Fwd: UKNM: Re: Post Offices and online groceries

[Ned_Reynolds]

let's throw in the (personal) views of a PO employee...


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Subject: Fwd: UKNM: Re: Post Offices and online groceries

Author:  postoffice.co.uk at Internet

Date:    08/12/2000 11:04


 These ideas have been rolling around for a while now. There are some very

big

 logistical problems in offering this king of service, not least

refrigeration,

 storage space and returns policy.  The big issue in many of these projects

is

 critical mass.


Increasing liberalisation of the postal markets will make these types of

initiatives more possible. One factor at the moment is the PO's position asa

  monopoly provider, which creates all sorts of obstacles when operating ino

 ther competitive areas (How do you think Sainsbury's would react if we letT

 esco deliver into PO counters ?) Incidentally....running this kind of

service would almost certainly put a large number of small local shops

(which are also sub-Post Offices) out of business.


I'd suggest Lois (or Mum) hasn't thought this through in any real detail.


As the press release below shows, the PO is not standing still in this area.


30 November 2000


STATEMENT: WELCOME FOR TRIAL SCHEME TO MAKE POST OFFICES A

CENTRE FOR GOVERNMENT ADVICE AND E-COMMERCE


The Post Office today warmly welcomed the Government?s

 support for a trial scheme to make Post Office outlets a one-

stop-shop for information, advice and transactions across a

wide range of official services.


All 287 Post Office outlets in Leicestershire and Rutland will

be taking part in a trial next year to provide services in areas

 such as benefits, welfare, employment and education.


The scheme will also allow customers in the county to gain

access to the Internet and e-commerce services via interactive

computer kiosks in Post Office outlets, with help from staff and

subpostmasters.



Post Office staff and subpostmasters will become "Government General

Practitioners" under the scheme, which builds on their existing trusted

reputation as a good source of local advice and assistance for official

forms and documents.


If successful, it is hoped the scheme will be extended to Post Office

outlets nationwide.


Stuart Sweetman, The Post Office?s Group Managing Director,

Customer and Banking Services, said: "Our staff and subpostmasters

are trusted by the whole community and Post Office outlets have an

unparalleled customer base.


"Post Office outlets are in an ideal position to provide expert and trusted

 advice on Government services. They can also significantly extend

access to the benefits of new technology in a familiar environment for

people who are not accustomed to using it."


Under the trial, the Government will be providing £15 million for the pilot

project, which is due to begin next summer. The money will be used to

install technology and provide training for Post Office staff and

subpostmasters.


The scheme is part of a range of initiatives being developed by The Post

Office to provide new business for Post Office outlets to help replace the

 income which will be lost from 2003 when benefits are paid directly to

recipients? bank accounts. Currently, paying benefits in cash to recipientsa

 ccounts for around a third of the total income of Post Office outlets.


Some 800 Post Office branches in the West Country recently joined anothert

 rial scheme in the West Country involving home shopping. Customers can

nominate a local Post Office branch as a delivery point to avoid the

inconvenience of a delivery being made to their home address when

they are not there to receive the collection.


----------------------------------------------------


Issued by The Post Office?s Newsroom: 020 7250 2468 (24 hours)


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Subject: UKNM: Re: Post Offices and online groceries

Author:  "Lois Grayson" <

loisgdialstart [dot] net

> at Internet

Date:    07/12/2000 09:48



Funnily enough my Mum asked me last Feb why she and the rest of her villagec

 ouldn't log onto Tesco.com at an internet point in her Post Office to order

with one weekly pre-set delivery day and time - had to tell her that

Tesco.com didn't deliver to the darkest depths of Cornwall and attempts tot

 alk to said company about said idea didn't get far. But then attempts tot

 alk to Barclays Bank about a re-motivation programme for their remainingb

 ranch staff didn't get far this year either. Moral - Big business still

doesn't give a s**t about customers or staff unless immediate ££££s are very

apparent.


My Mum ; eBusiness entrepreneur or just someone trying to make the net worko

 n a common sense basis?

So disappointing to explain that to get this organised you'd have to finds

 omeone in the PO with a brain and a vision so it's a no-hoper before yous

 tart


Lois


[Sam says: msg chopped]



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