When a parcel was posted in Switzerland carrying the postal code D-78266 for Buesingen, the parcel only reached its destination after an odyssey that crossed national borders twice. The parcel was sent via Winterthur to Romanshorn. From there it was transported via ship crossing the lake of Constance to the German city Friedrichshafen where it was presented to German customs. Then it was forwarded to Singen and came back to Switzerland by train to Schaffhausen. There, the parcel was presented to Swiss customs and… possibly customs fees were charged (since obviously, the parcel came from Germany).
Finally, in Schaffhausen, the parcel was put in a postbag and was delivered to it’s destination by the Swiss mail bus line Schaffhausen – Buesingen – Doerflingen. This awkward situation would probably still be the same today if it hadn’t been for Kurt Schuele, a Swiss National Councillor, who is very attached to Buesingen and started to take care of the matter. He got in touch with the confederate head post office in Bern who in turn contacted the German head post office. The problem was solved very quickly: The Swiss postal code CH-8238 Buesingen.
The inhabitants of Buesingen are happy about it.
At the entrance to the German post office, both postal codes are shown.
Even the Telecom and Swisscome telephone booths can be seen harmoniously next to each other.