Hawkinge Post Office

Great service at this local post office. Do be careful to check the *post office* opening times though. The post office is open fewer hours than the chemist, and the post office is *within* the chemist.

Worst post office in Folkestone. They Spend more time trying to up sell services to you instead of actually provided a service.

One of the post office staff in particular often decides to parcel up the post for collection a good hour before it's due to be collected and often doesn't even acknowledge you waiting at the counter until she's finished. Manners cost nothing however, they are in very short supply in Hawkinge post office. I was even told that my parcel wouldn't go until the next day because she had sealed the collection bags. Bear in mind it was only 4pm and the parcels/post had yet to be collected.

When you do eventually get served and you state the postal service you require they will continuously try to up sell others services. I will be avoiding this post office from now on. It's not fit for purpose. Densole post office is a cut above the Hawkinge one and you get service with a smile.

Really awful service, but sadly the only option we have in Hawkinge without having to travel into Folkestone town. The staff work within the pharmacy as well as running the post office desk, which may be why there is often confusion over post office policies etc. However, I've frequently seen the staff give blatantly false information to customers in order to upsell post office products. For example, I have often overheard customers ahead of me in the queue (usually elderly and vulnerable customers) ask for a specific service (e.g. 1st class signed for) and staff have responded 'what day would you like that to arrive?'. When the customer responds 'I don't know/mind' or 'as soon as possible I suppose' the staff will insist that the only way to be certain that your parcel will arrive as soon as possible is to post Special Delivery at a higher cost. They state that it's 'the only way to be sure, and the only service that offers you protection' which is false.
I've also had staff members measure parcels incorrectly. For example, sending a parcel that measures 16cm x 16cm x 21cm should be a small parcel (RM guidelines state that a small is under 16cm depth x 35cm width x 45cm height). A staff member told me mine would have to be medium, as they were measuring the longest side as the depth. They would not accept that the parcel was well within the parameters, and insisted that these were the rules. Taking the parcel to another branch, it was sent as a small with no issues whatsoever.

I've complained to RM before about this branch, but never got a response. If you're able to, avoid this branch at all costs.

Not a very good experience

Wouldn't usually write a poor review, but postal services here are inadequate. Very long wait times due to a lack of staff. Frequently get a parcel scanned and told something is wrong with prepaid labels, ended up taking them to folkestone and never had an issue. Really not suited to be a post office at all.

Absolutely rubbish
Use to be good
Stand their waiting for for one of the 3 members of staff to serve you
Then they try and rip you off .
Don’t usually go their any more
But thought I’d try again
Big mistake
Be quicker and cheaper for me to hand deliver it to Scotland then post it there

The staff here consistently lie to make you buy parcel postage for large letters. I have posted over 70 games and DVDs in the 25mm large letter boxes like in the picture at either the Densole or Folkestone post office wih no problems but Hawkinge post office always refuses them. Thisnis the 5th time now.

The staff need to learn how to measure.

They say this item is over 25mm......
(See photos)

On top of this whenever I have sent a parcel paid for online they argue about stamping the proof of postage certificate and state that "it doesn't need to be done anymore", despite the cetificate issues by Royal Mail stating that it is "not valid unless stamped".