Surely "Italian Queueing
Submitted by alan h on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 09:14In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Queueing
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 09:18In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Well post offices in Italy are known for their long queues , It's a place to meet up and gossip for an hour whilst the only person behind the screen attends very very very slowly to the person at the front. Here's a tip. Try to avoid the Post Office at the beginning of the month as that's when pensions are paid out. Most pensions are not paid into a bank account as bank charges are incurred by having an account. The result??? It's even busier.
Post Offices .... one hour on
Submitted by tinacara on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 09:26In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
making a queue at poste italiane
Submitted by Valentina+c on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 10:14In reply to Post Offices .... one hour on by tinacara
Post Office Ticket System
Submitted by Badger on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 11:13In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
POST OFFICES
Submitted by Gala Placidia on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:03In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I think that it all depends on the particular date when you go to the Post Office. I must say that it has not been too bad at Bagni di Lucca, 2 people before me at the most, but it is hard to predict how long they will take. Anyway, it is a short walk from home and if I see that the Post Office is too busy, I can always come back at another time. Lunch time it is usually very quiet.
My One Experience
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:31In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I've only been to the post office once in Italy to pay my ENEL bill.My Italian friend said it would be a nightmare and I would have to get cash from the bank as I wouldn't be able to us my Bancomat Card.After getting through security (like an Airport) I then had to choose from 3 ticket number machines - I guessed and just took one - hoping for the best. My number came up quickly - I handed over my ENEL bill and my Bancomat Card - no problem- bill stamped and paid and out in less than 5 minutes.Better service than my UK Post Office..but it WAS just the once....Jinty
QUEUES
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:40In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
First lesson - you must have infinite time available to do anything in Italy!Our village has a shop run by Claudio (who does nothing) and his wife (who looks like death warmed up). Whenever I go to the shop (to get some bread and a few cases of wine) there are always a couple of old biddies there. 2 people in the queue;surely no problem?But what I don't know is that they're shopping for the whole village! They do one list (6 slices of crudo etc) and the ham is put away. Then the next list comes out which wants 4 slices of crudo - so back on the slicer the ham goes etc etc. Is there a law of 'justifiable homicide' (or should that be 'donnacide' or 'nonnacide') in Italy?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
LUCK
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:51Cultivate your post master or
Submitted by Angie and Robert on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:54In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Cultivate your post master or in our case post mistress, she/they are so interested in what you are posting that you can have a nice chat about friends you have in France, and come to the front of a very small line of people. but in a supermarket (where I was not know) I did tell the old lady who was pushing in front that actually I was before her. Why not?, I think there is a myth about what is OK here and dont rock the boat, and of course we dont and love our part of Italy, but , acccepting all of that we live here have great neighbours and friends, its OK to be sometimes assertive?A
Our village post office has a
Submitted by bunny on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 17:49In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Tinacara - I was in
Submitted by Joy on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 18:15In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Tinacara - I was in Sainsburys the other day - had taken ages to get through checkout as I had loads of shopping (why I don't know when there's only 2 of us) Half of the checkouts were closed so long queues. I am in the middle of paying and said in passing 'oh dear I've forgotten something' No problem said the assistant and rings her bell, gets someone to fetch it for me, I felt really embarrassed and apologised to the queue but the assistant says that is the policy. Maybe the manager has been shopping in Italy!!!!
I love when a person pushes
Submitted by Mark on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 03:24In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I love when a person pushes to the front of the queue because they only want to ask a question. Which usually goes something like “Have you got whatever?”. Then when the assistant says yes, they reel off another 10-20 items they want, pay and stroll out.Then my wife becomes like a brick wall with me trying to reach round her yelling that I only want to tear off one limb. Mark
But I like it at our doctors
Submitted by Angie and Robert on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 04:27In reply to I love when a person pushes by Mark
But I like it at our doctors surgery, when each new person comes in and wants to know the order in which we go in to see the doctor, so its a good way to learn counting, and then the next person comes in and we start all over again.it would be much easier to just say "you are last"!A
I am hopeless
Submitted by Ronald on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 08:00In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I find there are two queue systems - if it is to get into a sagra, festival or generally this sort of outdoor events or grab the dish of whatever delicacy the sagra is about it is every man, woman child for themselves - at which point I step back and the Italians in the group take over and get us through (which usually means roughly maintaining our original positions and not be overtaken too many times while they keep telling me to chill it and no matter how much I throw "angry" stares people could not care less and I will not shame them into retreat). I hate it and get all precious about personal space and old ladies pushing into your ribs. Then you have your post offices, supermarkets, doctors etc where queues are generally kept but it may occasionally mean the odd direct comment (signora, e il mio turno...) . the "trick" there is to realise that if there is a ticket system it means that you can get your number, leave and come back in time for your ticket number to show up. So for example at the doctors you get your number and if you time it right can go away do something else for 30 minutes then come back and you are done. The disaster scenario is when you loose your turn because you were too late to come back at which your ticket is worthless unless you come up with a really good excuse :)