Is there anything more disheartening than seeing one of those red 'Sorry we missed you' cards on your doormat? They always foreshadow a lengthy walk to a semi-industrial part of the neighbourhood, followed by an interminably long queue that snakes out onto the street. And of course, the weather will be against you too, with either freezing rain that soaks you to the bone, or sun so searing, you feel certain you'll collapse from heat exhaustion. Now, I'm not expecting free refreshments, nice as that would be, but would it really hurt the staff here to proffer some semblance of manners, customer service or even, dare I say it, a weak smile? Well apparently, it would because here you'll invariably be greeted with stony glares at best, or barking orders at worst, demanding you comply with their rules. And woe-be-tide anyone with the 'wrong' postcode as you will find your journey and wait has been in vein. The main issues appear to be two-fold. 1) They don't employ enough staff for the amount of parcels they are required to process, and 2) the ones they do have, demonstrate no sense of urgency whatsoever. It's an office of 'Dawdling Dills' and queues out the door, onto the street and even into a whole new postcode, won't urge them to speed things up. They'll do it in their own time, and customers be damned. All I can advise is not to go when you're feeling in any way impatient as the near-violence level of frustration they will provoke in you, will only serve to sour the remainder of your day, once you're finally able to retreat from this tomb-like office. With or without your parcel. Hmmm...

These are the rudest and most incompetent people I have ever dealt with. Like what seems to be the case for many they just put a card through my door when I was at home. Didn’t even bother to ring. Then on the note it’s asking me to download the app to rearrange for delivery. Go through the whole ordeal of downloading this and of course there is nothing on there. Spend mu Saturday afternoon travelling to the collection post office and The woman there is the rudest person I have ever met. Tells me - despite it stating on the card that this is ready To collect from the next day and it’s been two days - there is absolutely nothing in the system. Woman barks at me that there is nothing she can do and call the customer service. Customer service is closed on a Saturday at 4pm. I’m sure when I call again on Monday I ll just spend hours on the line waiting. I paid 8 quid for this standard delivery for something I ordered. Royal Mail should close their operations, they’re clearly not fit to run a business l.

Don't trust Royal Mail with anything of any value. They managed to lose a special delivery item of mine and remain adamant it was delivered, strangely without the corresponding proof - signature, GPS information. What a mystery, what terrible service.

E8 desk attendant at 3pm Thurs 29 Oct was absolutely taking the piss. Queued for over 20 minutes in front of this sign. No apology when she finally came in, totally unhelpful. About as far from “Customer Service” as you could get.

Is it just me or is there lack of professionalism in today's F society? Website states clearly that QR codes can be printed here but after having walked 25 minutes they told me they haven't been printing over the past couple of months. Why is it called Royal, because it's as much of a joke as the Royal Family?

Spending your morning queuing up to recover your property here feels like a little taste of the former GDR. A shining beacon of glacial bureaucracy, where queues weaving out the door and down the street are the norm. One staff member - I believe her name is Josephine - is an ever cheerful angel with the patience of a saint. Another lazy oaf is happy to sit on the stairs collecting overtime for an hour, while 30+ people stand in line to be served by one single open service window. Understaffed.

I'm really upset with royal mail because they came to deliver my parcel today and they didn't even call me or ring my door bell and saying now that they gonna send my parcel back to the sender and saying that they came the wrong address and it was right address I have to them... you cant send something that I paid for back to the sender and if I can now I have to go all the way to Bethnal green from Hackney tomorrow morning before they send it back... I'm so mad

As another reviewer said, queuing here to collect your own property conjures images of being transported to some eastern bloc 1970's administrative office, with permanently 5-deep queues and staff who seem like they legitimately couldn't give a toss how long you wait or whether you get what you're looking for. Zero urgency, any request or complaint by you that involves them not just doing the same thing over and over again will be met with "the system is broken" and no apology. These people are drones with no ability to problem solve or even empathise. If I hadn't been in a rush on ebay I normally would've checked the seller doesn't use Royal Mail because this is exactly what happens every single time people ship stuff using them to me. It is fun that you can hear the sorting staff swearing and screaming at each other from the outside pavement too. Classy.

