I HAD three parcels to dispatch Saturday and entered St Aldate’s Post Office to be confronted by five inanimate metal monstrosities and not a service counter in sight.

I stand corrected: there was one but this was solely for money exchange.

There was one member of staff who was quite obviously under pressure to cope with the incessant demands for assistance from all who were attempting to come to terms with these alien invaders, including myself.

I was given assistance with my first parcel and the lone staff member went to help an elderly lady who was clearly about to destroy the abomination.

I then completely confused the machine as it appears it can only cope with one transaction and when I sought assistance the staff member had vanished (no doubt to the nearest telephone to ring the Samaritans).

It was at this juncture I decided to submit and left to make my way to St Giles Post Office hoping the aliens had not yet reached this end of our fair city and I was relieved to find a counter with a human being.

I detest these DIY checkouts which seem to be springing up everywhere and all they do is deprive people of employment.

No doubt the Post Office will not even consider reducing their prices.

So what do they intend to do with the salaries they are no longer paying to redundant counter staff.

I would hazard a guess at installing DIY in more locations.

RAY HOLTON
Kingsclere Road
Bicester