Post office secretly closed branches

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Every time a post office closes in Switzerland, people grumble. Even if he writes fewer and fewer letters and has already digitized payment transactions. He still wants to have a post office in the neighborhood or village. Regardless of whether this can be run profitably or not. Mail closures are a political issue.

The announcement by Post boss Roberto Cirillo (51) that Swiss Post has a stable size with a network of 800 branches was therefore positively received in 2020. 800 post office closures are over, he said at sight. “From 2021, we are looking for partners who can independently manage the remaining 800 branches with them as service centers,” Ticino said.

“Transformations are possible in the future”

This search has obviously stopped. Because the post continues to establish branches. “Weekend Switzerland” did the math: there were still exactly 772 at the end of March. So it was 28 post offices less than the 800 promised. In short: Swiss Post did not keep its word.

What does the yellow giant say about it? “Individual transformations – always in consultation with communities of course – are still possible in the future,” says a Post spokesperson. Future branch closures may be due to “exceptions”. According to “Weekend Switzerland” this includes, for example, lease agreements that are about to expire. Or a “significant” drop in the number of people visiting a branch.

35 percent less turnover with letters

You didn’t lie. According to the spokesperson, Swiss Post has always said it wants to “fix the number of self-employed branches at around 800 during the current strategy period”. If we’re talking about “around 800″ branches, the number could be lower.”

It is clear that fewer and fewer customers are visiting a post office. The letter business has shrunk 35 percent since 2016. 38 percent by deposit. It is therefore not surprising that the loss-making post office network will lose 71 million francs in 2022. More closings will follow. (be)

Source :Blick