Sorry to be jamming up the forum with disparate questions, but I have one more:

It happens that one of the presents I ordered was shipped via regular mail instead of DHL. I gather that packages are generally held at the post office instead of delivered by a person who, in other countries, would be referred to as a letter carrier or postman -- but I'm sure there's a fairly specific procedure for going and claiming them?

Can someone tell me what the procedure is, in detail -- including the correct address for me to go to for this? I can bring a passport, signed lease, and business card with the address of the apartment building, but I can't (for example) bring a bank statement with this address because I don't have a Cambodian bank account. And yes, I realize that a fair percentage of the parcels that get shipped to the Phnom Penh post office are subsequently "lost" by employees there, so I guess I'd like to know what the *good* *faith* procedure is, and then take my chances from there.

I live in Chatomok Duon Penh (12207) if that makes any difference in terms of the correct destination to tell the tuk-tuk driver. Or maybe I can walk? I walk to Central Market three times a week (from 55 & 240), so anything in that radius is doable for me.

Thanks, everyone.

Cheers,
Dave.

Okay. I don't have a local SIM-card (by choice) so I put my stateside number on the order form -- which I assume the Cambodian Post Office won't want to mess with. When you say "local PO" -- where do you mean, exactly? Is there one big PO that everyone uses in Phnom Penh, or does the fact that I'm in Chatomok Duon Penh mean that I should go to a different building than that one, and if so where is it?

yes, there is a central post office, google it. near riverside. you should go there and slip the clerk $1 to look for your parcel and promise $5 if found.
in future always put your local phone on the outside of the parcel- then you will get it.
works well if you do this.
why on earth you would not have a local phone i cannot fathom.
it costs less than $5 for a sim or 20 with a burner nokia

I had a paper from the postal service delivered to my address in Phnom Penh telling me that I should go to the main post office in Phnom Penh - (immediately behind the train station)
On going there I was directed to an office on the side of the building and I was told that I had to pay import tax - BUT I could only do that in normal business hours Monday to Friday.
They are open on a Saturday morning but only to collect letters - not packages that have import duty to be paid.

I went back the next Monday and paid the 12,000 rial to collect my parcel (having paid for two round trips of US$12 each for the tuk-tuk to get some face cream that my wife had ordered from her cousin in France

wow- you are so lucky they actually notified you at your address.
i have had nothing but good experiences with Cambodia Post/
i sent parcels of gems and jewellery into and out of here using ems, worth over 5k each and never got taxed or lost a single item.

Dangerous Dave, go to the PO and ask to look through the book and find your name, when you find it, ask them to retrieve it and just show them your passport and pay the standard 2500 riel (or more depending on weight).

PO is on Corner St 13 and 102, but the parcel collection office is on the St 102 side building so don't go in the main front entrance.

Thanks, everyone!

1. Pay money
2. Collect package

Get it?

No seaks included.