Brits send Christmas cards via India

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1141474


Sajeda Momin
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 03:15 IST


Britons in India have found that the antiquated Indian postal service is cheaper, more efficient and reliable than the modern Royal Mail

LONDON: There was a time when Indians living in the UK were reticent about sending letters or cards worried that they would not reach their homes and get waylaid along the way. They were not concerned about the postal workers in Britain, but in India. Now it seems the tables have turned!

Britons in India have found that the Indian postal service is cheaper and more reliable than the Royal Mail. While travelling to India many Britons brought their Christmas cards with them and posted them at a fraction of the cost, and within a week the cards were lying on the welcome mats of their family and friends in the UK.

This came as a huge relief particularly as there have been a phenomenal number of complaints about the Royal Mail losing millions of Christmas cards and presents. The Royal Mail are expected to deliver a whopping two billion items within Britain this Christmas. However, thanks to a £10 billion boom in online shopping, postal workers are overwhelmed by a backlog and around two million cards and presents have been lost.

In this postal mess at a very special time of the year, the antiquated Indian postal service set up during the colonial era is proving to be more efficient that the modern Royal Mail.

Kathy Miller, who runs The Neem Tree Trust, a charity organisation for disadvantaged children in Tamil Nadu was pleasantly surprised when she posted her Christmas cards in India and they arrived at their destination in the United Kingdom on time and at a fraction of the cost.

A first class stamp for domestic use in the UK costs 34 pence (Rs 28), whereas a card posted from India to Britain with the envelope left unsealed can cost as little as Rs 8. Miller praised the “excellent and inexpensive Indian postal systemâ€

[LDV 350]

How do they think it gets delivered once it reaches our shores? do they think some poor wee Indian postie travelled over with the mail?

[Lounge Lizard]

Not just posting letters, but the whole cost of living is cheaper out in India. I might consider emigrating there if the wages weren't a lot lower too.

[jafferpants]

Not just posting letters, but the whole cost of living is cheaper out in India. I might consider emigrating there if the wages weren't a lot lower too.

i wouldn't move there if i were you you'll end up being "sari"

[POSTMAN]

I'll move there for the grub!!