MADAM – I feel compelled to offer a different point of view regarding the changes at the post office.
I LOVE using the machines.
Since Tesco introduced self-service machines, I don’t believe I have been to a manned checkout.
I am not a tech-lover in general; I feel that the obsession with smartphones and Facebook etc. is a detriment to our society.
But I do love self-service.
I find they work perfectly well and I rarely have any problems with them; besides how many times in comedy (and life) do we see the depiction of a customer having difficulty with a less-than-bright staff member at a bank/post office/airport?
There are many jobs created in the manufacture, programming and upkeep of these machines.
I don’t know the figures but I wouldn’t be surprised if they create more jobs than they take; and how many people complaining of jobs being taken ever use online shopping?
Turn around and make conversation with other customers; recently I helped the woman ahead of me understand how to use the machines, and the atmosphere doesn’t feel unfriendly or impersonal to me at all.
I would urge people not to expend too much energy raging against this kind of change; there are more important concerns regarding the future health of our planet and species.
Jessica Ruth
Stroud