Post Office in the 21st century

It took me about 20 minutes to purchase postage stamps today. There was a long queue at the post office, a scene quite common in the recent years. No, it is not a queue to purchase “first day cover” stamps. (that is so 80s)

Paperless electronic mail system is gradually replacing the traditional letters. In order to survive, the post office has to engage new business direction and diversifies their product and services. As a result, the poor staffs behind the counter find themselves in a weird situation, trying to define what their job really is. Ditto for us too.


Nowadays, post office does not merely sell stamps, greeting cards and administer the delivery of packages. Remittance of money is nothing new too. Post office also accepts payment of hospital bills, CPF top up, exam fees and insurance renewal. It also deals with Readers’ digest bills, Pacific internet bills and road tax. Well I must admit being intrigued by its division of “Equipment dropping off (IBM, HP equipment)” What does it actually means?


But today’s visit is really an eye opening. There are several items on sale. Get ready for this. There are electric iron, rice cooker, vacuum cleaner and hand phones! I wonder when will they start selling tomatoes and potatoes too. Who knows, in future, it may be named Super-post or ShengSiong Post.


I suggest you make a trip to your nearest post office because soon it is going to be extinct forever.

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