Large order meant Hereford's main post office ran out of stamps (From Hereford Times)

Large order meant Hereford's main post office ran out of stamps

9:00am Saturday 24th July 2010 in

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Hereford’S main post office ran out of stamps after a large order stumped staff.

The businessman who wanted to spend more than £1,000 in the St Peter’s Square branch said he would take his custom elsewhere after failing to get his post delivered.

Edward Widgery was hoping to send catalogues to clients across the UK and Europe advertising an auction at his vintage car business but was told the office had just 16 stamps left.

He says the shortage could have seriously damaged his business, Herefordshire Vintage Auctions, and he will now use a private postal firm. “It was certainly not the response I was expecting when I got to the counter,” said Mr Widgery, who set up the business four years ago.

“I needed about 300 £1 stamps but was told they only had 16. They said it was because of the cost of having them in stock, but I have to send these catalogues out four times a year and have never had this trouble.”

Mr Widgery, who had bought around 400 £1 stamps from the same branch earlier in the morning, was told they could order more stamps in by next Tuesday, the day before the auction at the firm’s How Caple base.

The business sends out up to 1,200 catalogues ahead of each vintage car auction, with stamp purchases usually divided between the main city post office and the Old Eign Hill outlet in Hampton Dene.

Mr Widgery said there had never previously been a problem but he can’t take any more chances.

“We eventually sent out catalogues through another firm with the minimum of fuss,” he said.

The Post Office says its stocks are in keeping with “levels of anticipated demand” and that they tried to meet Mr Widgery’s order.

“This customer’s first request for 420 £1 stamps in the morning was substantially above normal demand and exhausted our available stocks,” said Post Office Ltd’s external relations manager Susan Dakin.

“When the customer returned the same afternoon we were unable to accommodate his request on the same day. We would apologise to the customer for any inconvenience this may have caused.”