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Author Topic: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
HollomonJA
Newbie
Posts: 9
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 04:17
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Sadly that's easier said than done - being an English teacher, I'm stuck at my school from 7am to 5pm Monday-Friday, and I also have little means to travel long distances, and I can't speak Chinese at all. :( Is there any way to resolve this aside from an in-person visit?

shadowspar
Pro
Posts: 1633
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 04:33
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Quote from HollomonJA on October 13, 2015, 03:36
... Here's the full address in Chinese and English (and apparently the USPS isn't allowing printed Chinese labels to be affixed to packages - too bad if the sender can't write in Chinese!) ...

Wow, that's ridiculous. I really hope it's a case of one postal clerk not knowing the actual rules or some such.

If I understand right, the USPS will let you address an item in the language of the destination country, but the complete address must also be written out in Roman characters -- either a translation or a transliteration. So you can't just write the address in Chinese followed by "CHINA" any more, but side-by-side English/Chinese should be ok.

The other thing -- I wouldn't be surprised if all the USPS online shipping tools won't accept anything other than Roman/English characters. Feeding them 汉字 or Cyrillic or anything else will probably make them barf.

HollomonJA
Newbie
Posts: 9
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 05:17
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You're probably right Shadowspar. It could have just been a matter of laziness or ineptitude. The exact words used were purportedly that it would be ok to WRITE out the Chinese characters, but not affix a pre-printed version. Again, not helpful for those who can't write the language to begin with, as duplicating the printing would have been a pretty painstaking trial & error process. (probably mostly error!)

shadowspar
Pro
Posts: 1633
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 05:39
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Truly bizarre. I wonder if they would have been allowed to stencil the characters on, lol. And I agree on the "error" part -- my hànzi / kanji are still kinda rough, but they got a lot better after people started telling me that the strokes are supposed to go in a certain order, etc. :)

chinapostv-
olunteer
Administrator
Posts: 46203
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 05:42
New Topic

HollomonJA, i think you no need worry too much based on following points:
1)The code 215332 in your parcel is a Shanghai zip code. Now your parcel is in Suzhou, this means China Post was not misled by the the wrong post code.

2) Unlike other china cities, Kunshan and Suzhou has many foreign factories, I believe that postman in Suzhou/Kushan should be more familiar with English-address parcel than their counterparts in other area. I noticed your school English address is actually Chinese Pinyin. If the 西环路(Xihuan Road) is not very new, it should be easily understood by China Post postman.

3)Kushan is a little bit far from Suzhou, your parcel is more likely to be delayed in China Post Suzhou warehouse. So be patient and wait a couple of days, the parcel should arrive your school.

HollomonJA
Newbie
Posts: 9
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 13, 2015, 05:45
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Thanks for the vote of confidence - I hope you are right!

HollomonJA
Newbie
Posts: 9
Post Re: Missing USPS Tr# CW937052456US
on: October 15, 2015, 08:22
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I have a Chinese colleague helping me with this, but she's being told that the customs delay is due to Golden Week and to just be patient. Echoing what was already said, so we'll keep our fingers crossed. I wouldn't be so anxious about it if the package in question didn't contain two handmade gifts which can't be replaced...

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