BUM BAGS FOR CROWNS!

[PO1]

Yet another example of how to waste money!

£3,000 has been spent from the pot of infinite cash on the delivery of bum bags to every Crown Office. "What for?" I hear you ask. So as a volunteer ( ) can go on the public side and sell stamps in the Christmas period that is approaching.

They obviously think it's as simple as "Can I have one first class stamp please?" or "May I have a book of six first class stamps please?" and they'll delve into the little bum bag pull out the items and the right change. Priceless.

It's more likely to go along the lines of Mrs Jenkins etc "I've got 7 of these going to America, erm no Canada or was it Spain. No that's right 3 for USA, 2 for Germany and 3 for Canada. They're all about the same weight I think one's a bit on the big side and I'd like 35 second, er no, make that 40 second hand stamps and 10 first..... Are you alright dear..... It seems to be taking you an awfully long time.... Yes I know it's Christmas but there's no need to snap at me!" Can't wait to see the fun begin.

Stick it with the extra pricing in proportion template you've received for your admin volunteer (if you get one). Apparently the letter accompanying it said their main role will be on the public side supporting the Meeter Greeter role (we don't have one and never have) or demonstrating/supporting your automated services such as Post & Go (nope don't have that either) or Customer Management System (you guessed it, we haven't got one of them). Do these clowns who write these things ever set foot inside a real Crown Office or do they only watch the videos of one with Dickie Barker in.

[counter man]

I have tried this in an office...what a nightmare!
We " borrowed" a bum bag from the travel reange near our bureau. ....The idea is sound.....the realitly is a nightmare. Firstly change...!!!! you need a lot of change for customers...even with a bit of everything this comes to a lot of change....and as PO1 said, customers want a variety of stamps at Chrristmas, not just first and second class books.
Now we all know how many different options of stamps and weights there are, so you almost need a full portfolio with you...so its not really practical....
However I have a radical idea.....
What about machines that vend books of stamps, maybe have them on the outside wall, so customers can access outside of opening hours. IN my office we have an area on the wall with a square steel plate copvering it, which would be an ideal location..... just an idea!

[Stormproof]

Years ago I'm sure there used to be stamp machines outside PO's or maybe I'm just imagining it Don't think they would do that now due to vandalism and everywhere selling stamps.

[PostalOfficer]

Still got external SVM. They used to dispense books of £1 or £2 worth of stamps and worked reasonably well after several years of coaxing etc.

A number of years these were replaced with machines loaded with ordinary counter books of 12x1st and 12x2nd. Customer has to insert correct change. Idea was to get them to buy more stamps, I'd have thought it more likely that they just wanted a couple of stamps for letters late at night - it's a lot of change to carry round and it has to be correct money. They were dumped on us with no prototype testing and seem to take endless fiddling to keep them going.

[Judging by the quality of the Post&Go I suspect that's another thing just dumped on us and we'll have to persevere once more to get the things working acceptably.] As with the SVMs and photobooths, at least when we put the 'out of order' sign on it I don't have to waste time tending it and can get on with serving.

Back to bum bags - I've come across the idea of quick service postage till and the like before. Actually postage is one of the most complicated transactions to be involved with, reasons as above. I've always believed that enough clerks on a proper APW counter would get rid of the queue whatever they wanted.

Anyway I stopped wearing my own bum bag - what must have been the pressure of it resting at the base of my back left me in agony. Beware!