Inside Buenos Aires Post Office
How to send a parcel from the Buenos Aires Post Office:
Arrive at 12.20
Have to show my passport to a mean looking lady who checks through my parcel to confiscate any liquids or sprays. And quite possibly any cakes and pies by the looks of her.
Then get to take a number on a paper ticket from a red supermarket deli type machine.
I get ticket number 91. Counter on the wall currently reads 67. Not long to go then…
There’s only one person behind the counter and 10 minutes later it still reads 67.
12.30 It seems a few of the staff have finished their tea break and emerge from a side room. There are now four people behind the counter. Two of them are having a chat
13.00 The counter reads 73.
13.06 Realising I don’t really know what to do I watch other people packaging up their stuff. It seems your number gets called. You show the man your parcel and he gives you an appropriately sized box. You then repackage your goods and fill out the address form. These are then taken to the next window where a man scowls at you and puts the whole lot on a trolley. Then it’s never seen again.
A lady at the other end seems to be posting a huge collection of large leather bound books. Given that cost is determined by weight she’s either very rich or really, really hates a postman somewhere.
13.24 Number suddenly jumps to 85. I suspect most of those people missing have already given up and left.
13.27 Number jumps to 90. Scared to look away in case it goes up and I miss it. I am no longer a free man, I am a number.
13.27.02 Number goes to 91. I almost run to the counter. Everyone behind me in the queue looks disappointed.
13.28 Get given a flat-pack new box and told to repack everything.
13.33 Manage to construct the box and somehow stuff everything in. Not sure what to do now so stand about a bit holding the box.
13.37 The guy behind the counter takes pity on my aching arms and suggests I hand the box over the counter, where it sits ignored for some time.
13.42 He gives me 2 forms to fill out in triplicate. Thankfully I brought a dictionary, if not a pen. The only pen for public use is tied to the desk by a chain all of 6 inches long, so writing is difficult, especially for those of us that are left handed.
13.52 Forms duly filled out I return to the counter and stand in line again until I can hand in the forms again.
13.54 Resubmit the forms with the suggested corrections…
13.54 Suddenly everything goes smoothly. The forms are separated and taped to the parcel and then it’s weighed. The cost is calculated (somewhat unfairly I feel – prices go up in bands so a 5.01kg to 10kg parcel all cost the same) and my 8.2kg parcel costs 546 pesos, or nearly US$150.
14.40 Get back to the apartment and look on the internet. It would only have cost US$170 to send it via FedEx or DHL. It would have got there quicker and I’m guessing it wouldn’t have taken an hour and a half to send.
14.45 Head to the shop on the corner and spend some of the saved $20 on fancy hotdogs, one smothered in guacamole, the other covered in Roquefort cheese and crisps. These help the whole incident fade slowly from memory.
For anyone unfortunate enough to have to brave the Argentina postal system the international parcels office is Correo International, on Avenida Antártida Argentina, across from the Retiro bus station.
There are two post offices here. The closest to the Retiro is the national parcels office, and has such long queues that people come and get a ticket, go outside and buy a picnic then come back a few hours later to see how the queue is going. Don’t see the queues and get as downhearted as we did – the international outgoing parcels office is at the other end of the building.
Contrary to the information on most websites it’s only open from 11-17h, Monday to Friday, but not necessarily Wednesdays. Don’t forget to take your passport and a pen, and ideally a chair.
Merci ! encore un !
What were the goods that you sent and what was the value of them?
I’m possibly going to have to do this with some of my stuff (backpacking) and the value of the goods is about $400. I’ll be shipping to the UK and I’m certain it will weigh less than 5kgs.
It was just extra luggage – mostly clothes as we were heading south to colder areas. For value we put a low price of about $10 to avoid any customs issues.
To compensate the cost , i just changed us $ 100 on The street marker , got 1.200 peso’s for it !!! 50% more then usual .
Good luck,
Eddie van de Wiel
just wanted to say thanks for the post! it was very handy, just incase other people read this, i went along at midday and there was no que! i arrived with some clothes in a bag and they gave me box and got me to fill out some forms. probably took no more than 15 minutes. I was worried i would have the same experience. the people that worked there were also really nice! i also checked with FedEx and DHL and they were more expensive than what i paid. i will update if the package dosnt arrive. fingers crossed
Cheers!
That’s great advice – I have to post in next 2 days – and after reading the other comments was deciding not to – sounding a terrible experience – and DHL quote was a fortune. I;ll give it a go. Would be handy to know where this international post office actually is .. as I believe you can’t post boxes internationally from a standard post office here ..
Thanks again @