Postal Company introduces online appointments

As part of the plan to make the Israel Postal Company more profitable and efficient and increase customer service, the company on Monday introduced a new service to make appointments to avoid lines. Instead of waiting in notoriously long lines at branches, customers can register online or via the postal app. Instead of taking a number when they show up at the branch, they will enter their information and get moved to the front of the line. The operation will be rolled out over several weeks across the country, the company said. “We added the appointment service as part of the restructuring program that is being implemented at this time and is designed to improve customer service,” Postal Company CEO Chaim Almoznino said. “The goal of the service is to benefit customers and save them waiting time at the branches.” The company’s restructuring program caused controversy late last year, leading to Histadrut strikes over plans to lay off hundreds of workers. Ultimately, the sides agreed on a plan to reduce the workforce, keep branches open later into the evening and slowly phase out the number of mail delivery days each week to just two. The plan will also increase prices, which are expected to boost revenue by NIS 150 million to NIS 180m. a year. The price of a stamp (an ordinary letter with the lowest postage) will rise from NIS 1.53 to NIS 1.86 (the rates do not include VAT). The cost of sending an ordinary registered letter of the lowest weight will rise from NIS 8.21 to NIS 10.02. The cost of sending an international letter to the US of the lowest weight will rise from NIS 5.61 to NIS 8.27. Globes contributed to this report.