Sorry, but that is just a load of Brigadoon bollocks...
1-—Scotland 20 years ago or now was not/is not a poor country, we are part of Britain, one of the most powerful economic countries in the world.
And the notion that Scotland was in times past a backward, poor nation, threadbare is Hollywood nonsense also. Scotland from the 11th century was a thriving trading partner to Europe until the union with England in 1707, and since then has been a driving force in men and product behind the Empire and the modern post-Empire Britain. And Scotland has always been rich in natural finds, from the ancient mining of the Celts to North Sea Oil of today....
Like any country, it has had moments of economic downturn and its has had/had its poorer areas.
2—Ignoring the silly aside of rich American, I can perhaps explain WHY the woman refused it...
Firstly,she cannot refuse any parcel except for Royal Mail rules. If you were posting hardcore porn, as long as its legal, she copuldnt/cant.
Which brings me onto the reason I believe she refused. There are 3 types of postal service from Britain to America:
a—a main Royal Mail post office branch
b—a ‘sub post office’, these are set into shops and are mainly prevelant in smaller towns
c—’Parcelforce’, a section of the RM which deals exclusively with heavy parcels
Now based on your story, I think you were in b—a sub post office. And THATS why she refused. Sub PO’s are only allowed to handle certain sizes, prices and weights of parcels, domestic or international. Due to volume of delivery and RM insurance liability.
What she SHOULD have done is either direct you to a larger ‘main branch’ in the town IF they had one OR a Parcelforce office IF again they had one.
Common sense, IF there were NO other PO’s of any type in the town, should have dictated that she took it and posted it after speaking to a senior manager.
Technically, she was correct if it was a sub PO in a small town and it was a book or parcel ‘too large’. But common sense should have seen her take your money.
Hope that explains. Perhaps you can give more detauls about the incident and I can help answer.