Why on earth are you forcing me to fetch a delivery addressed to dalston in bethnal green? and since when are opening hours from 06:00-13:00 acceptable?

Paid for a special delivery on Saturday. On Saturday, they left a no-answer note while I was at home. Why should I leave home, when I paid extra for a delivery for a specific day? The system said later in the day that I could collect my item; so I went there to return empty handed and told to come on next working day. The blame was put on me because as I cannot prove that I was at home. I am never going to get special delivery service from now on because apparently it is the same with their regular delivery services.

Hahahaha. It makes me laugh reading all these silly complaints and moans in the comments about the Royal Mail - coming from the London hipsters because let’s face it, only they complain when things are not going their way or not receiving a middle-class service. Royal Mail always do their best to deliver mail and parcels. It’s you folk’s responsibility to be in your homes to receive your parcels when RM tries to deliver at your door. Pathetic excuses in the comments just because they have to go to collect their parcels themselves. Have a but more respect- Royal Mail always does its best. They are a national institution. So stop moaning about it. People on London just have no patience.

I work from home, meaning I am home nearly all hours of the day, especially with Royal Mail "attempts" delivery. Not once have they called, knocked or anything to show they are "here" so I am constantly left with the red slip and the dreadful trek to this location. line is always 10+ people deep and the staff are extremely rude and condescending for absolutely no reason. I hate leaving poor reviews but this is just unacceptable at this point.

Royal mail is hands down the worst company on earth. I really hope this place gets shut down and they all lose their jobs. useless a**holes

First delivery office I’ve ever seen that closes at 1 on weekdays and it’s basically in central London. Come at 1230 and the queue is down the street. Come on this is the 21st century.

Absolutely horrendous place, like we're in a prison queuing up for rations... The queues here are so slow and depressing, everyone looks lifeless. This Post Office has been my main depo for many years, I can confidently say that the staff members here are really nice people but damn they're so slow and love to take their sweet time and start conversations with every customer, ain't nobody got time for that lool

They can't keep up with their work. 2 trips to get something that hasn't been sorted yet for 2 days. Not to mention they don't even try to deliver your package. Was home all day and didn't hear one ring from the doorbell; just a message on my phone that they attempted delivery.

Not usually one to write reviews but felt like I need to. It was a very busy Wednesday night and yes the service was slow (there was only one lady working), but she was so polite and efficient.

Absolutely atrocious service. Two items of mine now have been retained at the depo for no reason. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR SERVICE?? SORT IT OUT!

So so many people waiting in the queue, one person serving. You really need two people in here. Especially as Wednesday is the only time you open late during the week ( which is ridiculous also) you should be appropriately staffed.

Massive queue, they just need more staff.

Awfully slow. If I could choose, I'd never use royal mail. Other services will leave with local shop that needs extra business. This place is a dump, one person serving slowly, queue usually over 1 hour long, parking outside is 4.50 per hour. Avoid if possible, but if you're here, it probably wasn't, and I feel sorry for you.

Never Get your parcels delivered by royal mail in hackney cant even ring your doorbell

Says they attempted delivery but they didn’t, no card left no re delivery attempts. System won’t let me change delivery just says its out for delivery constantly. Called head office they said it’s unacceptable and will chase but to claim against them if nothing turns up in 3 days, which it didn’t. Mess of a service

>The typical experience< Arrived at 8:50 on a Wednesday to pick up a parcel. The queue time was 25 minutes, it came all the way to the door, where I joined it. There was one member of staff helping. Pick up was quick. You need the red "We missed you" card and photographic ID to pick up.

Went to collect a parcel on Friday 9th Dec, checked on website and said it was open from 8am - 4pm I'm disabled so I set off early it took me 1 hour to get there only to find it CLOSED without any explanation just closed shutters!! No wonder they're in crisis. Thank You Royal Mail for a wasted day!!

