battling with the royal post
well today was the 3rd day ive had a battle to get my mail off the british royal mail and its just cracked me.
the only reason i knew i had something waiting for me was because i checked online after i ordered some tires and the tracking number said it had tried to be delivered. right i thought, off to the post office this morning to pick it up. well that wouldve just been way to easy, its not like back home where you can rock up and pick something up, thats just not the way you do things over here. apparently i needed a slip of paper that the postie was meant to stick through the door but didnt. so i rolled up to the counter, handed over my ID, then thought i would grab my parcel on be on my way. nope. dreaming. the woman behind the counter was obviously having an off day, and wasnt having a bar of it. the conversation went like this
me: id like to pick up my parcel please
drop kick royal mail idiot: i guess thats why your here
me: yeah, ive got no other reason to be honest
DKRMI: well wheres your slip?
me: you guys didnt drop one off, but ive got my ID on me, i found out it tried to be delivered yesterday online
DKRMI: well good for you
me: thanks
DKRMI: well you need your slip otherwise you cant get your parcel
me: well you guys didnt put one through the door, so i havnt got one (i then noticed my parcel with my name on it directly over her left shoulder)
DKRMI: well no slip, no package.
me: well how do i get a slip, i can see my parcel right there on the shelf, and ive got my ID and the tracking number for it, can i just take it now?
DKRMI: no, you need a slip to collect it
me: yes i know this, i dont have one, my package is right there, heres my ID with the tracking number, can i save us all a big waste of time and can you give it to me now?
DKRMI: no, you need a slip, and you havnt got one
me: yes i know, i know that, youve told me 4 times now, and i still havnt magic’d one up from anywhere, how can i get my parcel
DKRMI: YOU NEED A SLIP
me: how do i get one (i was starting to get a touch grumpy)
DKRMI: the postman shouldve put one through your door
me: look, he didnt ok, he just forgot, maybe he was having an off day and he just threw caution to the wind and just didnt do it, so how do i get my parcel now
DKRMI: well he needs to try to deliver the parcel again tomorrow
me: so your telling me, that even though both you and me can see my parcel right there, and ive got the ID and tracking number, you cant give it to me right now, and i have to wait until the postie turns up at some stage tomorrow to try to deliver it when i could save him and me a job right now and just take it
DKRMI: you dont have a slip, and you need a slip to get your mail, its not my fault you dont have one sir.
me: well its not mine either, wheres the manager all i want is my parcel, its not my fault you guys didnt give me a magical slip.
DKRMI: i am the manager.
me: brilliant. are you always so helpfull?
DKRMI: i have been very helpful in this instance sir, ive answered all your questions with the utmost courtesy.
me: right fine, can you have the parcel re-delivered tomorrow then
DKRMI: yes, and if your not home please bring your slip in with you to collect it if it cant be delivered.
at this stage i was about to kick off, but turned round and walked out. i went to Cafe Nero to grab a coffee. Cafe Nero for those who havnt heard of it, is like a starbucks franchise, but these guys are completely cash only, but to make life easier, they dont advertise that fact anywhere. not on the doors, no signs in the cafe, nothing. so i went up and grabbed a coffee, and watched 3 people get fooled by the no card policy. the staff arent even that helpful, i watched one guy order about 3 coffees, and 2 bagels, and was standing there infront of the chick, tapping his credit card on the counter top, while the chick behind the counter watched him do it, she got all his coffee etc together, went to the till, he handed over his card, and the chick got a big shocked look on her face, and said “oh we dont accept cards, cash only here” 2 other guys got fooled as well, same thing, no hint anywhere that cards werent accepted until everything was plated up infront of them. just goes to show the level of service over here sucks, NZ is so much better thats for sure
