Some of the
folk behind the counter in my local post office are pleasant and the other is
probably OK. Although, in fairness, she
has always been pleasant enough with me she radiates that ‘Don’t mess with me’
attitude which can be rather off-putting and certainly doesn’t encourage chatty
conversation.
Contrast that
with the wonderful Stornoway Post Office.
I went in there this morning to ask if they were one of the 600 Post
Offices that were getting the Olympic Gold Medal stamps in stock the day after each British
Gold Medal winner at London 2012. They
weren’t but imagine how the blow was lessened by being told, so pleasantly, that
they had contacted another post office to ask if they could have some of their
share (answer “No – we need them all”); that they hoped to get them within a
few days; and that if I wanted to leave my phone number they would ring me when
the stamps came in. I declined on the
basis that it isn’t that urgent and we are regularly in town (I need my fix of
Florentines at The Woodlands) I was happy just to pop in and see if they had
them. But such pleasant service. It makes one’s day to be treated so
nicely. Not just as a customer but as a
person and, what’s more, as a person whose needs /wants matter.
Top marks to Stornoway
Post Office – Gold Medal winners in my book.
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That's nice. But I feel compelled also to say that when you get a bad 'un in a local post office it can also make a big difference but in the wrong way. Fortunately, most folk like to get on with their neighbours. Where would the human race be without that! :D
ReplyDeleteIt does not only make your day being treated nicely, it also is a much better day for the person behind the counter - their work is a lot more pleasant if THEY are pleasant.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I never understand the surly attitude some shop clerks show towards customers, as if it was such a burden to serve them. Time passes quicker, and work takes on a different quality if you get such nice response from customers.
Hear, hear. I could never understand it myself when I worked. Those who enjoy themselves and are nice to people get a good response from colleagues and public alike. They can work a twelve hour day and think nothing of it while those who don't enjoy work suffer at least that long between four and five (metaphorically) as they watch the clock, wanting to get away.
DeleteThe U.S. brought out biking stamps last month, but of course, not Gold Medal ones. I never paid attention to stamps before I started Post Crossing. I do NOW, both in sending and getting the postcards.
ReplyDelete~hugs~
Have a great weekend.
Your fellow countrymen might have unlocked the secrets of DNA but getting stamps out the very next day after gold-medal victories? That's impressive!
ReplyDelete(And I read that they would paint the post-boxes gold in the towns where the gold winners were from. Did that happen, I wonder?)
Royal Mail have this morning already painted three pillar boxes gold, to celebrate Olympic Women’s Pairs rowing gold medal winners Helen Glover & Heather Stanning and cycling time trial winner Bradley Wiggins.
DeleteYou’ll find the gold pillar boxes in Heather’s home town of Lossiemouth, Moray and in Penzance, Cornwall for Helen. Bradley Wiggins gold pillar box is in Chorley on Market Street opposite the town hall. Royal Mail pillar boxes have all been their trademark red since 1874 and this is the first time they’ve officially changed colour since then.
One of the many advantages of this community is that the Post Offices are staffed by people who know their customers. Last month the Stornoway Post Office team beat off competition from the UK’s 370 Crown Offices and the 11,500 sub-post office branches around the country.to be awarded the Country's Best Performing Branch and Most Improved Branch.
ReplyDeleteThhanks, GB. I meant to look that up after you mentioned it and include it in the post. It then slipped my mind. Something to do with my forgottery, I think.
DeleteThat sounds lovely. Anna, at our local pharmacy postal sub-station is great. The only problem is that they aren't allowed to take foreign mail over small letter size -- and since most of my mail goes to the UK -- I'm not in there very often! It's back to the lines at the main post office downtown for me!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Ah, Carol, but think how much your waiting in the downtown queues is appreciated by the recipients of those lovely parcels - especially when they come out of the blue on a rainy day.
DeleteThe problem with dealing constantly with the public is, well the public!
ReplyDeleteHaving dealt with them and found many pleasant I also understood why Americans wish to carry a Gatling Gun or two while going to work!
Sounds like the Stornaway P.O. is the one to use from now on. It says much for them and their regulars!
Good postal service is a thing of the past in Canada. Letters are lost, parcels arrive weeks after they're promised and staff at the big offices are surly in two languages. I know I sound harsh, but it's quite evident - perhaps working conditions are terrible, but I think not. To be greeted with a smile at the PO is a rare and wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you know are interested in the exchange of information that we are all talking about something! Thank you for my part.
ReplyDeletecleaning london