Went to the post office yesterday to send some (wrongly ordered
) parts back to Amazon...
Pafos post office is normally super fast quick as they have a single queue system whereas Limassol has multiple queues and: -
a) I always choose the wrong (slowest) queue.
b) Slipriots always push in at the front as the person serving is inevitably related to them.
Anyhoo...
There were only two desks open for 'postal services'... lots of other staff milling around but they are obviously not qualified weigh a parcel and stick a label on it...
One desk is blocked by a Cypriot woman sending three parcels by Datapost. It should be simple but she hasn't packed the parcels very well. Two of them look like bicycle saddles with a bit of bubble wrap around them and the third is a huge, heavy creaking cardboard box which is unlikely to survive the journey from desk to scales - never mind actually going through the postal system. The woman makes clear that the top of the box is very close to the contents and any pressure on the top of the box will break the contents - a 'Fragile' sticker is placed on the top of the box.
This is all discussed in great detail and involves the woman going outside to her car (gets purse, etc.)...
Meanwhile on the (very attractive
) assistant is serving an English woman that wants to send a parcel by Datapost - she hasn't filled in the Datapost form so the (very attractive
) assistant is doing it for her...
VAA: What is in the box?
EW: An IPTV box
VAA: ??? I. P. T. V. Box...
VAA: Does it have any batteries in it?
EW: I don't know, it is an IPTV Box
VAA: I have no idea what an IPTV is but I need to know if it has batteries...?
EW: Well, yes, I suppose so - it is an IPTV Box!
VAA: Well then it can't be sent - we can't send it if it has batteries!
EW: It is an IPTV Box!
etc.
Eventually, VAA agreed to send it and took the money - well, she took the money and prolly chucked the box in the bin or marked it 'don't send, contains batteries' or boot stomping practice - Gatwick' or some such...
Meanwhile Cypriot woman is still discussing her parcels and the danger of damage to the top of the box and the queue stretches out towards the door - I am next but one.
Next is an English couple...
He wants to send/do/receive something that requires ID. He pulls out a battered passport which he probably took over the top with him at Mons...
VAA: Sorry, this passport has expired - I cannot accept it as ID.
EC: Produce another passport
VAA: Sorry, this has expired too.
EC: Produce some other form of ID...
VAA: Sorry, this doesn't have an expiry date on it. Valid ID must have an issued from and a valid to date.
EC: Producing some more tattered paperwork, "This is not good enough!"
VAA: Sorry, but I don't make the rules - If you would like to speak to my manager I will get him but ID has to have the two dates...
So the manager arrived and they started shouting at him, "I'm going to get very angry in a minute," etc.
They were still at it when Parcel lady finished, I send my package registered and left... They could still be at it now...
