So my shipping company informs me (after about 6 weeks since my leaving Shanghai) that my goods are, well…. still stuck in Shanghai.
Pray, why, I ask.
Them: Because Bangalore customs is refusing to accept any shipping vessels
containing personal effects…
Me: So you are saying they
would be ok shipping a few metric tons of cheap factory-made Hello Kitty lace
frocks for me instead? Or perhaps industrial cargo, if I can get hold of some, from
somewhere!
I am met with Stony silence. So I
try again…
Me: But Bangalore is not a port?? Customs clearance has to happen at the
first port of entry into a country, if goods are being delivered by sea.
Them: That’s
ok – we can ship directly to Bangalore for your convenience. Except that this
time, they are not accepting any personal shipments.
(point on personal shipment is
reiterated yet again)
Me: Ok, if
you say so… I didn’t think I was signing on Moses for the job. But if you can
part the sea, direct it to Bangalore, and also create a port with the express
idea of getting my goods shipped to my doorstep, then I will lie prostrate at
your feet, and start a new religion.
(my anger and sarcasm are both
lost on them)
Them: We are making every effort. We shall get back to you in a couple of
days
Me: Here’s an idea – why don’t you try shipping to Mumbai or Chennai
instead? They are well, ports, to start with…. So you might have some luck, you
know?
I hang up before I totally lose
it with them. I want to fling the phone and everything in the room through the
telephone wires at them.
Two days later I get an email. It
says –
“We have made EVERY effort and we
are very pleased to inform you that we have finally succeeded in switching the
port to Chennai and you will not have to pay anything extra for the change in
port from Bangalore to Chennai”.
Seriously?? For free??!
Bloody hell. Geography lesson 101
– where there is a seaport, there is usually a coastline??
Stupidity by itself doesn’t get
my goat. It is stupidity with persistent and unwavering confidence in assuming the other person is equally stupid, that does.
Two days later comes another
email –
“Your ship has sailed without your goods, because of existing
overload of cargo.”
Hallelujah. Stroke of genius,
this.
(If any of you are moving, please ask me, and I
will tell you which shipping company NOT to go with – unless you are happy for
your personal effects to enjoy Shanghai residence for longer than you).
Hahahaha!!!!! Are Chinese ppl so dumb? I thought they were intillegent ppl....LOL
ReplyDeleteThey are very bright people on an average. As are Indians smart (or supposed to be). Its the law of averages and the odd one out. Let me give you an example of Indian smarts - the other day I was shopping for groceries at a supermarket here, and this lady comes up to me to ask where I bought what I was wearing that day (usual women banter!). I told her "Shanghai". She either did not hear or maybe it did not register. So she asked me where I was from, because I clearly did not look like I was from the South or that I "belonged" here. I thought "wow, perceptive!" :) So I told her I had just moved back here from China. She said "Chennai?". I said "no, China". Then she stumped me with her piece de resistance remark - "So you are Chinese then? But funny, you don't look Chinese either, just like you don't look like a Kannada person!" :D I rest my case. :D
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