An Post announced on Wednesday morning that the price of a national stamp will increase from €1.40 to €1.65 on February 27th. By early afternoon, at least half the people coming and going from Dublin’s St Andrew Street post office were aware of the forthcoming cost increase.
“I think it’s expensive; €1.40 was enough as it was,” says Paul O’Flaherty, who had been on an errand to withdraw money. “I do send letters now and again and I do use the post office.”
“I put all my post through the franking machine at work, and it’s 10 cent cheaper to do it that way,” says Geraldine Quinn. She frequently uses the post office for registered letters and parcels and rattles off their various prices and weight limits instantly from memory. “Are they going up too?”
“It seems like no time since the last increase,” says Ann Morrissey. “Surely, the more you put up the price, the less people will be inclined to use the service? I don’t post many things, mainly cards, but my husband still pays bills by post.”
“I think the stamp price increase is fair enough,” says Declan Cleary, who has been buying a Prize Bond. “I buy one every month.” Cleary has relatives in England. “I post a lot of parcels to them. I think An Post is very good.”
“Obviously people aren’t sending enough cards or letters, so they have to put the price up, because An Post is a business,” says Raymond O’Brien. “Christmas is really the only time I send cards. I have 17 stamps left over from Christmas. It definitely is more special to get a card or a letter than an email or a text message.”
Paola, who is Polish, and doesn’t wish to give her surname, thinks that “post in Ireland in general is quite expensive, especially if you send a lot of things. No wonder people are choosing to use text messages and emails instead ... I find DHL or other couriers are better.”
“I don’t think putting the price up is a good way to try and increase business, but I don’t see what the alternative is for An Post,” says Patricia Carroll. “So many people are using email now and less people are using the post office.”
“I was just in posting a birthday card to my nephew,” says Seán Earley. “I think the stamp increase is fair enough. They have a business to run. I don’t use the post office a huge amount, but I do use it to post some documents from time to time.”
A middle-aged man who didn’t want to give his name said he uses the St Andrew Street post office every week to receive his social welfare, but never sends any cards or letters: “I can’t really read or write.”
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