Post Office Opening Times, Why Are They Not More Flexible?

[saintpeter48]

It seems that the Post Office has not moved with the times, the strict opening times of 9 - 5 in majority of cases is a tad antiquated. What about people that work those same hours, a more flexible time of say 8 - 6 would be better and also employ more people! Thoughts anyone?

[mikey4444]

Perhaps this is one of the reasons that Post Offices are fast closing down, all over the UK ?

[albaqwerty]

although some post offices are open all day on a Saturday, those who work 9-5 mon to fri, don't want to spend their lunch-hour in a long queue.

Banks have altered their opening times, I think post offices should too.

My local PO used to close for lunch between 1-2 which wasn't fun either.
It's now closed down.

[Prudie]

I have to agree. Both my local 'village' post offices close for lunch, close at 1200 on Saturdays and can you believe still have half day closing on Wednesday afternoons. Even the main town post office closes at 4 on Saturdays. I think they're franchised out though ie the employees are not employed by the post office.

[Greedyfly]

Most post offices in my area are open saturdays - this suits me

[Cloverjo]

My village PO stays open for lunch and all day Saturday. I agree the times could be extended beyond 9-5.

[Buenchico]

You must live in a very backward part of the country, SP48. I can't find any Post Offices around here that close at 5.00pm!

I've just checked on the hours of Post Offices in my area. The one in our small town (of under 5000 people) is open from 9.00am to 5.30pm six days per week. (That extra half hour during the week might not seem much but it's a boon to people who work 9 to 5).

The main one in the larger town 3½ miles away has similar hours, except that it opens half an hour earlier (at 8.30am) on Mondays and Thursdays, to assist those collecting pensions or benefits. (A smaller branch in the town is also open to 5.30pm, except for 12.30pm closing on a Saturday).

The village Post Office 4 miles in the other direction is also open to 5.30pm (except on Saturdays, when it closes at 1pm)

The village 5½ miles away has a Post Office branch open 7 days per week, from 7.00am to 8.00pm (except on Sundays, when it closes at 6.00pm)

Other (very small) villages have a mobile Post Office calling there several mornings per week, with one tiny hamlet even having a Post Office service which goes to their homes. (Admittedly that's only once per week, but it's still providing a valuable service).

Those services are all much better than we had until a few years ago, so perhaps the Post Office is moving with the times after all?

[gingejbee]

In our market town, the Post Office is inside Martins (newsagents) and is operational the whole time the shop is open. That's 6am to 6.30pm six days a week AND 7am to 2pm Sundays...no, I didn't believe it either when I first was told...but it's true. Perhaps it's some sort of trial run...it started at the beginning of the year.

[royfromaus]

Post office local...open whenever the shop they are within is open.