The Russian postal system actually works!

[Son of Clyde]

I sent a Christmas present once that was received in May.

[Zmejka]

With postal letters from the US it worked ok. But when i tried to send a package to the Netherlands postal workers said it would be delivered in 3 weeks - it wasn't. Then i wrote my complaint at the postal office - they say it should first go to Moscow and then i'll recieve (receive?) the answer on my case after some investigation. And fortunatelly soon after writing that complaint the package was delivered. In a few months my friend suddenly got a notification that they didn't find his package (that has been delivered already) and they are willing to replace it with money

[SANDRO43]

You should be happy, you have found a country where you still can use your old blue box to do long distance call

Wouldn't know what to do with a blue box even if I found one (PO boxes are red here ).

[ConnerVT]

Secrets of the Little Blue Box: http://myoldmac.net/FAQ/TheBlueBox-1.htm

The Blue Box was used by Phreakers -- those who would hack telephone systems for free telephone calls.  A couple of notable folks who were into the scene were Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, before they got around to building little Motorola based PCs and forming Apple Computer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phreaking

[Elen]

In my experience from the UK, International post arrives in Russia (normal letters - anything other has never arrived - presumed stolen) in about 2 weeks.

Letters leaving Russia bound for the UK take up to 6 weeks and often do not arrive at all!

I too have a pretty low opinion of the Russian Postal Service. Like many things in Russia, it is very hit & miss!

 According to UK Postwatch's statistic each year UK post loses about 14 millions letters , UK post pays about 50 mln $* (- sorry I have not "right" symbol ) like compensation for lost-didn't arrive in time and etc correspondence. Also there was a curiouse case when letter arrived to addresser in 27 years 
I have a story for my firends  from Canada about lazy Canadian postman who kept 75 thousands letters in his home.  He beated his UK "comrade" ( 3 thousand letters and packages kept in house of some UK postman ) and Malazian ones ( 21 thousands letter)
( Ps I read these facts in articles in Russian , I could give you links but believe me it's not made up by me    Our dear Americans may read some stuff like "The Last Dinosaur: The U.S. Postal Service" wrote by by James Bovard - just to get an idea how things are in their own home )

So once more before accuse somebody in "crime" you should have PROOF on you hand because from MY side of fence it's YOUR post services sacks  For example for 13 years I had NO ONE incident with something sent from Japan

PSS And one more addining about post services in the USA  - they RARE  deign to concede Russians post's requests to find out what happened  with correspondence  sent from Russia to the USA and which have not arrived there. ( they same attitude demonstrated here by many of you - "that's Russia why to bother")  But their "scornfull" silence just gives Russian side a legal  right to send them a bill for lost correspondence which Russians do  .
- That's I guess Zmajka's case was  too - other side even has not bothered itself with finding out a truth)
 So you have a good chance to give your money back for lost packages sent to Russia as well I guess - try this way instead of vane complains 

[Vaughn]

Elen and I once shared a little laugh at how paperback novels are
sold in drugstores in the USA - in Russia, drugstores are primarily
for medicines and prescriptions. In June I decided to visit my wife's
local post office and was surprised to find they sold not only books
but toothpaste, shampoo, household cleaners and giftwrap. About the
only thing they didn't offer was vodka....

My stepdaughter writes to her friend Nastya monthly, but mails the
letters to my MIL who hands them off to Nastya. Why? Nastya's building
never receives any mail. I believe the problem of postal workers
dumping deliverable mail exists everywhere, but here in the United States
it's a prosecutable Federal offense.

[Manny]

I saw the comment on the previous page about the UK Postal Service losing 14 million letters a year - that is quite well documented here and accepted. However, in context it represents a fraction of as percent of letters sent - the UK postal system is quite good but not perfect. (and not as fast as they claim)

As for USPS I have never yet had a problem sending stuff to the states.

I have sold stuff on e bay - maybe 1000 sales, the split is maybe 80% UK 20% US - I have had maybe 6 or 7 cases of non delivery in the UK and none as yet to the states!

[dostogirl]

Just got word that RW received my package in Uzbekistan after hmm... 3 weeks!

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to deliver regular letters to Russia, for example. Even though they tell you here it will take 5 days, do not believe. It will take 3 days to get letters/packages to Russia, but inside Russia it will take weeks to deliver. I send letters every month and it's always the same. You may though use EMS services (also available through USPS). It's more expensive, but it takes only 10!!! days to deliver. I even tried FedEx, took them a week though they promised 3 days. Lots of packes get stolen. Mine just disappeared, it's been more than 3 month, I sent it via air..no sign of it so far. 

[dostogirl]

BTW I asked my question about had you tried to make official claims for lost packages because only in THAT case you may talk ( if you got proofs of course) that it was Russian ( or FSU ) fault

I tried and I know my package was stolen by Russian postal workers. Even though I had a document with me from abroad stating that my package crossed the Russian border, I was told by a Russian postal worker that the document from another country was "fraudulent", so they can not refund me for the package. Every proof I offered was not accepted.

[prince_alfie]

So if I tried to use an "american" lawyer to sue for a lost package, does that mean he is a "fraudulent" guy? 

Seriously, the postal system needs to be more secure in FSU. I really believe that is key to improving its economy.

[Manny]

The key to improving its economy would be to scrap visa requirements for Europeans and the US & Canada.

[prince_alfie]

In fact, I am still wondering why the visa is even necessary. It complicates the situation needlessly with red tape.

If we could return back to the caveman days where migration was simply going from one location to another, I'm all for that.

Of course, I suspect that the visa process is mainly for a moneymaking operation? I perhaps may not see the big picture of what it all means.

[Manny]

I am in agreement with visas in principle in any country, if used against certain nations to keep undesirables out. I would not scrap visas altogether in Russia, just open the gates a little for the nationalities stated above, or do a visa waiver thing like Brits travelling to the US do.

Russians keep visas as they imagine it allows them to control who comes and goes, and thus exclude undesirables. However, as visas are issues at any Russian Embassy worldwide, and they are in league with a clutch of agents who "guarantee" the visa, nowadays the visa is effectively worthless for its original intent.

However, for secondary intent as a revenue raising thing, it still works and keeps armies of people working doing what many government employed people do in Russia; making papers, rubber stamping things, obtaining "permissions" and generally creating red tape and paperwork that nobody will ever check.

It is the Russian way, hang over from Soviet times - first you must pay, then you must wait, then somebody will have to do lots of faffing with bits of paper, checking (checking is making coffee) and rubber stamping things, then eventually you get what you could have got in moments if the system were different.

I find that principle applies to most things in Russia. From posting a letter to importing a lady!

[prince_alfie]

True but isn't the passport supposedly used to determine whether or not a person can enter into the country?

[beattledog]

I send everything in English. It usually arrives after 3 or 4 weeks.

beattledog

[Elen]

Just now I took a proof that "it works" out from mail box  - and invitation to visit local post office to get a package from the USA

So all I can say you - there are people who "failed" with ANYTHING in Russia - it just their FATE

 If you one of them then don't marry RW