Post Office

It’s a quite busy office on Baker Street. They have five counters, but even during rush hours only one of them is opened. Don’t know what the other four ar for…
That said, if you only need to get a post stamp, there are machines and a person who is able to help you with using them.
They also have a small selection of office supplies and postcards. Nothing fancy but may be handy some time.

If a post office can be bi-​polar, than this one needs to seek professional treatment as soon as possible.
Sometimes, this place is as sweet can be. The lines move quickly, the staff is friendly, they have an automated machine in the corner which speeds things up and they even sell Doctor Who posters. What’s not to love about all of that?
And yes, on other times, this place is a nightmare in hell in something word than a nightmare in hell. The lines move painfully slow, the tellers are unbelievably rude and the place looks disgusting (scraps of paper and other mail-​related rubbish everywhere, on tables, on floors, just gross.)
I do not understand what causes such a difference but one is there for sure. Need to mail something here? Roll the die, take a chance, hold your breathe, you’re in for the ride of your life.

Won’t be coming back to this Post Office after a ‘run-​in’ with a fierce b*tch behind the counter (and I don’t mean that in the gay way either). She found fault with our forms, argued back by interrupting whenever we tried to explain and generally was in battle mode from the moment we got to the counter. Her manager that morning was no better either. Intent on fighting us.
It’s called customer service because you serve the customer. If you don’t let the customer speak, then how can you serve them?
Be warned, unlike at the other Post Offices we’ve visited, here the Passport «Check and Send» service is charged full-​price even if they just «Check» it but don’t «Send» it.

Yeah, I’m 5-​starring a damn post office!
Here’s the thing, I’ve actually been putting off this little errand for a week or so. I just didn’t know if I had the fight in me to deal with a post office. Basing all of my experience on the good old USA system of disgruntled and irritable staff (did the expression «going postal» originate in the US? I think it did), I was just not in any mood to deal with snarling, angry people in an effort to get my wedding thank you notes to their rightful American homes.
And so this morning, armed with coffee, I just bit the bullet and made my way in to finally ship these thankful notes out. Immediately I was assisted by a very kind girl with the postage machine (self-​service, hardly!). She not only counted the number I needed, but then walked through the entire transaction with me… and then proceeded to actually STAMP MY LETTERS and then took them from me to be mailed correctly.
Sidenote: I think the machine was pretty easy to use, I could’ve figured it out on my own… so next time when they might be busy or my guardian postal angel isn’t available, I have no fear I’ll be able to perform.
I’m stunned. Is this how all UK postal offices are? What is the secret? Why are they so nice? What is happening?!
I’ll be back, of course. I wouldn’t really have a choice, but now I won’t dread it.

This may aswell be my local Post Office as it is close to my workplace and thus if I need to do anything post related, tis here I go.
This review could have gone either way — higher and lower! — as I’ve had many an experience in this branch on the many occasions I’ve visited so I thought I’d sit on the fence, hedge my bets and play it safe but giving it a three star.
There have been the times when I’ve had dreadful, slow and downright rude customer service and other times the complete opposite; there have also been the times when I’ve wasted an entire lunch break in there due to queues and technical issues with their systems and the two quick service machines but other times I’ve waltzed in and out like a flash!
Therefore as you can see, it has been a difficult review to write but I just hope in future the experience carries onwards and upwards!
Located right near the tube and train station at Baker Street and handy for many a bus route too.