Hi,

Could someone please help me frame my question in German. The lady at the post office here does not speak good English and needless to say my German is pathetic. Normally we manage to communicate but this time I'm pretty sure we'll have problems understanding each other.

This is what I need to say:

"I'm expecting a package from USA. It was posted on 8th December but we have not received it yet. We were on holiday for 2 weeks but did not receive any notice that Deutsche Post tried to deliver it."

Thanks a lot,
Gillian

I actually dont think a month is abnormal to wait, and I'm doubtful your post office worker will know anything about the package (unless it's literally in their office, and they had a mix-up on delivery or just received it). Although, I could be wrong and it never hurts to ask!

My german isnt great, and you can probably have someone translate this better, since I used an online translation program for you (http://translation2.paralink.com/):

"Jemand sandte uns ein Paket von den USA am 8. Dezember, aber wir haben es nicht erhalten. Wir sind im Urlaub gewesen, aber erhielten keine Benachrichtigung dessen liefern in unserem Briefkasten."

fyi- I skipped the first part of your request, as it was unnecessary and it's just more for you to remember. Hope that was ok.

Also, after you get this first question/part out of the way, the employee is likely to respond to you in german or ask you more questions about your package, which you might not be able to understand/respond to. Think about everything you'd need to know and go armed! Good luck.

(or just bring a german speaking friend with you...)

Oh also, watch for a different type of package notice in your mailbox... sometimes customs will hold up packages, and you have to go pick them up from your nearest customs location vs. them being delivered to the post office. We've had a few packages get stopped, but it's very arbitrary (some they stop, some they dont).

Our customs notice was a green slip of paper with an address, and pick-up instructions - all in german of course.

Actually a friend of ours was picking up the mail from our mailbox for us while we were away. They seem to have thrown out all the junk mail though so I think maybe they thought the delivery notice was junk mail and dumped it. But you're right, maybe Deutsche Post is still struggling with the Christmas deliveries. I feel like I'm going on a wild goose chase here. If she doesn't understand me then I'll ask one of my German friends to come with me.

It will be stuck at your local Zoll office. About 50-50 that you will get a card - normally we don't and it just sits there. We had to ring them 3 times in 1 day last week 'cos they kept denying they had our goods, until we showed them that their employee had signed for the package from Deutsche Post, and then they fessed up and gave us the goods. After the usual huffing and puffing and pretending they had an important powerful job.

Best thing is to visit the Zoll office. Ideally lie a bit and tell them you have been TOLD by the Deutsche Post the package is with them. They will demand the blue card that they will say they have sent, but just ignore/deny that. I assume the whole thing is based on some kinda central African business model. Next time I will take them a mirror and some shiney beads as presents.