents/Ealing%20W5%202NH%20Proposal%20Letter.pdf
I have been to Ealing twice now at 10am on a weekday morning both times no machines working due to 'staff shortages' Given how long people seem to take using them to post something and having to wade through the various screens (all with the most expensive option on the menu first!) then I'm not surprised they are taking them out. A properly trained counter clerk can probably do three transactions for every one that is done on the machines.
DeleteWas in Petersfield yesterday and was told Poppys are going back in their machines on the 23rd October. Not sure if this is a national thing but poppy appeal week officially starts on the 27th Oct according to the RBL website
ReplyDeleteWHSmith run Post Offices have no time set by Post Office Ltd for which the SSKs are to be used. The co-located Crown or DMBs with WHSmith are supposed to be in use for branch hours.
ReplyDeleteA number of the co-located branches within WHSmiths are to cease being Crown Offices/DMB so far
These have been announced (the rest will surely follow):-
436801 Aberdeen - From 2 February 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
398306 Bradford - From 26 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
263937 Chichester - From 26 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
260844 Dunfermline - From 25 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
034907 Eastbourne - From 31 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
559136 Lowestoft - From 23 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
012011 Orpington - From 30 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
010140 Southend on Sea - From 29 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
010948 Tonbridge - From 1 February 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
318434 Warrington - From 22 January 2019 the branch will transfer to WHSmith High Street Ltd
https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/consultation_finder/?keyword=&b_start=0&sort_on=iconsultable_startdate&sort_order=descending
No indication if SSKs will be retained or not
Another one SSK wonder is 150539 Plympton (from September 2017)
oops fat fingers strike back...
Delete(from September 2017) should have been (from September 2018)
From the “One Post Office” website
Delete“On 11 October, we announced we have announced a new agreement with WHSmith to increase the number of Post Offices that they run under a franchise arrangement.
Under the new agreement up to a further 41 Directly Managed branches are planned to be relocated into WHSmith stores in 2019, supporting the long-term sustainability of Post Office branches and bringing longer opening hours for customers in many areas.
In addition, WHSmith will take over the running, on a franchise arrangement, of the 33 Directly Managed Post Offices that are already hosted in their stores but currently operated directly by the Post Office. The total number of Post Offices operated by WHSmith in their stores is therefore planned to increase to over 200 and we have visited and updated the teams in all the impacted branches this morning.”
https://www.onepostoffice.co.uk/secure/latest-news/our-branches/post-office-to-expand-number-of-branches-in-whsmith-stores/