Store owners say postal outlets at risk
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 8:01 AM ET
CBC News
Toronto's in-store postal outlets seem to be disappearing and storeowners say the reason is Canada Post wants the small shops to buy expensive new computers and make other changes, with no guarantee of a long-term commitment from the post office.
The Double-D Variety Store on Danforth Avenue has already been stripped of its Canada Post signs and logos. But the store was such a well-known postal outlet that people in the neighbourhood keep coming by — looking for stamps or to send parcels.
Regular customers Nicolas Iosifidis and Kelly Sweetman were shocked to find out the postal outlet they depend on is gone.
"This is our closest postal outlet and now that this is moved I will have to go even further, which is a real shame," said Sweetman.
Amy Liao ran the postal franchise at the back of her store for more than 20 years.
"Mostly, I feel sad," she said. "I feel this is not [the] right thing, especially for the public."
Liao says Canada Post demanded she buy expensive new computer equipment worth $12,000, along with a redesign of her store that would have cost another $70,000.
Even if she spent the money, she says Canada Post wouldn't guarantee she could run the outlet in her store beyond 2011.
"I was really angry because this is not fair," said Liao who decided instead to close the postal outlet.
Across town the Grand Bargain Convenience Store on Dundas Street West still has its postal outlet — but only because of a grassroots campaign to save it.
Owner Paul Ju says Canada Post told him his counter was too small. He believes the post office is just looking for any excuse "to close down [the] small outlets."
Ju's mail counter stayed open after 4,500 people in the neighbourhood signed a petition.
Canada Post said Wednesday it won't comment on the specific cases. All it will say is that it's a private matter between the corporation and the stores it does business with.
