All posts in the topic Cost cutter PO
Summary
- There are 6 posts — by 5 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Jock Coats at 2009 Jan 05 13:59 UTC
The PO in St Clements closed some time ago now - about the same time as
William St. Westlands Drive costs 2.20 for an adult return and 1.10
each child (I've got two, who are too small to leave alone). It would
take about 2.5 hours for the round trip, allowing for bus unreliability
and waiting a short while in the PO. I think this is prohibitive.
I sympathize with you, Helen, but the closures are caused by the EU and they
are going to go on and on until enough people wake up and realize that we have
lost control of our own country.
If you go to the local Oxford UKIP website you will find a link to documents
and evidence that explain this in detail and establish it beyond doubt.
Our MPs go through a hypocritical rigmarole of pretending to oppose these
closures, because they know that most people are too apathetic to go and find
out who exactly is governing them, how and from where.
Yes, the country is in trouble, and yes, people are sleep-walking. It will cost
you a lot more than £2,20, because it is costing us our democracy.
I have noticed that the PO here is showing its usual ingenuity in
creating hassle and frustration. One of those red cards turned up yesterday
telling me that a recorded delivery item had been taken back because I was out
(actually I was in, but they didn't hang around long enough). The card had a
telephone number on it. When you ring the number, you get the usual press this
number, press that number sort of options, then you hear a new message, not the
same one as last year. It's a young woman with a slightly husky, supposedly
sexy voice, rather like the annoying person who does the Virgin Media recorded
messages. She tells you that by far the easiest and quickest way to get your
item is to go and pick it up from the local sorting-office!
It really is exceedingly annoying to be told that something is quick and easy
when it is neither. This is just a way of telling you "go away". If you press
the option for "book a re-delivery by telephone" you are told, "Sorry, we
cannot answer your call at present, And you cannot leave a message,. Goodbye."
So what is the point of giving us the telephone number in the first place?
Just another way of wasting time and fraying one's nerves.
This time last year they lost a parcel of mine containing a pearl necklace ,and
later admitted they had sold it off. I am waiting to see any signs of
improvement on that record.
<sigh!>
Years may come and years may go, but somethings never change...
Happy New Year everyone!
Cheer up... always look on the bright side of life!
We know you are a fan of the PO, Lindsey. There may be some people who enjoy
ringing up the sorting-office only to be told you cannot get through to them by
telephone. Perhaps the same people think it is great fun to work their way
through the six or more successive screens necessary just to put in your
address on line and book redelivery, or the wait in all day for a parcel
because they refuse to specify a time of delivery.
It's not my idea of fun! But maybe some people find it exciting.
I think most of us find getting parcels from the Royal Mail pretty grim (with not being able to make a simple telephone call the most annoying thing of all). But can we please return to the subject, which is how Marston would be affected if Tesco came in and CostCutter withdrew. Is there any way that Tesco could undertake to provide a post office in its store should that area of Marston ever be without one? Tesco's claim that they have 200 post office counters in their One Stop and Tesco Express stores. http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/response/?page=article17
As that article suggests, however, it would appear to be rare, if
ever, that they have opened a Post Office counter. These 200 are ones
they acquired with the T&S stores takeover and their survival as Post
Offices was one of the most bitter bits of the campaign against that
take-over.
It does appear that all they are saying there is that they close a few
each time they are converted to the Express format.
There was a suggestion when the news first broke of Tesco acquiring
the Friar that they might be willing to open a Post Office, but it is
clear from their planning application that there would be no intention
of them doing so, and I doubt they'd feel the need to work hard to get
a near-by replacement for one that was not being closed directly by
them.
I wonder whether the William Street shop might be willing to take on a
Post Office again - I noticed in there the other day the area at the
rear that used to house the PO is now sporting a few PCs and claims to
be an internet access facility - quite how much demand there is for
that in that particular location I'm not sure! But the point is that
the space is still there and pretty much unused or at least easily
converted back.
Interestingly I bumped into Mr Patel who was the sub-postmaster at
William St when I first arrived 12 years ago, and who seemed to also
have something to do with the St Clement's one after he closed the PO
at William St outside Cost-cutter in Old Marston Road the other day.
I hope it's not an ill omen if he's been involved with the two
neighbouring POs that have closed!
I think if one can read anything into their qualitative "study" of
available local convenience store trade it is the likes of Cost-cutter
that Tesco aims to *complement* and the likes of the Co-op with which
it aims to *compete*. There's precious little fresh produce in Cost-
cutter and an eclectic mix of other goods that a small multiple outlet
would be unlikely to challenge them on.
I rather think it is the Co-op firmly in Tesco's sights, more's the
pity. Aside from anything else it would be the harder premises to re-
let I would think.
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