Is the post office, UK defunct?

Message

hughnique · #1 Post by **hughnique** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:56 pm

Having seen the price of a stamp nowadays, and the rise of technology over the past few years, especially with regard to e-mail, is the current round of strikes etc the final nail in the coffin for the Post Office letter service. Christmas cards, a fine example, the stamp normally costs more than the card, so where, as a knock on effect, does that leave the likes of the Card Factory, and the like. Cards, cheap as chips, but delivery, if it gets there, exorbitant. I think some of the parcel delivery companies were keen to rival the postal service, wonder what their views are now.

niemeyjt · #2 Post by **niemeyjt** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:14 pm

Well they are trying to reduce postal deliveries to reduce losses and put efforts into competing with the couriers.

With the Post Office network, the have an immediate benefit over other carriers - however the unions are not keen to modernise. The problem is that once a company moves away from Royal Mail for deliveries, will they go back?

hughnique wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:56 pmdoes that leave the likes of the Card Factory, and the like

Well Moonpig shares got hammered - losing 75% of their value.

Blaze · #3 Post by **Blaze** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:33 pm

Having lived a mobile life, along with family and friends, Christmas was a time when news and photos were exchanged with Christmas cards. I used to enjoy sending (and receiving) around 80 a year !!! It was always exciting catching up on the year's news.

Social media and postal charges have killed the sending of postcards and greetings cards. An E-card or something on social media isn't the same to me as a personal message or a card. Social media has enabled people to keep in touch 24/24 so the excitement of catching up on news at Christmas has gone. Am I the only one who loved receiving and writing letters ? Thankfully some of our friends/family feel the same way but the costs have become unrealistic to send cards as we used to.

niemeyjt · #4 Post by **niemeyjt** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:46 pm

And then you had the additional joy of writing on that onion skin airmail paper to ensure the letter was below 20g. Memories, eh?

Wilbro · #5 Post by **Wilbro** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:11 pm

The price of cards in France is ridiculous. 3 or 4 euros for a piece of folded cardboard with a a bit of printing on it plus the postage. This year online for us like some of our friends although it's a shame. It added to the atmosphere when the living room was festooned with cards.

MAD87 · #6 Post by **MAD87** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:14 pm

Blaze wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:33 pm Am I the only one who loved receiving and writing letters ? Thankfully some of our friends/family feel the same way but the costs have become unrealistic to send cards as we used to.

No you're not the only one, but as you say, costs have spiralled so much (particularly in France) that sending a card + stamp is out of reach. We used to charge ours to the business, but as we're due to close it within a week, there seems little point and we're always miles behind anyway!

Blaze · #7 Post by **Blaze** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 4:09 pm

Wilbro wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 2:11 pm The price of cards in France is ridiculous.

Agreed, Wilbro. The best deal was years ago when La Poste sold cards in stamped envelopes, very good value for money, but they stopped doing them (probably lost money on them).
We buy ours in Jersey in boxes, not expensive but then you have to add the postage ....

beejay · #8 Post by **beejay** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:02 pm

hughnique wrote: ↑Sat Dec 17, 2022 12:56 pm Having seen the price of a stamp nowadays, and the rise of technology over the past few years, especially with regard to e-mail, is the current round of strikes etc the final nail in the coffin for the Post Office letter service. Christmas cards, a fine example, the stamp normally costs more than the card, so where, as a knock on effect, does that leave the likes of the Card Factory, and the like. Cards, cheap as chips, but delivery, if it gets there, exorbitant. I think some of the parcel delivery companies were keen to rival the postal service, wonder what their views are now.

Royal Mail and the Post Office are separate organisations.

My local village Post Office, as do many others, also handles a lot of mail for courier companies. Draw your own conclusions.

Post Office Money handles financial products through the Bank of Ireland (UK)

exile · #9 Post by **exile** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:09 pm

The last couple of years we got boxes of half decent cards from Lidl and B&M (formerly Babou) but have not seen any this year - not that I think either of us have been in B&M for months. However as said, postage on top starts to be a big drain.

Mangetout · #10 Post by **Mangetout** » Sat Dec 17, 2022 5:53 pm

As someone who is spending time remembering the past by looking at photos and cards, I'd say they are irreplaceable. Touching the letter or card that someone sent is special.

France in Focus

France in Focus