copy
Deutsche Post still has fewer branches in rural areas than it should. In July, there were 141 so-called empty essential locations, 16 more than in February, the Federal Network Agency said at the request of the DPA. According to legal regulations, post offices must have at least one branch in communities with more than 2,000 inhabitants. In communities with more than 4,000 inhabitants, the distance to a branch in a neighboring residential area may not exceed 2 km.
With around 13,000 post offices (mainly kiosks and other retail outlets with post office counters), the group has a strong presence nationwide and exceeds the state requirement of 12,000 branches. However, in rural areas and outside cities, the postal service does not always adhere to these distance rules.
Structural changes in rural areas are the problem
According to the information, there were only 73 vacant essential places as of October 2023, about half the number in July this year. However, there is no noticeable trend. In fact, the value has been fluctuating for a long time. In January 2023, there were 174, which is more than the previous time.
The reason logistics companies struggle is because of the structural changes in the countryside. When the last supermarket or general store in a town closes and no other retailer becomes a partner, the branch location is left empty. Sometimes it can take time to find a partner.
“It is very difficult to set up branches, especially in rural areas with little retail infrastructure, and you always have to expect closures from your branch partners,” a Post spokesperson said. So it’s no wonder that the number of vacancies has increased. “We will continue to work hard and maintain close dialogue with the mayors of the relevant municipalities to ensure that we are present at all ‘essential locations,’” a spokesperson for DHL, the postal group that operates the domestic mail business under the name Deutsche Post, said.
Vending machines are becoming increasingly important.
Next year, the problem is expected to ease. With the new year, new regulations from the recently revised Postal Act will come into effect. Then, in certain cases, the so-called post office will also be considered when meeting the essential requirements, but so far it has not been. You can buy stamps, post parcels, deliver letters and parcels to the post office, and there is also video advice. One advantage: the machines are available 24 hours a day, while the post office requires customers to observe the opening hours.
In July, 27 of the 141 mandatory unmanned locations had machines installed, so it was possible to use the post office, which probably shows that the value will decrease next year. However, the post office has to cooperate with the local representative and the Federal Network Agency needs approval to calculate the ATM according to the branch requirements. It would be surprising if the authorities take a position on this issue. The authority’s boss, Klaus Müller, recently expressed an overall positive opinion about the machines.
notification: This report is part of an automated service of the German Press Agency (dpa), which operates under strict journalistic regulations. The AZ Online editorial team does not edit or check it. Please send questions or comments to Feedback@az-muenchen.de.
