This post and its comments will hold all news on Post and Go stamps, machines, and PO SSKs.
For details of new Post and Go stamps issued by the postal authorities in Guernsey and Jersey I recommend WhiteKnight's Commonwealth Stamp Opinion. All issues from the islands, and Gibraltar and the SOAR stamps from Isle of Man will normally be pictured there as announced.
Anything about the old Royal Mail machines which operated until the end of last year at various military and other museums around the UK will continue to be added on the 2023 blog post. Please continue to make comments there or send me news/images by email.
Self Service Kiosks
PW has been dogged in his determination to report on what is happening at Sheffield (a city of more than half a million folks in northern England) ever since the Wilkinson's store closed in October last year. In late November he reports that the Sheffield Post Office, located in the Wilkinson's
(Wilko) Store in Haymarket, closed in early October. It had FAD no.
016340.
The only Post Office in Sheffield City Centre now is now
at 33-35 Charles St, S1 2HU. There are now 2 Post and Go machines
installed, which could be the 2 machines from the Wilkinson Store
However, as per usual they were not switched on for public use. The FAD no. for the shop is 247340.
This month he has an update. one of the machines in use. The other machine was not in operation but a different kiosk without 'weighing plate', was present. I am sure this was not situated at the Sheffield Haymarket/Wilkinsons store so I am waiting for another visit to 'test' it. The Staff do not want to turn these machines on because they have to deploy a Staff Member to supervise them. There was a massive queue in the shop and no-one wanted to try and use the machines for their postal needs, but I marched up to them and had a go.
And a visit to Chesterfield at the turn of the year, brought errors of 'wrong roll position' in two kiosks. Kiosk 67 had 1st stock in the 2nd class position, producing 2nd class brown (R19YAL with inset phosphor bands) and 2nd class stock in the 1st class position, producing 1st class blue (CL17).
(Unfortunately only photos are provided but I have enhanced them to show the results to their best.)
Post and Go output from new location at Charles Street, Sheffield, 04/01/2024. |
Chesterfield Post and Go SSK67 02/01/2024 Machin Anniversary strip 2nd class in error. |
Chesterfield Post and Go SSK67 30/12/023 errors SSK68, 1st class on blue stock, and 2nd class on brown stock. |
All news about P&G in 2024 will be here, and comments for the old (January 2023) post will be closed later in the month.
Two locations at Southall and Clapham Common are on the consultation website as proposed for closure without replacement due in February / March.
ReplyDeleteThese Crown branches have NCR kiosks.
I will check Wood Green when it opens later this month but very much doubt there will be NCR kiosks.
"The Staff do not want to turn these machines on because they have to deploy a Staff Member to supervise them."
ReplyDeleteThat sort of suggests why I've only had several of these labels during the past fifteen years.
I think it depends where you go, most WHS branches I've been in recently (Woking excepted) have someone minding them, 'real' PO branches seem to let them fend for themselves and deal with issues as they arise. As an aside the regular users I see are people posting multiple items (eBay presumably) who know how the machines work!
DeleteRobert
ReplyDeleteSometime last year the Paignton,(Devon) Crown Office had a meet and Greet Staff member but it was stopped as a cost saving (I don't figure that out as it has 3 Kiosk so I would have thought it was saving 2 other Counter Staff) it might be due to the stopping of all but Sign For & Special Delivery Services.
Now any overseas Signed/Tracked Mail has to be done over the counter due to another Computer Mess up! with the Royal Mail/Post Office.and has to use a different CN22 Customs Label(without Bar Code) and add a Bar-Code Label.RW.
The following Rolls are in the PAIGNTON Post Office as of 13th January 2024
ReplyDeleteKiosk 67 : 1st R20YAL - 2nd CL19
68 : 1st R18YAL - 2nd CL19
69 : 1st R20YAL - 2nd CL19
RW
Sorry should have also added that the Stock was Machin Head Stamps, RW
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThe situation was made clear to me from the start.
DeleteThe supply of Machin50 stock was maybe not sufficient to meet demand and that if that came to pass Machin head stock would be used in the kiosk.
The final reel of Machin50 (not full roll) was inserted at approx 1400 just before I left the museum after 4 hours there.
I have seen a scan of the receipts for the stock purchased and am therefore aware of the value of sales made although of course I will not disclose it here.