For staff this Royal Mail branch is Clearly not happy place to work. When you not happy it is really hard for you to move any part of your body. Possibly over exploit, underpaid there could be all sorts of reasons. They barely speak( dream on getting a smile ha), barely move , barely have anything done. They are so burdened, that they carried a PACKAGE from A to B which is like max 3-5m. The unfairness in all these, they take their frustration out on poor customers not directly but through their rude communication, through their undercurrent aggression and through their deliberate slow as hell service. The karma is they are the ones unhappy in their work place for 8+ hours! Bless them! The place doomed for failure.

One person working and long queue. It's like somewhere out of the 70s. Way to travel back in time.

The office marked 4 parcels as 'incomplete address' despite it being a full correct address. Royal Mail had confirmed it should not have been marked as an incomplete address. This was done because it was a large item and they're incompetent to deliver such parcels. Multiple parcels are delivered daily to the address they marked as incomplete and unable to deliver.

Unbelievable a service this bad can still exist in a modern economy.

The staff who is a lady is rude and lazy, terrible service and always just one staff

Had a note through the door and went to collect at 1pm the next day (it said it would be ready next day) and it “wasn’t on the system come back later”. Arrived at 5.40pm and the queue is out of the door and only one person serving at an average time per customer of 1-3 mins. They need more people serving if they are going to have such a slow process. When I left I counted 14 people still waiting (outside).

20/09/22 ABSOLUTELY disgusting experience collecting my three parcels - someone obviously spilt coffee when they went to retrieve my parcels from the back and instead of notifying me and apologising they allowed me to carry it. i ONLY realised halfway home when my clothes were badly stained that something really disgusting was on my packages. i did notice this on one of my parcels whilst still in the office but as this particular parcel was from overseas i thought there might have been a spillage from when it was being shipped - it was only after i realised it was on ALL THREE packages which is inexcusable and definitely means that somebody not only SPILT coffee which had ELECTRICAL ITEMS inside but they refused to notify me & allowed me to leave with three disgusting stained packages which has ruined my (very expensive) jumper. absolutely disgusting & inexcusable 🤢

The rudest service I’ve ever received. The man behind the counter couldn’t have been less helpful. After I came all the way to the post office (with my leaflet saying to come and collect my parcel) he informed me it wasn’t ready to collect. I then asked when it would be ready and he said “maybe” tomorrow. When I expressed that it would have been helpful to have not given the collection slip before it was ready he just said “ok” and gave a sarcastic smile. Awful.

Literally got a sorry we missed you letter in the same package as one of our other deliveries. So i got one of my items but the other one is in the post office because no one was home apparently! I literally watched them put it through my letter box!

Hostile staff and less efficient. Takes longer to drop a simple package. Same rude lady still working here

The only reason I give it two stars is because the lady who works on the counter is really nice. The service is an absolute joke, despite Royal Mail having my delivery preferences set to deliver to neighbour and a note on the door they stuck my parcel back in this black hole that is Emma street post office. The following day I went down to collect only to be told “sorry it’s not been unpacked yet” so now thanks to the bank holiday I won’t get my package until Tuesday at least which would be great but I paid for a faster service than that. If Royal Mail staff spent less time going on strike and more time working we might actually have the service we pay for 😡

Rude and fake! Need to read a dictionary.

Awful service, just went to pick up a parcel I had delivered there and was told that they couldn't find it. After I asked what they were going to do about it, I was told "they couldn't make it appear, could they", absolutely no sympathy. Been pointed to a customer service tel. line or told to 'just keep trying'....

I will recommend everyone to get there percel redelivered if they can. Really long wait and only ONE person is serving! They take long to give u your item and with attitude as well, no apologies for waiting even after when you've been queuing for an hour. I will never go there again!!!

