The photo is of a sign outside the government owned Australia Post retail shop at Forest Hill, in front of car park spaces reserved for Australia Post vehicles. To the left of this Australia Post car park is another spot painted in yellow and marked for Australia Post delivery vehicles.
I rarely see any more than one Australia Post vehicle in any of the spots set aside for the Government owned business. Sure, some plain looking cars could be for mail contractors but I suspect not all of them.
The privilege of this car park space right at their front door is another example of special treatment afforded Australia Post because of the monopoly protection it has from the Federal Government. If they want to take retail sales from small business newsagents, as they are doing, they ought to have these car parking and other protected privileges taken away.
Mark, it must be a slow news day and the fact that you haven’t picked on Aust Post for awhile. Have a look at the sign it’s been there for years and only now you are having a go at the situation.
Surely you aren’t that quiet that you have time to stand outside watching a car park? How about if they double park if the spaces were removed, I am sure you would say something then too!
The mail must get through.
Clem,
Yes it is an old sign. There are hundreds like it outside government owned retail businesses. I blogged about it because a colleague brought to my attention an sent a photo of another to me.
The mail delivery vehicles at this government owned outlet are few and far between. They do not need seven premium parking spots.
When I owned the distribution side of my newsagency we had more vehicular traffic yet had to accept parking far away from our distribution centre. This is the point I am making – the Australia Post business has changed yet they retail privileges negotiated through the focus of monopoly.
Mark
As a privately owned AP outlet with 2 parks between 2 of these signs I can attest that the general public takes little notice of them when requiring parking. We have a red box outside the front door within the restricted parking area and it is a ticketable offence to park over that, still the local hotel patrons park there for several hours most days. I often have to request them moved for our afternoon mail pick-ups.
I have asked my local council to look at replacing them with something more like 15 minute parking during business hours but they do not have this option in our shire.
We are also sub-news agent so hopefully you won’t mind me commenting here.
No worries, welcome!
Your idea makes sense. At my shop, the government owned post office has six spaces marked off.