The mail by bike stock was also exhausted but this reel was then switched out of service.
Durham today has
ReplyDeleteKiosk 67:
1st class ‘16’ Machin, 2nd class ‘19’ Machin
Kiosk 68:
1st class ‘17’ Machin, 2nd class ‘17’ Machin
Kiosk 69:
1st class ‘20’ Machin, 2nd class ‘19’ Machin
on Tuesday: none of the machines at Mount Pleasant PO switched on (and no special stamps at the counter); all on at Eastcheap with Machin/Machin anniversary in the machine I tried.
ReplyDeleteHere's another good example of suspected 'manipulation'. I doubt the Post Office was actually open at 0709 in the morning as per the receipt!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355394492412?hash=item52bf2997fc:g:oSkAAOSwzqllqrj8&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwPYmp5xaueLb%2BprkRXg1IcNoMqQFrAzScfolKMjf8064YIsO9F9Uvy9b0a99qRGILxPYV2sBk5kOi22Wyb%2FPrqckUtmPnkTCOSK7UdkeA9pF2nzaVEFFazA2Uli%2BltA%2Bpr4ahybmG9YChaDeLJeOEKrCXkQ6NmhL8U8CgO%2FbfLoIsR4A3d94vyuc%2FYzU9na%2FBq1tpx8L9Lim8%2B6KyhM7K4oYeaaQDnI%2BUwoEM0FX92C86TOQmgmG6aU%2Fl2UXDQP7wg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6zTnsOlYw
Yesterday I did visit the new office at Wood Green and as I suspected there are no NCR kiosks.
ReplyDeleteSt Albans 31st Jan
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R17YAL & Greenery CL21S
SSK70 Greenery R20YAL & Machin CL19S
Harpenden 31st Jan
SSK67 Machin R19YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R17YAL & CL17S
Luton 31st Jan
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK71 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Kettering31st Jan
SSK67 OOS
SSK68 OOS
Leicester 31st Jan
SSK67 Greenery 21
SSK68 Greenery 21
SSK69 Greenery 21 & Machin CL18S
SSK70 Greenery 21
Nottingham 31st Jan
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL18S
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK71 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
Derby 31st Jan
SSK67 OOS
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK69 OOS
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL18S
I'm told Derby keep SSK67 switched off as it's not visible from the counters and with no meeter-and-greeter now, that's considered more secure.
DeleteKettering seems to be a regular OOS and adding to my earlier comment above Clapham and Southall both close after trade on the 6th March.
ReplyDeleteNow 'Post & Go' have slipped off the page 1 news site, would it possible to have a direct link to P & G news? Thanks
ReplyDeleteIf you are referring to the blog, this is not possible.
DeleteIf you are referring to the Norvic Philatelics website, the detail there is a software feed from the blog powered by feedwind, so that is not possible either.
You can either bookmark it in your web browser in the traditional way, or use the January blog archive entry in the navigation system at the right hand side (on desktop machines). Given that most of the information is in comments, that will be the best place to find it.
I have it bookmarked on my browser. The URL is https://blog.norphil.co.uk/2024/01/post-and-go-news-2024.html?showComment=1705688408128#c7672290189460934241
ReplyDeleteJohn G
Wokingham 2nd Feb
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Greenery R21YAL & Machin CL19S
SSK68 OOS
Sittingbourne 15th Feb
SSK67 Greenery R20YAL & Machin CL17S
SSK68 Greenery 20
SSK69 OOS
Faversham 15th Feb
SSK67 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
SSK69 OOS
Canterbury 15th Feb
SSK67 OOS
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Folkestone 15th Feb
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R19YAL & CL18S
Ashford 31st Jan
SSK67 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Greenery R21YAL & Machin CL17S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & Greenery 21
Maidstone 15th Feb
All Kiosk OOS
Leeds (The Markets) 17th Feb
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin MA16 & CL18S
SSK69 Machin MA16 & CL17S
SSK70 OOS
Leeds (St Johns) 17th Feb
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL16S
SSK68 OOS
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & MA14
Ashford was 15th Feb, apologies for typo!
DeleteBarnstaple today, both machines had notices stating out of order on them However it was lunchtime and only one counter was open, the two may be connected!
ReplyDeleteTrevor according to a local collector friend of mine these kiosks are often OOS and not just at lunchtimes.
