Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Big idea #2: New services at Post Offices

In my “Big Ideas” post earlier this month, there were several unique, out-of-the-box suggestions for helping the Postal Service right itself.

This week, we are exploring five of those ideas and you can weigh in on each.

Here’s the second set.

One commenter said, “How about accepting cash payment for the utility or other type payments like the grocery stores do?”

Another suggested Internet services in postal lobbies, “There is a call today to find ways to extend internet services to all Americans, just like the call that resulted in Rural Free Delivery. Put computers in postal lobbies so that customers can get an email address. And what a great platform for advertising about postal services! The Postal Service needs to move fully into the communications business, and not be hampered by only participating in the paper communications business.”

How about this suggestion? “I think at least in the small offices they should open a coffee chain. I am a level 18 and the Post Office is social hour. I think this would go over well in allot of Small Post Offices.”

What do you think? Are any of these ideas smart? Are there some good benefits? Is there too much downside? Not enough upside? I want to know how you feel. Just be thoughtful and polite in your response.

Comment here.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I surely can't see opening a coffee shop in our PO, what about the little mom and pop cafes that are serving these folks already? Computers in the lobbies? Who will monitor them? I think that greeting card lines could definitely be expanded to smaller offices, what a perfect match for what we do!!

Anonymous said...

No to all of these. I have a level 18 office and I do not need coffee drinkers in the lobby listening when I am selling a registered package, money orders or postage to a customer. This would make confidentially very hard if not impossible. I do not need computers in the lobby. Who would be responsible for getting them repaired when kids get into them or for helping a customer with no computer skills. My city already accepts cash payments at their offices for utilities, so why would I want to compete with them?

Anonymous said...

I think if we do the coffee shop thing that we will invite the state health inspectors into our offices....and that's not what we want to do. I like the utility bills idea. This has been done in Europe for years. The only problem is...what kind of fee would they tack on? If it's more then a $1.00...and they will more then likely want to charge $3-5 per bill, the idea will die.

Anonymous said...

I do not think selling coffee is a good idea in this litigious society we live in today. Anyone see the Seinfeld episode where Kramer spills coffee on himself and then sues the movie theatre he was at when it happened??? Also, we are short-handed enough without placing someone on coffee detail. I have many ideas for producing revenue - will put it in my next post.

Anonymous said...

Counting the cost of whatever changes is real important. Maybe a simple bench to sit down on while they wait in the lobby. Coffee machines available or cola or simply water bottle machine...ice chest..ice cubes :)
Darlen
RR 17
Hudson Station
Modesto,Ca.

grannybunny said...

I do not think the coffee shop idea is workable for most facilities. However, I have long thought we should consider having a "business area," with Internet access (including a printer), copy and fax machine, stapler, tape, etc, the assist customers handling personal business matters in the PO; obviously, there should be a small fee attached to these services: enough to cover our costs. I would also like to see us return to offering savings accounts, like we did when I was a child, many years ago.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I don't think coffee, or internet service are good ideas. When I go to the post office, which is not often, I just want to mail my package, get some stamps, and be on my way. I believe the items we already sell can do with a bit of better staging,like in store windows. Presentation can make a sale. Unregretable also is the fact the the USPS does not know how to negotiate the best price for items to sell. Most of our extra products are pricey!

Anonymous said...

The coffee shop idea is great. I remember growing up in a small town and folks would stop and visit with their friends when they came to pick up their mail.
However, this needs to be separate from the window service area so people wnating to buy stamps or other services aren't delayed.

joan said...

All may be good ideas but they are not practical for the purpose of the USPS. We can't be responsible for computer equipment, coffee or additional responsibility for utility payments. USPS should stick with something that will help others use our services. A package assistance counter-all the products needed to prepare a parcel for mailing, greeting cards which they will purchase and mail.

Anonymous said...

