Cards and T-shirt to LBC

I don't know why I'm blogging this. Maybe I just wanted to include some things I did this year since it still goes along with the purpose of this blog. Or maybe I want to have a way to express my useless ranting.

So I sent a card and t-shirt for my partner. A present to remind him I remembered. I need to rush things and went for LBC instead of snail mail. Inside a card is a key chain I bought in a Christian Store. Funny when you will recognize that the cost of freight is more expensive than the price of card and keychain combined. It costs around 160php while my thingy costs only around 50php. Haha.

I went bugging again with questions. Buti na lang wala yung guy na staff. I’m afraid I’ll get offended by asking questions with him. Luckily, it was a girl this time. She looks busy to be disturbed with questions though, but I keep on. I was just asking if where would they place the mug if that’s something I want to send. Unfortunately, she said that they don’t accept breakable things. I’m doomed. How about the mug I’m planning to give to boyfie?

I also asked what if I will send a big documents, like for example the size of x-ray. She showed me the plastic bag that would be used if it fits there. But I’m not sure for I don’t have the document with me that time. But what if it doesn’t fit there? She said something that sounds like “day 1” and pointed some packages. I didn’t understand what she’s trying to let me grasp though. But she said there’s a way… But I don’t know the price of that alternative.

Plan:

I’ll try 2Go next time. Rumors are that it’s cheaper.

Another Story

I was a bit embarrassed. Well, it’s only a keychain and card but he was very glad and that made me shy. I just wish I was able to see his expression. He said he appreciated it. Nakakakileg daw... >_<

Sulat sa Post Office

Kasagsagan ng pagkatirik ng araw ng pumunta ako sa post office para ibigay ang  card na ipapadala ko kay boyfie. Wala pang ala una ngunit naasikaso na ako, isang bagay na na ipinagtatako ko. Huling hulog ko ng sulat, naasikaso din naman ako kahit na lunch break pero nasabihan ako na hindi sana dapat ganun dahil lunch break daw.

Maliban dun, napuna ko yung nakapaskil sa labas na open on Saturdays and Requirements for Postal I.D. Nais ko pang magtanung tanung dala ng kuryosidad kaso bigla akong dinalaw ng hiya. Kaya, hindi ko alam kung open nga on Saturdays and kung nag eentertain sila for Postal I.D. Meron na akong Postal I.D. na ginamit ko noon for verification purposes lang, sabi nga nila easiest way para magka I.D. na may life span na 5 years. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko na alam kung ano pang ibang gamit ng Postal I.D. at ano nga ba talaga ang totoong gamit nito. (Sa main office ako nagpagawa ng Postal I.D)

Kalunus lunos ang paligid, walang kabuhay buhay ang opisina. Buti na lang, medyo maayos ang pagkakaattend sa akin. (Kadalasan kasi intimidating at masusungit ang mga government employee). Nagkkwento naman siya at hindi nagpapakita ng pagkabagot sa mga katanungan.

Maraming nakalipas na kaugalian ang nais ko sanang magpatuloy hanggang ngayon. Awkward man ng konti, siguro susubukan kong buhayin and gagawin kong sariling tradition ang pagsesend ng card. Mas may effort and personal touch?

Nakakapanghinayang man, wala akong litrato ng pinadala kong sulat. Mukha namang mabigat yung pinadala ko pero 15pesos lang ang binayaran ko. Dati 20pesos ang binayaran ko. May nabanggit siya sa akin na ordinary at special delivery ngunit nabigo siyang ipaliwanag sa akin ang bagay na un. Sinabi niya na parehas din naman na darating sa Manila kinabukasan ang ordinary at special delivery. Kaya pinili ko na lang yung ordinary dahil yun din yung ginamit ko dati kung saan 5 araw bago natanggap ni boyfie ang letter ko. Tinanong ko din kung kailan kaya makakarating this time yung letter na pinadala ko, ngunit nabigo ulit siyang sagutin ang katanungan ko. Hindi na daw nila hawak ang bagay na yun basta kinabukasan wala na daw yung sulat sa kanila. NCR naman daw yung pagpapadalhan ko kaya baka mas mabilis matanggap this time.

Last say?

