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18 of Royal Mail’s new ‘post boxes of the future’ have been introduced to Swindon, and have already divided town opinion.
The change has been labelled Royal Mail’s “biggest redesign in its 175-year history”.
It features a solar-panelled top, a QR code and a barcode scanner which allows residents to send small parcels without needing to go to the post office.
While some residents have described the post boxes as convenient, others say they are difficult to use and create more issues than they fix.
“I am one of the people who could not post a letter in the box at Liden outside the post office and Tesco store,” said Swindon resident Bob Rooke.
“A few others and I tried and in the end I had to find another post box to post it in. There were three people trying to do it and not one of us was successful.”
“I had a barcode on my package – but the scanner didn’t do a thing,” added Sarah Bedwell.
“There’s no way people will understand how to do this.”
One of the 18 new digital post boxes, located near Ellendune Community Centre in Wroughton (Image: Newsquest)
Speaking to the Swindon Advertiser, the Royal Mail has confirmed that the new ‘postboxes of the future’ are not intended to replace post office service, and for many people and parcels, that will remain the preferred option.
The postal service states that the new digital boxes are simply adding another option that will be convenient for some.
Responding to suggestions that scales and a printer could improve the accessibility of the boxes, Royal Mail has stated that in cases where customers don’t have access to scales or a printer, they should use the Post Office, a Royal Mail Shop or a parcel locker.
Instructions on how to use the new digital post boxes (Image: Newsquest)
“I expect, like most things, some people will find the new post boxes useful while others will not,” pointed out one Swindon Adver reader.
“I guess in locations where post offices may be few and far between, then the new solar-powered post boxes could be handy, but for where I live my first choice would still be the post office.”
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Another added: “Some people don’t live near a post office and if there was one of these new digital boxes at the end of my road, I would use it.”
A spokesperson for Royal Mail told the Swindon Advertiser: “Our post boxes of the future offer another convenient way for our customers to access Royal Mail’s services, alongside home delivery and collection, our Customer Service Points, Post Office branches, lockers and Royal Mail Shops.
“We’re pleased to see positive feedback from customers in areas where the post boxes have already been introduced, and we hope that residents will find them just as useful and convenient.”
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