The Post office

My name is Bisi and I am a People Watcher ! Which is pretty darned lucky bearing in mind how long I’ve just spent in the Post Office in Croydon.
The Post Office looks lovely from the outside, then once you get inside it has all the appeal of an airport departure lounge, with squirrel like queues filled with very bored looking customers. First hurdle to overcome is the ticket system and the inevitable ‘do I need a ticket or not’ moment that we all hate.
Fortunately there is always an assistant on standby with varying degrees of friendliness. If you are unlucky enough to need a ticket, then you are unlucky enough to get to sit on probably the most uncomfortable, bright red, faux leather seats or should I say seat pads attached to equally uncomfortable wood blocks!
I have never seen so many people fidget at one time, desperately trying to get just a little more comfortable.
Despite the outwardly efficient ticket system and copious cashiers, there always seems to be a queue, which I think is down to a lack of urgency from their cashiers, who may have been selected on the basis of how slow they can conduct a single transaction.
The only chance you have to shorten your transaction is use the quick service machines for postage. These usually work but when they don’t, just grab the nearest assistant to avoid a postage meltdown.
The Post Office is definitely an a must-​have in any community, it should be warm, friendly and acessible, which is where Croydon Post Office falls down.
Must do better C– !

Ironically this is still the «main» post office in Wrexham although it’s a lot worse since it was re-​fitted out. There are even fewer counters, and a lot less in the place. They basically replaced service with queuing space.
There is a photo booth and a dedicated passport counter, and a Bureau de Change, but to be honest you’re just as well going to your local branch.

Do yourself a favour and avoid this Post Office at all costs on a Saturday as they are always packed and the queues are horendus! I’ve done this twice now and still haven’t learned my lesson. Although there are a lot of counters always open, it is just the sheer amount of people that need something from the Post Office.
There are three chairs there for people to use but hardly enough if there is a long queue. I do feel sorry for the elderly who use this Post Office during the weekends.
Luckily there is a seperate queue for foreign exchange and there is hardly ever any queues there. There is also a seperate counter that allows you to buy the lotto and scratch cards as well as a few basic stamps.

A good branch of the post office in King Street. Although there’s often a queue, there are usually a lot of people serving, so you don’t have to wait long. Useful for stationery too and quite friendly.