4th World Postal Services
I simply needed to return a shirt; here things are not quite so simple if you live in a small village.A telephone call to the suppliers cost me 50 Brit pence a minute and after an automated press this, press that, Joy I finally had a human on the phone, I was given Item return instructions that felt like a United Nations briefing, I wrote notes and thought all was well.
Our tiny towns Post Room (office would be too kind) opens promptly at 9am, at 9:30 he opened the door with massive yawns that would make the grand canyon look like an ants toilet.
I requested a postage bag, No, he has none, but I could go to the big city if I wanted. After using language that would make a hardened prisoner cry like a baby he agreed to bring one the next day.
Next day, opening on time 45 mins late, alas no postage bags, he was not trained in postage bags yet.
I arranged an expedition, horses and supplies as well as a local guide and headed through the mountains to the bigger city, on arrival I was greeted like a foreign invader, but after conversing in the local dialect I was finally in line awaiting service.
I requested a postage bag, questioned as to my motives for the bag I could feel the bright light in my eyes as I was interrogated, my blood taken, DNA was probably taken too.
I took the bag outside as no parcel packing area was provided or permitted, placed the shirt and online payment receipt inside and returned to the line.
30 minutes later I was served, The address I was told was far too long and I had written outside the little boxes, My eyes now glowed red, my breath about to spew fire and brimstone, he relented.
I said I needed the cost of the postage to be placed inside the bag so I could be refunded by the Child Labour employing shirt manufacturer; this prompted a discussion between counters and members of the public and the result was that it was not possible, however some Senora behind me suggested I photograph the receipt, brilliant idea, this caused some sighs of derision amongst the yellow shirted staff, but I did as suggested sealed the bag and paid a whopping sum over, along with Gold, Frankincense and a bit of Myrrh for good measure.
Returning home after an overnight stay with some Nomads who were apparently going to the big city to buy camels I telephoned customer services In London who after some time said that I had not followed instructions and I may not be refunded the return postage, she was only 3 years old so I assumed she needed to go potty as the call ended.
As we are a universal bunch, how are your postal services?
Comments (35)
Recovers.
Our postal services? better than yours, but not by much....
No doubt the other cantankerous old men were also borne from the frustrations of Spain's dire postal services....
Good luck with that....
Boxes to write outside?
Parcel packing areas?
That sounds awfully posh to me
When I have to return an item I:
1. wrap it back up in the ( now torn package) I got it in.
2. Apply sellotape to it to keep it together
3. Stick new address label over the old one
4. Take to post office to weigh and pay
5. Leave post office and forget about said package forever more
I recycle everything, so there is no coat for the poor stray dogs around here
Yes there is a sub-post offie near me, and a big post office in town.
The sub-post offices were historically run by cranky old women for some reason, and they were allowed get away with it.
I remember one ranting at me once because I arrived at 4.03pm with a parcel, and the deadline was 4pm.
I told her in my own unique way that if she had been more efficient, she wouldn't have let a long queue form, and therefore I would have arrived before 4pm with my parcel.
She never ever ranted at me again
We do recycle here, and most people are diligent but the paper and cardboard bin door is far to small and too high for the average Spanish woman to reach, so it's thrown on the floor to simply disintegrate over time covered in dog eggs and the odd dead rabbit.
Personally I dont use plastic where possible, but until they supply goods in a different container i like the rest of the world are forced to use it. Paper bags leak when filled with detergent or marmalade.
One good point here is that shops charge a lot for bags, most people have those pull behind granny carts with integrated fold out stool with cup holder.
It is 22 cent for a regular plastic bag.
So basically, any plastic bag which costs less than 69 cent is subject to a 22 cent levy, which goes to the government, and is a source of income. Although few people now use them.
But what are Tesco doing now? They are getting rid of the regular plastic bags totally.
Then charging 70 cent for 'bags for life' , and who is pocketing the entire amount? Tesco .
As the levy doesn't apply over 69 cent.
They claim it is for the environment, but it is just yet another money-making scheme
Typical of Tesco though. Which is why I don't shop there .
song-----and one day i,ll have a beautiful body====repeated for 10 mins to loud music
Tesco state they have now set up 100% environmentally friendly gas stations, perhaps just a diversion and to look good.
One thing I did notice is that Tescos profits are way down and dropping, kick in the teeth for them from people like you.
I agree with your views on British mail, its atrocious.
Post to other European countries usually about 4 days
Spain is a disaster though, it could take a week or two!
Then to make even better marie = mayor, and most of the women are called Marie and the men are called Jean
Free, I dont normally have issues with the online store I use, I bought a few denim shirts that were different colours, they all had the correct size tags but one was no bigger than a kiddie shirt, I guess revenge of the little children that make them.
JJ, Post offices used to be grand buildings and full of nice stuff, Now they are few and I think most are just part of a shop or newsagent, reverse progress.
emmy, Same here, I think my Spanish is fluent, but I often use Italian phrases, and dont speak Italian. So like you in a pinch speaking really loud and using hand gestures helps.
This was very entertaining, Map. I like these kinds of blogs. :)
Thanks for the kind words about the blog, a debate in a calm and organised manner is nice for a change.
after what you said. better use private companies
you probably right, I didn't like my mail man cos one day at Subway restaurant
he was late he approached to me and said, you're my alibis
I said I'm no one alibis, I don't know where you were bfore you got here
he never talked to me again. as you can see this was something waiting to exploded
finally exploded