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[Grrrmachine]

A friend overseas has asked me to post him something from Poland, and I've heard many horror stories about things going missing or getting the *beep* beaten out of them by Polands finest posties.

Im planning on sending something to Canada, a kilo or two in weight, and I'm wondering if anyone can either recommend a decent value-for-money courier, or just ease my mind that things LEAVING Poland aren't treated as badly as things coming in. Any suggestions?

[misteradventure]

I recently departed Poland and the airplines have reduced the weight limit (which caused me significant grief in the pocketbook!)

Fortunately, I sent several boxes via 'slow boat'. The first has arrived. ( I get personal service from the Customs officials of this beautiful Latin American nation who want me to pay 15% import duty on my used socks and thumbed-through texts.)

The first arrived. Unharmed. Unopened, even.

A veteran of several trans-oceanic moves, I suspect your bad luck was a result of at least one of the following:

-the sender used a cheaply constructed box
-the sender did not use excessive amounts of commercial-grade packing tape
-the sender did not pack the box fully (there was room for shifting)
-the sender did not bother to send the box 'registered mail' (or the equivalent)

For best luck, you may consider buying a box from Poczta Polska and taking it home and packing it. Then, go back to the SAME post office and the SAME CLERK to send your package during a slow time (like 7pm on a Monday.) And don't do the stuff suggested above, but the opposite.

Learn to say 'thank you' and 'please'. And smile. And mention that your mother is expecting you to show her how you took good care of your stuff all by yourself. (The older matrons LOVE it when you talk about dear old Mum.)

Having rambled on above, let me add that I DETEST going to the Poczta and would rather handle live snakes.