Touch-screen post office is in business

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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THE newly refurbished, computerised Halifax Post Office is now open for business.

The branch in Commercial Street has undergone major renovation work to create its new customer service area.

Halifax is one of 43 flagship offices in the country to get the new systems.

Its new look was officially launched on Monday.

Gone is the traditional barrier system for people standing in a long queue.

Now customers use the touch screen queuing system, where a staff member asks them what service they need and issues them with a ticket from a machine.

They then take a seat and wait for one of the four screens to call out their number and direct them to where they should go.

Two self-service automated Post and Go terminals also feature, allowing people to weigh, pay for and post their letters and packages without needing to visit a counter.

Customers can see a financial services specialist in one of the new private areas for services such as credit cards, mortgages, the access savings account and home insurance products.

Branch manager of 18 months, Janet Addy, said: "It's a big, big change.

"We have had a lot of positive comments from customers.

"They like the system and are finding it's quicker and easy to operate.

"We can offer a wider range of products now."

The re-fit of the listed building started in April and included a 12-day closure of the branch.

The rest of the work was carried out at night so that daytime business was not disrupted. Mrs Addy said a few people with poor sight and hearing had faced a few challenges on the first day but staff walked them through the process. She added: "I have worked for Post Office for 31 years.

"There is always a bedding-in time for people to get used to changes but we have found we have not had any major complaints with this system."

Mrs Addy, who heads a team of 25, said the branch was named top in the country for its financial services sales a few weeks ago.

[Lounge Lizard]

Ignores the fact that most people using a Post Office aren't interested in being sold "financial services", and it doesn't even suggest that the time waiting to post a parcel will be any shorter, only that you can queue seated instead of standing.

[Stormproof]

My local Crown Office has gone down the route of touch screens and sofa's.

[DGP1]

I wonder whos smart idea this it, all people want from a post office is to send a parcel and collect their pension, if they really want to improve POs they could start with putting extra counter staff on

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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The new Post Office was still packed


Published Date: 01 July 2009

Haugh Shaw Road

Halifax

SEEING photographs of the "modern new look" of Halifax GPO in the Courier (June 24 and 25), I wonder what time of day these were taken?
There were very few customers, but when I visited the Post Office on the Wednesday at about 13.40 the place was packed with waiting customers.

I obtained my ticket (no 124) from the touch-screen machine.

It also stated that there were 38 waiting before me. The seats were all occupied and because of standing customers it was difficult to move around the room to reach the counter when my number came up after waiting 10 minutes.

However, the counter service was excellent.

The staff were pleasant, quick, efficient and answered my queries regarding my overseas mail package politely - full marks!

Alan Brearley