Things I have learnt at the post office

In the last couple of years, I've spent a fair bit of time (and money) at the post office. I send home birthday and Christmas presents, as well as things I've purchased for my family while travelling. Listed below are just a few of the things I've learnt...

• Know if the postal service has a maximum weight limit on parcels (the limit is less than 2kg over here....learnt that one the hard way)

• Bubble wrap is invaluable

• As are old newspapers (to fill gaps in boxes)

• And your own duct tape is pretty handy too (for sealing up boxes once they're packed....if you ask the counter staff to put tape on them, they will use completely useless ordinary sticky tape)

• Fill out your customs stickers/put airmail stickers on before you get to the counter to pay

• If you use bubble wrap to protect fragile items, make sure you use sticky tape to secure said bubble wrap (also learnt this the hard way)

• Use the smallest box/packaging you can get away with for what you are sending.....less space for things to move around in the box

•  If you use boxes from the post office, read carefully what you can use them for - some can't be used for sending items overseas (learnt that the hard way too)

• Allow plenty of time if you're trying to have things arrive by a certain day - I've posted parcels that have taken anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks

and lastly....

• If you go to the post office on a Saturday morning, there will be a queue. Apparently everyone else has the same idea as you...