Post probe finds that 1 in 3 letters never arrive
By Zhao Wen |
April 12, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ONE in three letters posted in China do not reach their destination, according to a investigation by China Central Television.
Despite numbers of letters mailed dropping dramatically as electronic communications have grown, millions still send and receive letters.
CCTV reporters sent 100 letters by regular mail to 33 Chinese provinces and cities and eight overseas cities. Of these, only 67 reached their destination.
This falls way short of regulatory requirements that at least 95 percent of mail should be delivered correctly, CCTV said.
The investigation also found that some letters arrived much later than delivery times set out in regulations.
Reporters tracked one letter that took 20 days to make the journey from Haidian District to Pinggu District in Beijing.
Under regulations, a letter sent to an address in the same city should be delivered within three days. The maximum period allowed for letters to travel between provinces is 15 days.
The investigation claimed that wrong addresses, distribution problems and irresponsible postmen were the main factors explaining the problems.
"Regular mail is a common service. It charges low rates and clients should not be too demanding," said an insider at a Shanghai post office, who declined to reveal his name.
"Postal workers can do nothing about wrong addresses and it is not their fault where destinations are offices and neighborhood committees where other people are responsible for distributing letters," the insider added.
The CCTV investigation also claimed that some postal staff did not value delivery work, often supplementing it with more lucrative sidelines, such as selling train tickets.
Despite numbers of letters mailed dropping dramatically as electronic communications have grown, millions still send and receive letters.
CCTV reporters sent 100 letters by regular mail to 33 Chinese provinces and cities and eight overseas cities. Of these, only 67 reached their destination.
This falls way short of regulatory requirements that at least 95 percent of mail should be delivered correctly, CCTV said.
The investigation also found that some letters arrived much later than delivery times set out in regulations.
Reporters tracked one letter that took 20 days to make the journey from Haidian District to Pinggu District in Beijing.
Under regulations, a letter sent to an address in the same city should be delivered within three days. The maximum period allowed for letters to travel between provinces is 15 days.
The investigation claimed that wrong addresses, distribution problems and irresponsible postmen were the main factors explaining the problems.
"Regular mail is a common service. It charges low rates and clients should not be too demanding," said an insider at a Shanghai post office, who declined to reveal his name.
"Postal workers can do nothing about wrong addresses and it is not their fault where destinations are offices and neighborhood committees where other people are responsible for distributing letters," the insider added.
The CCTV investigation also claimed that some postal staff did not value delivery work, often supplementing it with more lucrative sidelines, such as selling train tickets.
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