eBay mania gives post offices a lift
It's the internet phenomenon that has helped transform attics full of clutter into ready cash.
But the eBay effect' is also proving a hit with Bradford's village sub-postmasters and mistresses.
The online trading company's popularity has increased the number of parcels and packages being processed at local branches across the district.
While some sub-post offices are struggling through the withdrawal of television licence payments and other services, the slack is being taken up by income from eBay traffic.
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At Gomersal Post Office, sub-postmistress Gillian Wilkinson said the last 18 months had seen a noticeable upturn in the number of Ebay and internet-related parcels and packages.
"We have five or six regular customers and a couple who are doing it as a business. We process all sorts - CDs and DVDs of old classic television and radio shows, trainers and sports articles.
"Just on eBay stuff, I'd say we do 50 parcels or packets a day. It used to be that number per week. It's what we make our money on when it used to be pensions."
Alison Otulakowski, sub- post mistress at Denholme Post Office, said: "We get the odd person in who brings stuff for eBay and others who treat it more like a business. It is extra work, but the income is welcomed."
Barry Whittaker, Eastburn Post Office sub-postmaster, near Keighley, said since taking over the business seven years ago they had seen around a 90 per cent increase in the number of parcels and packages.
"I'd say we're doing more in half a day now than we did before in a week," he said.
"I'd put the number of parcels and packets at 30 some days and 70 on others. It can be absolutely anything - clothing, perfume, anything. I'd say that without that income a lot of post offices would be closing a whole lot quicker."
At Bankfoot Post Office on Manchester Road, Dayu Mistry said the last two years had seen a noticeable' increase in eBay and internet parcels.
And Gilstead Post Office's Andrew Hancock added: "In the last four years I would say we have been getting three times as many parcels. It's not a substantial amount of income, but it keeps business steady."
But there are fears the post offices' eBay bubble could burst following Royal Mail's launch of an online postage service last month.
The service lets customers buy postage online, without stamps and using a home printed stick-on barcode, denying post offices of revenue from selling postage over the counter.
A new report by Postcomm, the Post Office watchdog, warns that Britain's post offices are struggling to survive through lack of Government direction and support.
Looking at 14,000 post offices across the country, Post Offices at the Crossroads' found the network lost £111 million last year. That was despite a £150 million subsidy to rural offices, which will nevertheless be withdrawn in 2008.
The Government's Department for Work and Pensions and the DVLA were withdrawing services from all post offices.
The report found that the rural post office network was in particular financial trouble, with only 1,500 of the 8,000 rural offices making money.