My girlfriend went there from Chingford to collect my parcel, on the last day, with the original document and she was refused to pick up the parcel, even when I sent her my I'd scan. Terrible customer service, and no flexibility whatsoever to help clients. Since I'm working today, the parcel well now be returned. I'm really upset, speacilly because I used to live in Whitechapel and never had any problems with using this method to collect parcels for my housemates. Thank you so much!

The care of my package was non existent . Just received my packet and I am completely shocked . Not only the outside plastic ( where the address is written ) is ripped off , the box is also opened . When asked what happened to my packet the postman answered that he received like that . SHOCKING !!!

Staff have a hard time with grumpy customers. If you are pleasant they are pleasant in return.

The staff is nice, but the combination of poor opening hours and long queues add up to this rating.

Never again, lazy and rude. 3 times out of 4 I had to call royal mail for a problem they made and never happened with any po before. If you don't see anyone in opening hours just check the coffee shop near by, they are there chilling and not caring about people.

Went on a busy Saturday morning to collect a number of parcels. Despite the bad reviews staff were nothing but helpful and polite and my experience was not in line with other reviews. The queue moved swiftly and efficiently.

The manager, Russell is always a delight to deal with. Have been going to this post office for years and he always looks after me.

This depot’s opening hours and level of customer service are to geared to make life easier for staff rather than customers.

Given the reviews I was gearing up for a terrible experience, but I've been twice and had no issues. First time (weekday just before closing): no queue. Second time (weekday before 9am): 1 person ahead of me, short wait. Totally fine.

Employee didn’t know how to scan my already paid for parcel. Went to the other office, no issue

Royal Mail is not always easy to deal with, but the lady working at this delivery office really goes out of her way to help customers looking for parcels. I’ve seen her go over and beyond to help several people, always with a smile on her face. Thank you!!

cant understand this place its also a depo , when post is missed fro them been late, i will go next day. but seems the drivers just leve the vans in yard with all the goods in the cold damp as they could not be arsed to unload the van, this is why every time i go next day, there excuse its not on the computer its in the van still, but the people in office are very rude accept 1. she will check even if not on pc and 99% its there, where others will palm you off, so that's how i know there lazy especially the young guy who is in my book trading a red line with me. he say not on pc and will not check. time will tell with mate

No post delivered for 2 weeks in the run up to christmas. Presents for kids missing, with no explanation or comeback. Place is a black hole. Use Hermes or DPD, the Post Office is like something from the communist era

E8 has had no post for 2 weeks, waiting for important documents and letters. No explanation given on the website either.

Walked all the way down here as per the instructions on my while you were out card and queued up for half an hour just to be told the package wasn’t ready to be picked up because of ‘system issues’. No noticed on the door to stop you wasting your time queuing. Isn’t it time for this dinosaur of a courier to be put out of its misery?

As much as I loathe coming here to pick up parcels, because a) its quite far from where I live and b) there's always a big queue and only one customer service operator there, I have to give some stars to the woman who works there mon-fri. She's always patient, helpful and seemingly unfazed by the grumpy line of people waiting. If not for her, I'd be giving two stars.

The worst service I have ever had.

Terrible . Lost my item and was extremely unhelpful

Went to the E8 collection point at 08:30am on a Monday. One person in front of me in the queue so was out in 5 minutes.

Are yous open boxing day , being an one time employee of parcel Force , I admirer the Service of Royal mail

There is no reason to be so unhelpful and un reasonable. Poor service. Borderline rude.

Been here a few times, always really slow and low service. This I normally expect anyways as its the royal mail. However today I came after work the branch were already closed and lights off 5 mins before closing time. A lovely gentleman who lived near by told me they often close before scheduled to and it has been for some time. On the door the upto dates opening hours are visible and they matched online but I guess the staff left early.

31/07/2022. Delivery office was not open. No signs outside online says open. Phone number does not work! Saw a worker in the van and asked. He the the person that was supposed to open up did not show up 😆😆 hilarious. He needs sacking and this review should have been 0 stars.

Slow & ineffective

Delays me getting a package for a week because of it's absurd location. Why on earth put the E8 collection point there.