hey, don't tell anyone - this is top secret

You may remember that I've told you before about my unfortunate user experience at the Post Office. That whole episode reminded me of something that my wife once said to me: at the time she worked in a County Council Planning Department and she came home one evening and said "You know, I'm surrounded by the most highly intelligent bunch of people at work, but not one of them has got a single ounce of common sense". And I rather imagine that these are the exact qualities that are the hallmark of the modern Royal Mail executive.

Now, if you or I were running Royal Mail, we'd think that the best way of securing the future of the organisation would be to encourage our customers to make the most use of our services, wouldn't we? And encourage them by providing them with helpful information. But, actually, Royal Mail doesn't like doing things that way.

Take post boxes, for instance. How about an iPhone App that would tell you where the nearest post box was and what time the collections are, no matter whereabouts in the country you were. That would be useful, wouldn't it? In fact, several people have thought so and submitted the idea to the Power of Information Task Force's 'Show Us a Better Way' website. It turns out that Royal Mail claims that it doesn't even have a complete database of its post boxes, and what information it says it does hold (a handy PDF file), it's only willing to release once it's confronted with the Freedom of Information Act.

Honestly, if it weren't true you wouldn't believe it, would you?

Comments

[Mo]

How about they just deliver our mail! Strike again tomorrow.

[Ben]

I don't think there is an app. But Tom (who works with me) made a website called http://postboxes.iamnear.net/ which is optimised for iPhone usage.

[Pat]

I've been using an ipod / iphone app called ``UK Postboxes'' http://bit.ly/19kWo9 which does this. It's been great in and around London, and seems to be improving its coverage out here in the sticks rapidly. You can also submit boxes it doesn't have although I haven't done that myself.