01. 07. 10. - 16:00

Almost 800 'post offices' run by shopkeeper

Almost one in two post offices in Austria are run by shop managers and petrol station bosses, new figures have shown.

Post AG said today (Thurs) 756 businesses were participating in its "Post Partner" project ensuring postal service across the country despite dramatic cost-cutting measures.

The scheme gives groceries, mobile communication services shops and other businesses to earn some extra money by offering the postal service’s core services.

The company, which has came under fire over massive losses over the past few years, announced there were still 1,051 post offices in the country after closing 159 last year.

The eastern province of Burgenland has the highest amount of "Post Partner" shops with a percentage of around 50 per cent, while there is just one in Vienna.

Workers’ union officials attacked Post AG bosses over their restructure concept.

"Customers turn their backs on the post in shoals and assign private competitors to send their mail," one workers’ representative said.

Post AG chiefs meanwhile claimed they have made the right decisions as the firm managed to reduce its losses from 14.5 million Euros in 2008 to 9.2 million Euros the next year.

The company however faces fresh pressure after launching a new marketing campaign many customers do not understand, according to reports.

The new ad series with the slogan "Wenn’s wirklich wichtig ist, dann lieber mit der Post." (If it’s really important, send it with the post.) shows a mailbox with naked haired male legs in hiking boots crossing streams and walking along a road in a night-time thunderstorm.