Post: Too few branches in rural areas – 141 locations unoccupied

With almost 13,000 post offices – most of which are kiosks and other retailers with post office counters – the Bonn-based company is represented nationwide. (Symbolic image)

Source: imago/Funke Photo Services

According to a legal rule, the post office must have at least one branch in communities with more than 2,000 inhabitants. In communities with more than 4,000 inhabitants, the distance to the branch in contiguous residential areas must not be more than two kilometers.

With almost 13,000 post offices – most of which are kiosks and other retailers with post office counters – the Bonn-based company has a strong presence nationwide, exceeding the state requirement of a total of 12,000 branches. But in rural areas and on the outskirts of towns, the post office does not always comply with the distance rules.

According to the information, there were only 73 unoccupied mandatory locations in October 2023, which is only about half as many as in July of this year. However, this is not a trend, the value has only been fluctuating for a long time – in January 2023 there were 174 more than recently.

The reason for the logistics company’s difficulties is the structural change in rural areas: if the last supermarket or general store in a village closes and no other retailer is available as a partner, the branch location remains vacant. Sometimes it just takes a while until a partner is found.

A Post spokesperson pointed out that setting up branches “is very challenging, particularly in rural areas with a poor retail infrastructure, and we must always expect branch partners to close their businesses.” It is therefore not unusual that the number of vacancies has increased.

“We will continue to work intensively and in close dialogue with the mayors in the municipalities concerned to be present at all ‘mandatory locations’,” said the spokesman for the postal group DHL, whose national letter business operates under the Deutsche Post name.

The problem is likely to get worse next year. New rules in the postal law, which was recently amended, will come into effect at the turn of the year. Under certain circumstances, so-called post offices will also be counted towards meeting the mandatory requirement, which has not been the case so far. Post offices can be used to buy stamps, postage paid for packages, and drop off letters and packages. Video advice is also available.

One advantage: the machines are available around the clock, but customers at post offices have to stick to the opening hours. Of the 141 unoccupied mandatory locations in July, 27 locations had a machine – it was certainly possible to use postal services there. This shows that the figure will probably fall next year.

However, the post office must coordinate with local representatives and it requires the approval of the Federal Network Agency to count a machine towards the branch requirement. It would be a surprise if the agency were to object to this issue: its boss, Klaus Müller, recently made generally positive comments about the machines.

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