Greeting card sales should be expanded to ALL post offices.
Also....We could retail some "useful" products with the different stamp logos and themes upon them. In the past, we sold way too many "trinket" things. How about USPS cans of popcorn at Christmas time.... jams and jellies and cheese samplers with stamp logos on the
jars/packages.... throw blankets with the EAGLE or USPS logo, or patriotic themed items? In today's economy, people are looking for economical USEFUL gift items. If we had such things in our lobbies...and a card to go with it...They could "SHOP and SHIP" all in the same visit! HOW CONVENIENT!
I have a list of other ideas if anyone is interested.
Wanda Frasier, Postmaster, Burr Oak, KS 66936

Anonymous said...

A business center with copier, etc. would be nice but not all offices have room for it. Perhaps is could be extended to select offices based on need. I do think we need to offer packaging services, where we select a box, pack the item, tape it, etc. Too many customers come in with items that aren't prepared correctly, if at all. And I'm amazed how many customers have no idea how to package something for mailing. Greeting card could be offered in limited selections, based again of amount of space in each office. Let the postmasters decide which type of cards & packaging items will sell in their offices. An actual coffe shop would have to many obstacles to work but how about vending machines outside the building that we could receive a portion of the sales from? We need to start a service for hybrid mail - customer emails it to our office, we print it and deliver it. And we should be the ones who offer electronic mailboxes where customers can have their physical mail delivered to our offices and we can notify them electronically, then deliver, scan and email or destroy the pieces as the customer directs. I like the idea of selling bonds, too, as well as accepting utility payments - some small towns pay their utilities to companies in town far away, so we could be a local acceptance point.

Anonymous said...

I have a copier in my lobby that stays quite busy for a small town. We used to be allowed to offer fax service, but then HQ nixed it. I like the idea of accepting bill payments and offering postal bank accounts. I think we also need to look at some electronic versions of mail to offer in order to keep up with today's generation. We HAVE to find other products and services to offer in order to stay viable, and if our customers are going electronic, then we need to, too.

Anonymous said...

I think selling books,magazines,post cards is a good idea

Anonymous said...

I think more offices should have drive up windows. Customers needing stamps only could benefit and keep the lines open inside for packages.

Anonymous said...

I have ALWAYS thought a drive-up window would be a great idea!!!

Anonymous said...

There are wonderful ideas on here, especially the electronic mail boxes, greeting cards and "useful" gifts logo inspired, being sold in the lobby. I also like the idea of a prepackaged gourmet chocolate bar thats ready for mailing. What a nice way to let someone know you love them and are thinking of them. Stores have known for a long time that compulsive buying makes up a lot of their stores revenue. They market to this by placing the candy bars and other small items by the register to take advantage of this untapped revenue. Why don't we take a page from them and see our profits rise.

Anonymous said...

This may sound very radical, but why not let the local postmaster decide which extra services they can perform. I could offer copy services, fax service, package assitance, ect....but perhaps my neighboring office could not. Why are we so focused on universal window service? Retail standardization is a costly joke! I could easily help my customers package their items...and charge a small fee to cover the cost of a few inches of tape. I have had customers leave the PO and go to UPS because they will package their items for them. Maybe taking on a couple of extra services will increase my revenue and actually draw in new business.

Anonymous said...

The tin of popcorn and chocolate candy bar sound wonderful. I would probably be the biggest customer, and it wouldn't be to send as gifts!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with charging a fee for copying, faxing, and packaging boxes. Many customers don't have this ability and already want us to do it for them! I don't think drive thru's are the answer, we are already short staffed enough, let alone a society that doesn't need more convenience drive thru's. We also really need to utilize useful gift ideas and compulsive shopping with last minute items!

Anonymous said...

What happened to the promo that went over so well, the all in the box with the bear for Valentine's Day? Those just flew off the shelf here, just tape the edges up and it is ready to go!! I think retail standardization is important! People expect one post office to pretty much be like another.

Anonymous said...

The chocolate bars are a bad idea. They would melt with the temptures we are expected to keep the small offices. When set at 78 degrees. Coffee is bad too with the spills and sugar spilled all over. the idea of having a package mailing center won't work. I have people taking my tape I have for sale using it and putting it back on the hook. When I do ready post audits is when I find out because they usually put it behind the other rolls. The Valentine Bears were a good idea BUT the small offices like the greeting cards could not get them and we are the ones that need the extra revenue.