Give the Post Office a break

But despite its drawbacks and its ability to frequently annoy consumers, it would be a sad day if we were to lose the majority of our Post Offices branches.

To add to its problems its Parcelforce division has come in for some stick as it has failed to deliver packages in a timely and efficient manner during a period when the internet has taken off and home delivery demand has increased. When it happens to you then I admit there is nothing quite as heinous as finding a card through your letterbox to say a package could not be delivered.

But then, as it to surprise you, the service can suddenly show itself to be more customer-friendly than many other organisations on the high street as I found out last week. After a number of failed attempts to change a couple of large denomination Euro notes into smaller units at well-known high street banks - one of them actually asked “what's in it for us?” - the Post Office came to my rescue. The cashier simply checked the notes were not fraudulent, asked me what size notes I'd like, and then hoped I had a good trip wherever I was going.

Yes, this transaction did not make the Post Office any revenue, but as a customer service exercise it was exemplary, and isn't that exactly what high street retailers are trying to achieve. Isn't it all about building relationships? But all too often they fail because helpful activities and services are deemed unprofitable. No prizes for guessing where I'll be going in future for my foreign currency.