Let's take a few moments to talk about the Chinese post office and it's ways.

 

Last Saturday, I went to the post office to mail a few things. It was the easiest experience I have ever had. I showed her my envelopes, she handed me postage, I paid for the stamps and mailed my letters.

 

I decided that I should use the post office more often since it was such a nice experience.

(Note: I should not base my future opinions of things based on ONE experience)

Being that it is Saturday once again, I thought I'd take a nice trip to the post office and mail a few more letters. Meghan, Nicole and I walked into the building today with a chipper attitude. After all, last week we had a great time at the post office. Meghan made it to the counter first and Postal Worker #1 gave her the stamps, had her pay and sent her on her way...so easy! Nicole was next (at the next counter over with Postal Worker #2). He looked at her package and her two letters to friends in China and offered a string of Chinese phrases we did not understand. But he wasn't going to take her stuff, so I gave him my letters. He looked at me and gave me the 'bu hao' (not good) head shake and gave me new envelopes and told me I must send my letters in these other Chinese envelopes.

**Interruption: Meghan JUST mailed the SAME envelopes that mine were in and Postal Worker #1 didn't give her any trouble**

So, I took the envelopes and readdressed all my letters and took them back to the counter where Meghan had so easily paid for her stamps. Postal Worker #1 took my letters and counted out my stamps. This is when I find out the next ridiculous thing: My stamps are TWICE as much as they were LAST saturday. WHAT? WHY? If I would've asked her "why" though she probably would've responded with something like "Why not?" So I paid the ridiculous price and mailed my letters.

Meanwhile, a chinese woman who speaks some English had adopted nicole and taken her to a different booth to fill out customs forms for her package. (Something Postal Worker #2 hadn't even bothered to try and give Nicole). While she filled out her forms, we had a nice little audience of people looking over her shoulder (literally..standing right next to her staring at what she was doing). Once those were filled out, we attempted to send the said package via Postal Worker #4 and ended up successful.

 

 

This is why I never used the chinese postal service when I was here before. 1) Postal rates can fluctuate week to week. 2) Each individual postal worker can seemingly make up their own rules about what kind of envelopes you can and cannot send. 3) Customer service can apparently be denied if a worker decides you are not worth their effort.