Sir, – I’ve just come back from my local post-office (Donnybrook) where I tried to buy stamps in various small denominations. There are so many different postal rates for an ordinary letter, depending upon weight, size and destination, that it’s convenient to be able to make up the lot using the humble 55 cent stamp as a base.
However, the post office was uncooperative. They would sell me only two 20 cent stamps, not the 20 that I wanted. Yes, they could sell me 27 cent stamps, but only five (I asked for 20). And they could not sell me the two 20 cent stamps, if I wanted the five 27 cent stamps as well. It would have to be one, or the other. And, besides, what did I want the stamps for anyway? To make up postage, I replied (what did she think I wanted them for?). Well, in that case, I was told, every time I had a letter that needed more than 55 cent, I should bring it to the post office, and they would sell me the stamp (note, singular) I required then.
Was I talking with Basil Fawlty? Is the Irish Post Office so awash in funds that they are unwilling to sell the public as many stamps as they want? Are they trying to force the public into frequent visits, in order to stay open? Is it time to outsource my letter habit? – Yours, etc,