DeleteWith the closure of Union Street Aberdeen 436801 no additional kiosks have been added to St Nicholas Centre 401801.
ReplyDeleteToday all three kiosks were R20YAL and CL19S Machin.
I did ask the question on the 2023 thread but can anyone confirm whether Stamford 004230 still has NCR I did hear rumour they had been withdrawn.
If they have been withdrawn any info on a date would be appreciated for the historical record.
One late report from Perth on 5th May both kiosks Machin
ReplyDeletek67 R20YAL and CL19S
k68 R20YAL and CL17S
Although not on consultation website yet local press says WH Smith in Slough 062946 will close on the 11th May the cost of lease renewal given as reason.
Malcolm, re Perth, do you mean 5th March?
DeleteMy apologies Ian yes 5th March nothing like apologising for reporting late on something that has not happened !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteManchester Spring Gardens 23rd March
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & MA14
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL16S
SSK71 Machin R18YAL & CL16S
SSK72 Machin R19YAL & MA15
Basildon 28th Mar
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL18S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
Dartford 30th Mar
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & MA13
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Lewisham 30th Mar
SSK67 OOS
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL16S
SSK69 OOS
Orpington 30th Mar
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Bromley 30th Mar
SSK67 Machin Anniversary & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK69 Machin Anniversary & CL17S
Gloucester 4th Apr
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 OOS
SSK69 Machin MA16 & CL17S
Bristol Galleries 5th Apr
SSK67 Machin CL17S & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL18S
SSK69 Machin CL18S & CL19S
SSK70 OOS
SSK71 Machin CL19S & CL19S
SSK72 OOS
SSK73 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Bath 6th Apr
SSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & MA14
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK71 Machin R20YAL & MA14
Exeter 9th April
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & Greenery CL21S
SSK69 OOS
SSK70 Machin R19YAL & CL19S
SSK71 Machin R19YAL & CL19S
Sevenoaks visited yesterday 10th April unfortunately all kiosks OOS.
ReplyDeleteJust 2 kiosks checked at Aldwych today because of time restraint all Machin code does remain 008010.
ReplyDeleteThe use of 009010 must of been specific to the label trial.
CL17S and R18YAL in K69
CL17S and R19YAL in K70
Eastcheap 24th April
ReplyDeletek67 R20YAL and MA14 Machin
k68 R20YAL and MA14 Machin
k69 R20YAL and CL17S Machin
k70 Machin50 and CL17S Machin
k71 Long Term OOS probably social distancing
k72 Machin50 and CL16S Machin
k73 R20YAL and MA13 Machin
Hayes 26th April
k67 R20YAL Greenery and CL17S Machin
k68 R20YAL Greenery and CL18S Machin
On consultation website two further Crown offices with NCR are to close without replacement.
ReplyDeleteManchester in August and Victoria in September 2024.
Now on consultation website is the proposed move of Dorking post office in June / July, as the premises are smaller I would guess once again no NCR kiosks.
ReplyDelete3 offices checked yesterday all were Machin
ReplyDeleteVictoria 002011
k67 OOS
k68 cant find stamps !!!!
k69 R18YAL and CL17S
Strand 0550120
k67 R20YAL and CL19S
k68 R20YAL and CL19S
k69 R20YAL and CL19S
k70 R20YAL and CL17S
Aldwych 008010
k67 R18YAL and MA13
k68 R18YAL and MA14
k69 R18YAL and CL17S
k70 R19YAL and CL17S
Uxbridge 17th May
ReplyDeleteK67 Greenery R21YAL and R20YAL Machin in 2nd class
K68 Greenery R21YAL and CL21S Greenery
K69 OOS
Luton 24th May all Machin
ReplyDeletek67 R20YAL and CL19S
k68 R20YAL and CL19S
k69 R20YAL and CL19S
k70 R20YAL and CL19S
k71 R20YAL and CL17S
Plymouth 4th Jun
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Poppy R18YAL & Machin CL19S
SSK68 Poppy R18YAL & Machin CL19S
SSK69 Greenery R20YAL & Machin CL19S
On the consultation Website under Notifications is a new opening on 06/06/24 at Midcounties Co-op, 74 Rose Hill, Oxford, OX4 4HS. Covering letter says there is a self service kiosk at the retail counter
ReplyDeleteTrevor thanks for the info had missed that I will visit hopefully in the next few days and report back.