Isaalang alang sana nila ang aesthetic  when it comes to offices of government agencies saka sana naman icomputerize na nila ang sistema nila. Ilang taon na lang surplus na din ang bansa natin sa mga I.T. graduates pero ang gobyerno natin na siyang parang backbone ng bansa natin is hindi pa rin yumayakap sa pagbabago. Nabanggit din yung kakulangan ng kartero, may konting lungkot akong naramdaman sa part na yun. Daming porks na nasasayang, dapat consistent projects na lang.

Sending Card through LBC

I forgot about the letter thing so I went back home to pick up the letter. I went straight to the LBC branch after that. The interior was giving me the impression of gloominess with the packages piled up in an unorganized way. I bump into them in a chatter of Ilocano dialect; they are conversing about some things that I didn’t paid attention at all. Impression? Not formal, not yet there. I am going to use the word welcomed or entertained but I suddenly felt it’s not the fit word, so here it is. I am assisted by the front desk guy.

He started with the introductory question of “what kind of card is that?” I was wondering that time what to say. Should I say “Oh, this is a graduation card”, which is I found too personal to tell. You know genuineness or sincerity is easily sensed. It turned out that he’s asking whether the card is a plain card or whether it used a lot of designs. Fooling customers will only drive them away. Cards, they are sometimes plain or stuffed with lots of bits and pieces and some of them make sounds, “happy birthday happy birthday” anyway, that is tune.. But then cards are cards. But then again, business is business. Plain or stuffed? Too bad for the latter who’ll say “yes” because saying yes is the difference between a 95php and 155php. I know I know it hurts. (For someone like me who finds every cents meaningful).

You can lie. However I wonder if that will make any difference. I believe he’ll just insist. Innocence has no place for business world.

I’m looking over the place and busy jotting imaginative notes in my mind. I came across into the wall where instructions were posted. It says “Use uppercase in writing” too late as I'm through with my writings. A short time ago, he was saying something about 3.25. I cannot absorb what he’s saying, for the number “3.25” is strange. He keeps on saying that. I hope that from the start he already sensed the unfamiliarity because I’m still new in these things. Later, I realized he was referring about the cut off. That if I made it before 3.25pm, the card will be sent the next day. Therefore, my card will be sent on Wednesday.

Seal with a kiss? He’s saying what? I cannot understand at all. What did he mean? And what should my response be? I find it offending. Should I giggle? I became dumb that moment.

I was asked again “Idedeliver ba siya?” Huwaaat… I was confused again. I mumble, “Ano ba dapat?” (Me being too ignorant). Silly me. Yeah I know, he still didn’t grasp that I don’t know such things. Finally he said, “Idedeliver ba siya or siya na mismo yung kukuha sa branch?” Whew, that explains. Big However, he didn’t explain the difference between the two, poor customer. What if? What if there are disadvantages unknown in my part for choosing any of the options.

I felt too stupid that my searching net beforehand became useless. It’s not obvious right? Can’t blame you if you’ll agree. But then one thing I should be certain of, with lots of negative feedbacks about LBC it should have been a preparation for me to expect the worse.

Back to the plain card versus not, I said “yes”. But he wondered why there’s this pitter-patter as he shakes the card. I said “Oh it’s the keychain.” this is it, the beginning, of accepting the sad truth that I have to pay a larger sum of money. With his followed up reasons, why can’t he just say it straight “You have no choice Miss.” Why? What the use of the minimum payment of 95 if you are only allowed to send something like a 1 piece of onion paper. Are you joking me… noooo.. T_T. Without even the presence of weighing that piece of document? And he reasoned many things like, “it’s a metal, it will be detected by the scanner, and they will return it back here” and the likes. I said to myself “please show me your scanner”. How can that be possible if your cut off is 3.25pm? I wonder if there’s still time left to scan those cards if I happened to drop by around 3:00pm.

I leave the place sullen, while feeling like the all the weight of the world is in my shoulder.

My Verdict:

                The front liner staff  must learn to choose words carefully in dealing with customers since each of us has different personality and view of things. The management should train their staff well. Maybe asking if it is the first time of client for this service will not hurt that much in the part of the assisting staff. Sad to say, soon I started talking; I know I cannot get well with him for I find him contemptuous.

Overall:

It was a disappointing experience.

This gave me the feeling of:

This is not trustworthy BUT I HAVE TO.