Gang.

Any one else been asked by a counter clerk...."What's in this package ?"
I normally use our local village Post Office, who I know very well. They never query any packages I send anywhere, but this fair morn I dropped a small package off 'in town' and was asked the above.

"CD's" I responded, "Why do you ask ?"
"Oh, we have to."
"Since when ?" I queried pleasantly.
"For ages now."

Fair enough....But I was rather taken aback......How long has this been going on ?.....And what's the point ?
If it been 'something dodgy'.....I would hardly have told them.
Do they run to a back room, tear the packet open, to check if I'd been telling 'porkies'.

Cheers - Puzzled of Wales. 

Phil - Happens all the time when I do not use our local PO.  The look on the face of the counter assistant can be summed up as 'weirdo' when I reply to the question with 'model soldiers' or 'miniature metal tanks'.   

I have often been tempted to answer something like 'weapons, guns, bombs, .....', but then again spending the next 12 hours being questioned by our local constabulary and possibly even the AT squad makes me never actually reply like that.   

Thanks for that, Fig.ht. 

Like I said......I just can't see the point, unless they rip the package open, to check.
(Like you I was tempted to say something silly... ...But thought better of it !)
I'll stick to the local village office in future !

"Morning, Hwel"...."Morning, Phil"......Much more civiliised  !

Cheers - Phil

Reminds me of:

"Do you intend the undermine the Constitution of the United States of America?"

"Sole purpose of visit"

I suppose it's to discover in a non x-ray verbal type way whether there are any restricted or prohibited items in the parcel. As if you're going to admit to knowing what restricted and prohibited mean over the counter.  

I recently received a parcel that had "Toy Soldiers" written on the contents line, which my postman delighted in announcing loudly to all my neighbours.

I get asked every time. I often  get a "That's interesting! Is that what you do for a living?"

I also get asked whenever I sell a few bits on e-bay and have to post them. I just reply 'toy soldiers' and get no reaction.  Fortunately our postie is great fun and often tells me I have new toys whenever a parcel arrives at our house.

My local post office now knows me well enough they don't look surprised when I say "toy soldiers"

But they always ask, with the face that says "sorry, but we have to, it's daft, we know".

My post ofice often asks if the contents of a package is valuable, they're obviously short listing the ones worth nicking.

I havve been asked at our local post office, Normally if I ask for a proof of postage.

Then they ask the value, I suspect its because claims have gone up for lost parcels due to Ebay

Everything you send by Royal Mail is insured up to the value of £20. Additional compensation can be purchased up to £2,500, which is why they ask.

All you have to declare is

The parcel doesn't contain any restricted or prohibited items (I've checked on the website)

The contents of the parcel do/do not exceed the value of £20

I think if you're on the "Special List" they ask.

It's when you see them pressing the button under the counter that you have to worry.

i just give mine straight to the man in  the bomb suit. It saves time.

This happened to me when I posted my toys to be painted she looked a littlle surprised to say the least

Take care

Andy

Happens every time in my post office. they also want to know what the contents are worth as well. If they're your most treasured miniatures I suppose the answer is 'priceless'.