DeleteOne office to have lost its NCR is Camden which still had them on the 6th February but following a refurb has lost them by 6th June.
Two offices today
Delete74 Rose Hill Oxford 1 card only kiosk not in service yet expecting engineers call tomorrow to correct comms issue as they say I shall return.
Leighton Buzzard OOS
Rose Hill still not operational as of midday today 17th June, the promised engineer still hasn't arrived. Kiosk was powered up with a part of the start screen showing overlaid with a fault screen.
DeleteSeems my posting got lost in cyber space I revisited Rose Hill on the 14th June the same except not overlaid with fault screen just the no entry sign.
DeleteAlso visited Greenford and again both kiosks OOS.
Interesting you mention Kettering below that must be a first in a while they have been in service.
The were both powered up with no entry signs so I asked the lady behind the counter if there was any chance they could be started up and she was happy to oblige when I said I was a collector. They were switched off again as I left , I was lucky to catch it with four people behind the counter and no customers!
DeleteManchester Spring Gardens 10th June
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK69 OOS
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL16S
SSK71 Machin R18YAL & CL16S
SSK72 OOS
Same combinations as per March report! (for those machines working) Was informed that machines not currently planned to be re-deployed locally once Spring Gardens closes.
Uxbridge 13th June
ReplyDeletek67 OOS
k68 R20YAL Machin and CL21S Greenery
k69 R19YAL Machin and CL21S Greenery
Bury St Edmunds 15th June
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Kettering 17th June
SSK67 Machin R18YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
Banbury 17th June
SSK67 OOS
SSK68 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
Redditch 20th June
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Ladybirds & Machin CL18S
SSK68 Machin MA16 & CL17S (swapped)
Birmingham Pinfold St 20th June
SSK69 Machin RYAL & CL19S
SSK72 Machin R17YAL & CL18S
SSK73 Machin R17YAL & CL17S
SSK74 Machin R17YAL & CL16S
All other SSK’s OOU
Trevor It was not actually a reel swap error by staff at Redditch the 1st class was printing in the 2nd class position (on the right) and vice versa so must have been a software error first time I have seen this happen.
DeleteTried Rosehill again and engineer who was due yesterday did not visit so kiosk still not in service.
The first class roll was in the second class reel and vice versa but what you're saying is that the software should have directed the print command back to whichever of the reels contained the correct blanks. With respect I don't think the machines are that intelligent given the multitude of errors that have occurred unless you have some inside information that we are not party to?
DeleteTrevor maybe my wording was not clear.
DeleteIf you look at the pods from the front left to right it should be 1st class position, 2nd class position and "horizon" label.
What was happening left to right was 1st class stock, 2nd class stock and horizon label as it should be BUT 2nd class wording was being applied to 1st class stock in the left hand position, with the reverse in the centre with 1st class wording on the 2nd class stock and normal on the horizon stock.
No inside information but that was what was happening.
Malcolm
No they were definitely swapped on the reels when I purchased mine.
DeleteApologies my cut and paste went a bit astray, SSK 69 at Birmingham was Game of Thrones in both reels,
ReplyDeletePotentially another loss of NCR kiosks at Walsall 283242 in September 2024 on consultation website.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm, does Wolverhampton possess kiosks?
ReplyDeleteTrevor according to my records no it does not.
DeleteOnce you go North of Walsall a bit of a desert of NCR nothing via Stoke on Trent until Manchester / Liverpool.
Thanks Malcolm. hoping to get to Walsall before it moves so any others relatively near by to try would have been handy!
ReplyDeleteTrevor other local branches I dont think you have visited for a while are Harbourne, Coventry, Worcester, Tenbury Wells and Shrewsbury.
DeleteWinchester 29 July
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
2nd class reel on 69 was misaligned resulting in no office/machine/session line being produced on the stamps with 2nd class Indicator fairly central.. 1st class reel only just managed to get the identifier on the stamp as well
Another visit to Rosehill Oxford this morning same situation kiosk OOS.
ReplyDeleteWill have been open for 2 months tomorrow and still not sorted! What's going on?
DeleteVisit today to Charles Street Sheffield 247340.
ReplyDeleteNo notice on door or on website but premises are closed along with other businesses in the area this could be due to recent troubles but it does look bare inside.
If due for refurb seems a little odd as only opened in 2019.
