Post branch in Lauchheim concludes: What does that mean for customers?

Post branch in Lauchheim concludes: What does that mean for customers?

Hauptstraße 61, 73466 Lauchheim, Deutschland - The message concerns the closure of a post office in Lauchheim, which will be closed on June 30, 2025. Operator Jessica Schmilich has terminated her contract with Deutsche Post. The branch, which has been located at the ESSO petrol station at Hauptstraße 61 since August 2024. The city administration was informed about the upcoming closure, but no new solution could be found.

Mayor Andrea Schnele expressed her regret about the situation and mentions the examination of a machine as a possible alternative. Until a solution is found, customers have to switch to the branch in Westhausen. The packing station in Hauptstraße 17, on the other hand, remains, but your use requires an app.

increasing supply gaps in rural areas

The closure in Lauchheim does not come as a surprise, as more and more postal branches disappear throughout the rural area. According to information from N-TV, Deutsche Post has to work more on the existing supply gaps. The Federal Network Agency has already identified 141 locations where there are no post office and which the post urgently need to be improved. This development is also in accordance with legal requirements that prescribe at least one branch for municipalities with more than 2,000 inhabitants.

The situation in communities with more than 4,000 inhabitants is particularly worrying, where the distance to the nearest branch must not be more than two kilometers. A map of the Federal Network Agency shows that the Deutsche Post, with almost 13,000 branches, exceeds the legal minimum requirement of 12,000, but is often not met.

new solutions and challenges

The dependence on local service partners can lead to organizational challenges. Many tasks in package shipping are now taken on by these partners. In order to meet the growing challenges, Deutsche Post increasingly relies on automatic package stations, which could be recognized as alternatives to branches from 2025.

Currently 27 of the identified vacant compulsory locations are already using parcel stations, another eight locations are to be equipped with such stations within the next four months. These new solutions could possibly help to compensate for the decreasing number of branches and maintain basic care. Automats also offer the advantage of being available around the clock, which could dissolve many of the current logistical problems that arise from the closures of individual dealers.

The development of the number of unoccupied locations is worrying and shows the need for close coordination between Deutsche Post and local representatives. This is the only way to find sustainable solutions to ensure mail supply in rural regions. This becomes particularly important with regard to the applicable legal regulations, which also include manufacturers and providers of post stations in the compulsory area of ​​postal supply from the turn of the year.

The situation of the post office in Lauchheim and the associated challenges are an example of a larger trend that endangers the quality of the services in rural areas. The use of technologies and modern solutions will be crucial to counteract the decreasing presence of classic post office.

Schwäbische Post reports on the closure, while n-tv addressed the comprehensive problems of the postal branches in rural areas. The topic is also taken up by Tagesschau , which explains the legal framework and their effects.