Standing proudly on the corner of King William and Franklin Streets sits the Adelaide GPO Building…read moreand this is another of Adelaide's significant buildings designed by Edmund Wright along with Edward John Woods. Of course today it's the Adelaide head office for Australia Post and inside you can do all the normal post office things like post your letters and parcels, pay bills or organise a passport. Where the GPO now stands has actually been the site of the Adelaide post office since 1851 even though the current building wasn't actually built until the years between 1867 and 1872. It took over 20 years before the clock and bells were installed. There were four bells installed to chime and one to strike on the hour. These are the bells you still hear today when they chime every quarter hour. In 1892 the building was extended to accommodate the recently added telephone exchange and by 1894 a new switchboard was installed. It's incredible to think how technology has changed since the days of the first post office and I have to admit, in this age of electronic and social media I enjoy going into the post office to post some old fashioned snail mail. There's something quaint about it in this day and age and I'd really like to think that a building like this hasn't lost its significance or relevance.

What a curious place is Adelaide with all its history carved in stone. It is a beautiful place in…read moreso many ways, and a savage place in others. A dreadful heat pounding on the land so much of the time, and in the cold weather it is truly a cold place. Much of the stone used to build Adelaide buildings was quarried from the local region. The masonry work done on buildings such as Adelaide's rather large General Post Office is quite fine when you get up close, and the historic interiors are very beautiful with a lot of amazing wood work along with the grand design. Sometimes the actual service can seem just as brutal as the weather when you hear the way non mainstream people are handled, but if you turn a blind eye you can get way with believing this whole city is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. I say this after hearing an Australia Post worker be so incredibly rude to an Indian customer I thought for a moment I was on Candid Camera; I'm not even going to repeat what she said to the woman it is so rude, but I will say this - these people are so complacent and secure in their job positions they think they rule the world. At the Adelaide GPO I have stood and requested to speak with the manager on duty because I've been mocked by a service provider at the counter. I was handed seventy cents worth of five cent coins once in change, and I requested I be given my change with less coin; the woman behind the counter rolled her eyes at me and huffed and puffed because this meant she had to get some other change for her change drawer. Given her display of ridicule towards me I asked if I may speak to the supervisor or manager on duty; which solicited more eye rolling and puffing and huffing, "Oh you'll have to wait," says she. "That's okay," says I, "I will wait." After about nine minutes a woman came out from the back asking, "What's your problem?" Her attitude was clear - I was the bad guy - there was no doubt she had me pegged as some kind of trouble maker. "I'm not happy with the counter service," I said. "What do you expect me to do about it?" says she. "I'm only coming back here if you guarantee I'll be treated with civility and respect; otherwise I'll be writing a long letter to my local MP," I said. "Right," she says, "that's fair enough," I smiled, "Good, we'll leave it at that then" and I left. Don't let them get away with it say I. If they are rude be quite clear that you want to speak to someone about their rudeness. It is such a beautiful building, it would be a great tragedy if people stopped coming in to it because the staff were so incredibly rude.

Quick and effective customer service with useful tips. A large selection of products available…read morein-store, including handy birthday cards and a few small gift choices. I often receive a smile from the staff, which makes a big difference. Sometimes there is a line, but you can skip it by visiting during less busy hours.

This is a regular stop for my stamp buying, parcel sending and mail collection. It's run by a…read morehusband and wife team. Postman Pat in fact. They provide passport services and bill paying, and even have a small selection of gifts. The shop isn't very big, and sometimes there's a line up. At least the owners are pleasant as there is a sign to say they won't get your mail from the boxes if you've forgotten your key, but they have done it for me when I've been occasionally forgetful. As they know me now, no longer is ID required and I just need to sign my name.

I am about as regular posting a letter or a parcel nowadays as I am to receive them (unless its…read morecome from ebay). So you can imagine my surprise when I went into Australia Post the other day and felt like I was being transported into some space shuttle of the future. Clean lines, no isles full of cheap gifts you will never send to relatives overseas, limited product in store, fluro red lighting, someone on a Hoverboard could have zoomed past and it wouldn't have been out of place! Aus Post are now giving you a "self check out" option, which even I as a Gen Y'er was too scared to try. Apparently you can weigh your parcel, pay a bill or post a letter withi this machine. I'm sure that's the way of the future but for now, putting a good old stamp on the front of an envelope and knowing its going to be delivered to someone by a guy on a motorbike is the greatest reward about sending a letter! Even during "peak hour" (1pm) I was served quickly and with a smile!

Flash new Australia Post with a shiny fit out that includes a self-serve drop off point for parcels…read moreand letters. But avoid during weekday lunchtimes unless you want to spend your precious free time in a huge line. The best bit? The Travelex staff in their special little booth. They are always friendly and happy to have a laugh, I always leave their counter with a smile!

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?"…read more Play customer service roulette at this Australia Post. Service is either pleasant and bestowing of a neighbourhood branch, or bad. Where bad can be really bad--rude--when everything (even the simplest job) is too hard. Don't be surprised to hear the words "can't," "no," and "...that's not your id." If you're unlucky you'll be going home 'mission unaccomplished.' It's fairly common knowledge round the 'hood how miserable and unhelpful the 'service' can be. However, most of this resistance comes from only one bad apple, so if you're planning a trip to the North Adelaide Post Office... You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

If you think it is impossible to screw up getting a parcel off a shelf and bringing it to someone a…read morefew metres away, you need to try North Adelaide Post Office. As well as being unable to find a parcel on a shelf the staff will greet you with a smile that is normally reserved for passport photos. The parcel hatch isn't attended between 8:30 and 9:00 which makes picking up a parcel on the way to work painful. Delivery contractors often make no effort to deliver parcels because it is simply quicker to drop a slip in the letterbox. The only hope for improved service is parcel lockers. It is impossible to convey how bad this Post Office is, even by normal Post Office standards.

I've used A LOT of different post offices in my time, both for professional and personal reasons -…read moreand Norwood Post is one of the best. Why? Well, if you'll permit me to answer in list form: 1. Location. A central, easy to get to location near other facilities like Foodland and pharmacies. It's also about 3 minutes' walk from my house (not that this info helps you guys) 2. Range. It's got all of the usual post office stuff and is well laid out, with lots of desks and pens to do your posting. It also has a good selection of nicnacs, stationery, gift cards, phones, and is especially great when it comes to kids stuff. 3. Service. Yes the lines can get long but I've never had to wait very long here. All engines are running and all counters have staff behind 'em. They're also very helpful and informative and just, well, nice.