Conversations
1.— How much is the postage on a picture postcard?
Are you sending it in the United States?
Yes, I am.
It's fifteen cents.
2. — I want to send a letter to my aunt in Miami, Florida. What's the
ZIP code?
Don't know. Here's the directory.
Thank you. Here it is. The ZIP code is 33143.
3.— I want to send a money order to my cousin in Mexico.
What's his name?
It's Luise Gonzalez.
How much do you want to send?
Two hundred dollars.
OK, there's a fee of a dollar ten. It's $201.10.
Fine. Here's the cash.
Thank you. Sign here, please.
4.— Could you tell me how much this parcel to Germany is?
I'll have to check / look up / make sure. Is there anything else?
Yes. Haifa dozen air mail labels and a roll of twenty-five cent stamps. I may also need a large registered envelope soon.
That'll be 8.95 in all.
Thank you. Here it is. Could you give me a 2 p. piece in the change, please. I want to make a phone call.
Some people are waiting in line at the post office in a small town of in Tennessee. The first one wants to pick up his mail.
5. Clerk: Next, please.
Richard: Hi! They told me over at the Morningside post office that I could pick up my mail here. Do you have the General Delivery letters?
Clerk: Yes, we do. Can you show me some ID?
Richard: Yeah, I think I have something with my picture on it ... Here's my driver's license.
Clerk: Richard Stephens ... Okay, Richard, just a minute ... Well, you hit it lucky today — three letters for you!
Richard: All right, thanks a lot!
Clerk: Janet:
Clerk:
Janet: Clerk:
Janet: Clerk: Janet: Clerk:
Janet:
Clerk:
Next. Hi! I want to mail this box of books to Japan. It's okay if it's sealed, isn't it?
Sure. But there's an eleven pound weight limit, and that box looks pretty big.
Oh, it weighs less than eleven pounds. Okay. You want it to go surface, I take it? Let's see ... yup, ten pounds even. Wait a minute! This isn't labelled right. What's wrong with it? Where's the return address? On the other side.
The sender's address has to go here in the upper left hand corner, and, look here — you forgot your zip code. Okay. I'll write it in. The other package here has to go to Lyons as soon as possible. Where's that?
— 488 —
— 489 —
Janet:
In southern France.
Clerk: Well, express is the fastest to Europe, but it's very expensive. Airmail's bad enough, even for small packets, but that's over two pounds, so it'll have to go as a parcel, and that costs a lot more.
Janet: It's over two pounds, I know ... How long does airmail take?
Clerk: Oh, about a week or ten days.
Janet: Yeah, that's okay ... I'll send it airmail after all. I'd like it registered and insured for $50.
Clerk: Okay, fill out this form, then.
7. Counter clerk: Yes?
Customer: I'd like to send a telegram, please.
Counter clerk: Inland or overseas?
Customer: Overseas.
Counter clerk: Can you write the address and the message on this
form, please? Customer: How much is it to Italy, please? Counter clerk: It's 70p, plus 11 p a word. Customer: 70p, plus 11 p a word. Counter clerk: That's right. Customer: Thank you.
8. Consuela Rodriguez: Good morning. I'd like to send this package to
Mexico. Clerk: I'll need you to fill in a customs form, please.
Consuela Rodriguez: Sure. Business papers-no. Contents in detail,
um, sweater. Yes, it's a gift. Value-um, fifty
dollars ... weight-oh, I don't know the weight. Clerk: Put it on the scale.
Consuela Rodriguez: There you go. Clerk: OK, that's one pound, two ounces.
Consuela Rodriguez: Really? How much is that in kilograms? Clerk: Oh, about half a kilo. Now is this surface mail
or air mail? Consuela Rodriguez: Air mail, please. Clerk: That's going to be $ 13.72.
Consuela Rodriguez: Thank you. Clerk: Out of twenty. That's five ... six dollars and
twenty-eight cents change.
Consuela Rodriguez: When do you think it'll get to Mexico? Clerk: There's no guarantee, ma'am, but I guess the
day after tomorrow. Consuela Rodriguez: Thanks.
— 490 —