Question about location preposition

Question

The question was: "Les parents sont ____________ la Poste."  The hint sais that the parents were at the post office.  My response was "Les parents sont dans la Poste."  QUIZBOT said that the correct response is "Leas parenat sont a (with accent) la Poste.  Why is "dans" not correct?

Accepted Answer

Hi James, 
You would never say -
être dans la poste but à la poste.
If you wanted to specify 'inside' the post office you would use 'à l'intérieur '.
Bonne Continution !

Answer

James, ‘ à la Poste ‘ and ‘ dans la Poste ‘ have the same difference in meaning in French as ‘ at the post office’ and ‘ in the post office ‘ do in English.

Answer

To extend the discussion :

‘ Dans le bureau de poste ‘ can be used for parcels etc, and then there is a parcel collection service ‘ Retrait en poste ‘ ( or also ‘ retrait en ligne ‘ ).

Prepositions !

https://www.laposte.fr/conseils-pratiques/recuperez-vos-courriers-et-colis-apres-un-premier-passage-du-facteur

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/retrait