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08/01/2008, 7:13 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 3,048 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? Maybe even a model employee ? Incidentally I used the automatic machine in our La Poste for the first time yesterday. I don't post much and in all honesty I had never even really noticed it but and it couldn't have been easier My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

27/01/2008, 19:15 Jura Joined on 28/11/2005 Posts 721 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? If I was to get started on about the local village post offices (3 in our area within a radius of 10km's) and their ineffectual, useless and lazy staff I would surely be banned from this forum. So I won't... as much as I am tempted to vent my spleen  I drive 27 km's into the city to post anything these days. Talk about a job creation scheme for College dropouts!    Report

27/01/2008, 19:21 woolybanana'sbrother Joined on 18/01/2008 Posts 1,117 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? Have a vent dear, it is good for the system. Then go to the PO and vent there too. And a laugh because the local PO's are all going to end up in the local grocery store or mini-mart. But what happens to the good for nothings behind the desks is an unknown. Let's ask Sarko.    Report

29/01/2008, 20:09 Jura Joined on 28/11/2005 Posts 721 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? What can you do with the good-for-nothings that sit behind the PO's desk? In our surrounding villages...nothing! I have never seen such lazy and useless jobsworths in my life. Here is an example of our local PO. One person mans the PO counter. Up to five people 'work out the back'. This much I know. At any given time of day you can walk into this PO and encounter up to six or seven people standing around the walls whilst one person leans on the counter waiting to be served. Said 'one person manning the counter' more often than not is either on the phone with back to counter; at the filing cabinet with back to counter; staring intently at the new computer recently installed so not noticing person at counter or fed up persons lining the walls; chatting at the door to the back-room with back-room staff...with back to counter. That's if you are lucky to get in in the first place. The opening hours of our local PO, for one example, are 9am to 11.30am Saturday; the door to the PO is always locked at 11.am so you cannot get in after that time. Even though the stated opening hours are until 11.30. Why? because, on peering through the window, you will notice that a huuuge crowd of THREE people are already waiting to be served and to allow anymore in after 11am would severely jeopardise the staff's chances of bolting out the door at 11.30am sharp. This was the case throughout the Xmas period recently. The PO during the week is supposed to be open until 4.30pm, as stated on the sign out front, BUT was always locked between 3.45 and 4.00pm to prevent further customers coming in  after that time and creating more work for the oh-so stressed out and exhausted staff. Poor dear things...imagine having to work until 4.30 and then having to spend time locking up afterwards! Several times I tried to post cards and parcels for Xmas only to encounter a locked door up to 45 minutes before the official closing time. I saw one man bashing his fist on the glass window at 4.10pm one day when madam inside refused to open the door even though the PO was suppsoed to be open until 4.30. What a crock of **** What lazy people. The sooner France does away with this nonsensical 35 hour week the better. Extend working hours here and pay people to work them. Then teach them HOW to work!      Report

30/01/2008, 8:17 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 3,048 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? I fear you are ill suited for life in France but you're doing something about that are you not   My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

30/01/2008, 10:16 BJSLIV Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 2,396 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? Its strange how people lap up the Mayle type books about the quirky nature of life in France, but as soon as they move they expect the place to run at a 24/7 metropolitan pace. Everyone knows that the Post Office closes the door half an hour before end of business, so they get there 35 minutes early. Or wait til tomorrow. Welcome to La France Profonde.      Report

05/02/2008, 12:57 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,728 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? My post office is just like yours Jura except that it is only open from 9 to 11.30 during the week as well! I have also experienced being refused entry by effectively a "bouncer" from a large Maxico-op (superstore) at 10 minutes past twelve, when I pointed out the sign saying open till 12.30 he said that it was for the boulangerie counter. I tried to exercise my rights to go and buy a baguette but was "assisted" to the pavement, politely but firmly They take their lunch (two and a half) hours very seriously in my neck of the woods and anyone that dares to threaten the traditional 30 minute wind down period is either an etranger or has a death wish. My barber who never ever takes more than 5 minutes to buzz off my thatch was totally insulted when I walked into his empty shop 25 minutes before closing time, I swear that he would have been more forgiving if I had ravished or insulted his wife. Vive la difference    Report

05/02/2008, 14:37 LEO Joined on 15/04/2006 Calvados,14 Posts 977 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour?  BJSLIV wrote: Its strange how people lap up the Mayle type books about the quirky nature of life in France, but as soon as they move they expect the place to run at a 24/7 metropolitan pace. Everyone knows that the Post Office closes the door half an hour before end of business, so they get there 35 minutes early. Or wait til tomorrow. Welcome to La France Profonde.     Everyone knows that the Post Office closes the door half an hour before end of business Am I missing something here? Why don't they display public opening time and closing time, or is that too simple!             Leo. www.vianormandy.com ( I owe , I owe , so it's off to work I go! )    Report

05/02/2008, 16:37 Georgina Joined on 23/08/2004 29 Posts 599 Re: Strange Post Office behaviour? Our doesn't. They advertise 12 and shut at 12.  However, they are constantly driving me up the wall with their changing times of last post collection, which changes almost weekly.  Grrrr...  but this is France. Georgina    Report

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France Forum » French Culture » French Culture » Re: Strange Post Office behaviour?

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