Should I buy!!

[Sidney_69]

Hi all, have just joined this forum and would appreciate your advice both positive or negative on becoming a sub post master.

I am looking at buying a small convenience store with a post office counter in a small village. I am a bit concerned as there is a lot of talk about what is happening with the future of post offices. I don't think that the shop would be viable if the post office shut or become a post office local. Could any one who might have recently gone through this process have any advice for me.

Thanks

[Lounge Lizard]

A SMALL convenience store with a post office counter in a SMALL village sounds risky but presumably that is reflected in a relatively low price being asked for the business.
Best get it all checked over by an accountant, and ask around locally, like how long has it been up for sale for ?

[subbie]

If the Postmaster you are interested in buying from registered the fact with POL that he had his PO business on the market, and did this prior to 31st March this year, then you will be offered the existing terms and conditions, so should avoid being forced to take on the PO Local Model.

Hope this helps, and if you do get appointed you should join the Postmasters section of the CWU, cos you are going to need all the help and protection you can get.

Good luck

Subbie

[BELIAL]

I'd take a look at the ten year trend, and note how many subs have come on the market. Then I'd say to myself ,how many folks sell a gold mine ,and for next to nothing to boot

[cdpete2004]

YES ! BUY ONE ! BUY MINE !!!!!!

[Lounge Lizard]

Looking on Humberstones website regularly http://www.humberstones.co.uk/search.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; one might notice Sub Post Offices that have been up for sale for many months That they might not sell like hot cakes could suggest something.

[FairyFoot]

Long hours, according to my uncle who was a sub-postmaster in the 1960s...

[nibbler]

please do not buy.


i did this 2 years ago and it has been the biggest mistake of my life.


the post office is a nasty company to work for.

they pay for a local is non existent

it does not bring about more trade

it ties you down so hard ,




the locals in the village will not support you, you need to remember they will go to tescos , even if its more expensive. for example in my shop we only stock price marked products , i cant make less if i tried , still i get told i am more expensive than tesco . i have taken to having ocado open on the laptop so i can prove people wrong when they tell me that

they may buy a newspaper but thats about it.



i promise you the days of village shops and post offices are finished ,


good lluck

and remember the people you will talk to about the post office are useless. they will lie to get you to get you to sign a conract that will make you

[Lounge Lizard]

Look not only on Humberstones but the Post Office website too and if your area is like mine you'll find about six Post Offices within an eight mile radius of your home for sale which surely says something doesn't it ?

[nibbler]

in cornwall , they are for sale everywhere , i resigned and my nearest ones has just been closed down through force by the audiors . from what i gathered they where using PO money to keep the bills paid .

instead of help POST OFFICE have destroyed them, and actually as we see , it might not of been false declaration , as its very possible that the horizon system is faulty.


my field change advisor who has been absent for over 2 years now shows up the other day to explain to me how closing the post office local will go , fine but i have already been told by my contracts advisor weeks before, so blatant lack of communication , then he makes several errors and concludes his visit by telling me that the consumer focus report is wrong and all local models are doing really well and only mine did not work.


and these are the people whoi will make your life hell if you decide to be a post office.


what we have found is resignation is that our business is better for it , lesss pressure less stress and now we dont subsadise the POST OFFICE.


all in all if your determined to open a village shop then do it first for a year then think about weather you want to burden yourself with a company thats failing to modernise effectivley.

just get a pay point machine , less hassle same rubbish renumeration .


and dont listen to your locals , they will say they want a post office but , buying a book of stamps evey 2 months wont do it for you though.

[Nige97]

Like all major decisions about business they should be based on the best sound research YOU can do.
Make sure you understand the remuneration and contractual issues for both the Local and Main models.
If you are looking at purchasing a PO that was on the market before the magic date and which allows them to sell it to you with the existing contract in force bear in mind that when you come to sell it your purchaser will under current conditions be forced on to one of the two models which might devalue your business.
The Mains contracts being touted at the moment are only drafts and have not been signed of as final versions by the parties involved. Note the CWU are not one of the parties involved in the new contract negotiations as they are not recognised by POL as having negotiating rights for Sub Postmasters. I make no comment on whether this is right or wrong but you should know the facts.
The new Mains contract has what may be a worrying clause with regard to how you can change the retail business you run with your PO.
Get your accountant to look at the last three years figures at least of any business you think about purchasing. have your solicitor take a good look at the contract on offer. These two actions will cost you money but could save you a lot more in the long run.
Talk to people who actually own and run a post office.

Nige97

[nibbler]

hi when was that magic date please