Is the Dutch Postal System Causing Delays for International Mail?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monique
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Money
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perceived inefficiencies and delays in the Dutch postal system, particularly in relation to sending application forms from a university in the Netherlands to a prospective student in the US. Participants explore issues of bureaucracy, costs, and alternative methods of communication.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recounts a frustrating experience with a university staff member who insisted that application forms could only be sent via regular mail, leading to potential delays of up to two months.
  • Another participant suggests that the university's reluctance to use airmail may be due to the cost, especially since higher education is free for Dutch citizens, which could lead to budget constraints.
  • Some participants propose alternative solutions, such as requesting the application in PDF format or using fax, although one participant expresses doubt about the staff member's willingness to accommodate such requests.
  • There is a mention of the bureaucratic nature of the postal system, with one participant expressing frustration towards bureaucrats in general.
  • Another participant notes that higher education is free in Sweden, highlighting a comparison with the Dutch system.
  • A later reply discusses the reliability of postal services from other countries, specifically mentioning delays in mail from Russia as a point of comparison.
  • One participant suggests using an intermediary to expedite the process by having the forms sent to someone in the Netherlands who could then send them via a faster method.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of frustration and understanding regarding the postal system and university policies. There is no consensus on the best approach to resolve the mailing issues, and multiple competing views on the efficiency of the Dutch postal system and the university's handling of mail remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the efficiency of postal services and the willingness of university staff to accommodate requests are not fully explored. The discussion also reflects varying experiences with postal systems in different countries.

Monique
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
4,229
Reaction score
61
There is a saying: Going Dutch.. basically it says that Dutch people are very stingy about their money.. it is just so true, let me tell you.

I called the university that I want to apply to today in Amsterdam.. I asked if they could send me the application forms.. OK, give address, in US, all seems OK.

Just before she is going to hang up I ask her: I want to be sure that this mail is going to be sent by priority or airmail.. if not it will go onto a boat and will take at least 2 months to get here (believe me, it happened before).

She says: No.
Me: what?
She: cannot do that.
Me: why?
She: it has to go through regular mail.
Me: but it will take 2 mo. to get here
She: I can't help it.
Me: Yes, you can, it just needs to be sent by airmail.
She: cannot do that.
Me: why?
She: all the mail is sent to students through regular mail, I cannot make an exception for you (another trait mark of the Dutch: everyone is equal and should be treated equally)

Then she started complaining that it would be expensive, I told her, only costs a few EUROs, but she would have to go to the post office, I told her, don't you have people that bring the mail to the post office? Someone has to do it.. She: sorry, cannot do it.

ARGH! In the end I finally got her pursuaded to write 'airmail' on the envelope and that the people taking care of it after her would know what to do.

I couldn't believe it!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, but you are forgetting that college in the Netherlands is free for all Dutch citizens. So, I can understand why they would want to cut corners on postage.

Not to offend you, but why didn't you just have her send you the application in pdf format? You could have also asked her to fax it to you, or you could have asked her to put the postage charges on your credit card.

eNtRopY
 
Originally posted by eNtRopY
Yes, but you are forgetting that college in the Netherlands is free for all Dutch citizens. So, I can understand why they would want to cut corners on postage.

Not to offend you, but why didn't you just have her send you the application in pdf format? You could have also asked her to fax it to you, or you could have asked her to put the postage charges on your credit card.

eNtRopY

It is not free, it will cost me Eur 1300,- a year.. ok.. practically free right ;P that is probably the same amount as what you would pay for a single class in the US.

The problem was that she wasn't being accomodating at all, you really think she would have made a pdf file? Time is money too you know :P I told her that I could pay for it, but that also means a hassel for her. The fax thing is a good idea btw, I will call again monday and try to get that done.

stupid people.
 
Oh, actually, it is true that professional education is free in the Netherlands, the government will pay the first 4 years of education, but I have already spent 3.5 years so..
 
Holy crap! The Netherlands rock. Free college. Well, I have a scholarship that pays for all my tuition in spring and fall semesters, but not summer, and not everyone gets it. I'm liking these socialistic European countries with their free health care and free postsecondary education.
 
(another trait mark of the Dutch: everyone is equal and should be treated equally)

You're right to rant, God damn those filthy swine! I say bomb them until they start building up a respectable elite class to whom preferential treatment can rightly be shown! ;)
 


Sounds more like simple beurocracy to me...:wink:
I hate beurocrats !

Live long and prosper.
 
Higher education is free in Sweden. You pay your own living expenses but there are no tuition fees. That's one major reason I looked into going to graduate school there.
 
Originally posted by Monique
Just before she is going to hang up I ask her: I want to be sure that this mail is going to be sent by priority or airmail.. if not it will go onto a boat and will take at least 2 months to get here (believe me, it happened before).

Some comments; in all you should be happy that the post does not come from Russia, unfortunately there a letter from Moscow to say Cheliabinsk ususally takes many weeks (indeed last month some post sent from Europe in july was being distributed!)
Second, there is a more convenient method to obtain your application forms more rapidly. If you know somebody which could be an intermediate, let the form be sent to him/her, and then this person can send it by airmail, chronopost or some other option to you.
 

Similar threads

Is it silly to complain about being praised all the time?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Can High Intelligence Truly Govern Our Emotions?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Weight training for older people
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
Can Home Repair or Renovations Reduce One's Taxes?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Sick passes at Colleges, what the heck?
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
8K
News Follow The Money? This Time Follow The E Mails
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
How to help an old lady (dementia / Alzheimer's)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Is this a valid quantum Cheshire cat?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Schools Someone very close to me is struggling with university grades
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
What to Do if You Encounter a Possible Psychopath? Report?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K