Updating this post Sheffield is open with the staff claiming both kiosks are faulty.
DeleteThis explanation was not believed owing to previous reports about the branch.
Penzance 17th August
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
Truro 17th August
SSK67 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
SSK68 Machin Mail by Bike & CL17S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL17S
SSK70 Machin R18YAL & CL17S
Southampton 19th August
ReplyDeleteSSK67 R17YAL & CL17S
SSK68 OOU
SSK69 OOU
Eastleigh 19th August
SSK67 R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 R20YAL & CL17S
With regards to Southampton, six serving positions and three self service machines but only one staff member on duty and one SSK operational at 0930 on a Monday morning! My recent experiences of WH Smith branches is that they appear to have cut the staffing levels to the bare minimum thus resulting in a poorer service to the customer. Its the exception to see anyone manning the SSK's now like they did back in the day.
Quick check made at Dorking this morning and as I originally suspected there are no NCR kiosks.
ReplyDeleteSorry no time for other local offices.
Walsall 21st August
ReplyDeleteSSK67 R18YAL & CL18S
SSK68 MA16 & CL17S
Harborne 22nd August
SSK67 R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 R20YAL & CL18S
York 6th Sep
ReplyDeleteSSK67 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK68 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK69 Machin R20YAL & CL19S
SSK70 Machin R20YAL & CL21S
Windsor 16th September
ReplyDeletek67 Machin R18YAL CL18S
k68 OOS
k69 OOS
k70 Machin R18YAL CL18S
Hounslow 155025 closes 2nd November with the closure of WH Smith
ReplyDeleteManchester Spring Gardens closed and stripped of all SSK's (and fitments in general) last Saturday (21st)when I passed.
ReplyDeleteEastcheap 16/10/24 All Machin
ReplyDeletek67 R20YAL and MA14
k68 R20YAL and CL17S
k69 R20YAL and MA14
k70 R20YAL and CL16S
k72 R20YAL and CL16S
k73 R20YAL and CL17S
Having first opened on the 6th June the single SSK at Rose Hill Oxford 021137 finally went into service yesterday 30th October R20YAL and CL19S Machin.
ReplyDeleteHowever Greenford has lost its 2 NCR date unknown but within the last 2 months, not really any loss as the manager (if you could call him that) never had them in service anyway during this last year.
Looks like Basingstoke going next year
ReplyDeletehttps://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/24660024.wh-smith-branch-post-office-closing-basingstoke/
Two offices yesterday 18th November
ReplyDeleteAldgate
k67 R20YAL and CL17S Machin
k68 OOS
k69 OOS
k70 OOS
Moorgate
k67 OOS
k68 R17YAL Machin and CL20S Greenery
k69 R20YAL and CL17S Machin
k70 R17YAL Machin and CL20S Greenery
k71 R19YAL and CL17S Machin
First sighting of Machin CL20S found in 153611 Shrewsbury Post Office (Info Dec GSM). Any sightings yet in the London area ?
ReplyDeleteChris not quite true they were found first at Norwich, these two offices to the best of my knowledge are the only two so far reported.
ReplyDeleteThey were known to exist as they were used as the identifier stamp on the outer packaging of the CL21S version when first found at York.
Has to have been a lot of forward stacking at the supply centre.
Cambridge had them yesterday 22/11
ReplyDeleteCambridge 22 Nov
k67 R20YAL and CL18S Machin
k68 R20YAL and CL20S Machin
k69 R20YAL and CL20S Machin
k70 R20YAL and CL19S Machin
k71 OOS
Rose Hill 21 Nov
k67 R20YAL and CL19S Machin
Aylesbury 21 Nov
All kiosks OOS
Leighton Buzzard 21 Nov
All kiosks OOS
Glasgow WHS Sauchiehall Street 27th Nov
ReplyDeleteK67 R18YAL and CL19S Machin
K68 R17YAL and CL17S Machin
K69 R20YAL and CL19S Machin
Glasgow West Nile Street 27th Nov
K67 R18YAL and MA14 Machin
K68 OOS
K69 OOS
K70 OOS
K71 R19YAL and CL17S Machin
K72 R20YAL and CL20S Greenery
Edinburgh 27th Nov
K67 R19YAL and CL17S Machin
K68 OOS
K69 R20YAL and CL19S Machin