Set up SingPost collection booths at MRT stations

One of the delights in reading newspapers is the reader's contribution session. 

And, one of the added delight in reading newspapers online is the commenter's response to the reader's contribution.

One extract from Today's reader, published on 28 February 2014:~

Set up SingPost collection booths at MRT stations
From Arthur Phua

The biggest problem with online purchases is that one must be at home to receive the delivery.

If SingPost could set up collection booths at various MRT stations and charge a small fee for this service, it would bring convenience to recipients and reduce SingPost’s labour overheads from not having to deliver to every door.

Such booths need not occupy a big space, and the capacity could be managed via an online booking system.

And here's what the online commenter says in response:~
 Ricky Lye · Top Commenter

Set up post offices next to MRT Stations, no need to set up additional booths for collection.

All very good ideas, considering our experience of SingPost delivery postman/courier leaving a "you-were-not-in' notice far too many times for this excuse to be valid.

At first, when we got such a slip stuck to the door entrance, we thought the doorbell went kaput.  There is always someone on standby, so how could the loud bell be missed?

Then, when it happened even when the door was wide open, and many folks were around, we began to wonder if we didn't splint to the entrance fast enough for the postman/courier to vanish off to his next rounds.

This was confirmed finally, when at the first strike of the doorbell gong, we dash to the door - only to find the same old notorious SingPost slip waiting instead of the postman/courier!  Ta-da .. ta-da .. drum-roll.. .. ..we knew we didn't make it to the Olympics.  The impatient postman/courier obviously felt we were not Usain Bolt standards and too slow for his liking.

SingPost didn't make it to the Olympics too, come to think of it. 

We paid lots for their airfreight from USA, only to find that upon reaching Singapore, smaller items would be segregated from the larger items, and then posted using snail mail instead of couriers.  It took 2 weeks for the smaller items to arrive, after the larger items were received via local courier within Singapore.  All items were in the same pack, coming from USA to Singapore.  The air delivery from USA to Singapore was fast and on schedule.  It was only when all big and small items arrive in the same shipment pack, that the delay became evident.

SCB and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Standard Chartered's Manhattan has always been the go-to card for big purchases.  It gave a 5% rebate for spending above $3,000, capped at $200.

From August 2013, many were disappointed to see them drop the 5% to 3%.  This makes the UOB One card more attractive. 

Loyal Manhattan users were gratified to see SCB put up a Christmas promo that spans from 16 November 2013 to 15 January 2014.  The 15% Dining Cashbacks and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0") helps mitigate the loss in rebates. 

The Galaxy Tab 3 is no iPad Mini; it is missing the retina.  We were quite hesitant to go for the promotion at first, as the reviews for this particular tablet incarnation were quite bad.  We already have 2 tablets and there is every possibility that this would end up as an unwanted child.  However, it is not like this at all.  We've redeemed it and it has been quite a joy for casual use.  We grab for it as much as we grab for the bigger iPads.

Credit card companies have been dishing out quite a lot of hit-and-run gifts, and we've been victims of it.  So we appreciate a good gift when we see one.

Another convenience is that the collection centre is right in the Orchard Road locality (Courts).  We prefer this than being made to go to the Clarke Quay or Suntec City redemption areas used by other credit card companies.