China Post Tales

china mail, originally uploaded by Wam Mosely.

I think that I am falling in love with the China Post branch near Jing'an Temple (corner of Beijing Xi Lu and Huashan Lu). Yes, it does sound a little crazy, but let me explain.

I reckon that China Post is awesome. It is cheap, it is fast, and invariably it manages to get your packages to the right spot either on time or before time. The only problem many people face (whether your a foreigner or a Chinese national) is the service. It can be spotty, you can get rude staff, or people who just don't know what they're doing. Just like any public service job around the world you could say.

In the last month, both Linda and I have had some really positive experiences in dealing with China Post at the Jing'an Temple main office. This is perhaps one of the busiest branches in Shanghai. Invariably there is a sea of thronging masses pushing and shoving to get the attention of the counter assistants. Yet the capable people behind the bench still manage to keep a good eye on who was first, second, third in entering the maul and thus judiciously selects the right customer to serve.

In my recent dealings with the staff in this branch, they have been patient with me and my newly studied post & package Chinese. I've gained an education in sending letters, padded envelopes and boxes to overseas destinations, the cost structures and custom procedures. I was also impressed that the staff at this branch have wisely also segregated some of the customs and form filling procedures away from the commerce areas (which are usually inundated with bill-paying patrons), thus easing the load on the counter staff. In some of the other branches I've been to, it is a one-stop shop for pretty much everything.

The diligence of the staff can be highlighted in one such example. Last night I popped into the Jing'an Branch office to pay some bills. There weren't many counter staff working at that time, and there was a throng of customers wanting to pay bills and post letters. It was all working well until one customer needed to pay his bills in mostly JIAO!!! Everyone groaned but the customer and the staff member. The guy's bills were due that day and he didn't have any other large money, and despite it being in bank coin rolls, the counter staff informed him that he'd have to count every single one. He kept the face of the customer (despite what I believe the unreasonable request) and set about opening each roll of coins and counting the each one as quickly as possible. Luckily I chose another counter, and was dealt with promptly.

Another good-news story I'd like to share is that we came to learn that one of Lin's sisters had sent her a Christmas package to China, but after sending the item, she realised she had the wrong address. Bugger. We won't see that package this Christmas. But China Post contacted Australia Post, who then contacted Linda's sister (register your packages people), and she then supplied the correct address for our apartment. Beauty! Presents are on their way!

The last piece of China Post advice I'd like to dispense is that we've come to learn of the China Post branch inside Shanghai's Portman Center on Nanjing Xi Lu. For the uninitiated, The Portman Center is a bastion of English-speaking customer service (thus ease and thus expense) in a sea of the unfamiliar (& inaccessible) Chinese service systems to the fresh expat. All the counter staff speak English, and they also act as agents for DHL and Fedex. If your Chinese isn't up to scratch, maybe you can check out that post office at some point so you can access China Post's reliable systems.

Lastly, I would like to add that China Post is awesome!

The End

Some information.
China Post Homepage (and in English).
China Post Jing'an District Branch: Corner of Beijing Xi Lu and Huashan Lu.
The Portman Center's China Post Office Branch is located at 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, Suite 203A, West Retail Plaza. Phone: 6279 8044