posted on December 29, 2004 10:41:48 AM new
I sold a Zippo lighter to China. I was given the address (I have changed the specifics of the address somewhat) in the following form.
My Shipping Address:
Name of Person
Jonhguakiang the street No.123
The Nangang District
HAERBIN City The province of Heilongjiang
32-15041
China
I'm not sure if the sender took some editorial license by adding "the street" and "The province" etc to the address. Seems to me it ought to be:
Name of Person
Jonhguakiang 123
Nangang
Harbin,Heilongjiang
32-15041
China
Does anyone know anything specific about the proper form for a Chinese address.
Another question is how does it get delivered if addressed in English as I know my postman doesn't read Chinese. It is tough to ask my buyer any questions as his English seems to be very limited.
posted on December 29, 2004 10:48:49 AM new
I'm pretty sure that PO's (like AIRLINES) adopt both FRENCH & ENGLISH as official languages -- IOW: someone is required to READ the addresses & TRANSLATE for delivery persons...
Pretty sure that was standardized by signatories to the INTERNATIONAL POSTAL UNION agreements...
posted on December 29, 2004 01:27:15 PM new
In my former career I used to be a buyer. We did considerable business with China. Either address should work fine.
posted on December 29, 2004 02:31:13 PM new
since the Chinese post office is manned by chinese national who speak more chinese than english,it would be wise to follow his instructions.
The address looks legit,the province is way up north,close to russian border,the name of the province means black dragon river,there is a river up there which froths and water flows at a ferocious speed and the river must be deep as the water is very dark,hence the name BLACK DRAGON RIVER.
Back in old days,it was scarcely populated and they dispatched the prisoners there,kind of like the english sending theirs to AUSTRALIA!
Now i heard there are plenty of folks who live there,harebin is the capital and everyone smokes like crazy.
There you go,they need your lighter!!
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on December 29, 2004 04:26:26 PM new
Just make sure you take another type of payment form, no paypal!
As others have stated just follow the Addy as your buyer writes it out.
posted on December 29, 2004 05:15:19 PM new
It is best to write that address exactly as it was given to you. Many countries have items in addresses that don't mean squat here, but mean the world of difference when delivering there.
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Alive in 2005
posted on December 30, 2004 09:06:10 AM new
I want to thank everyone who left imput on this thread. There is no advice like that of experience (chathamsue).
tomwii, thanks for the links. I have saved them and am sure they will be helpful in the future.
I sent the lighter by Global Priority, flat rate and used the address basically as sent to me by the bidder. I always wonder about the postal systems of other countries and worry a bit about delivery of items sent there, especially third world countries.
An interesting fact about China is there was no civil legal system in China until after President Nixon. They had only about 200 lawyers for the entire country and I assume that was for criminal matters and possibly International dealings.
