CP small packet surface vs. expedited parcel

[abcit]

For shipping items to USA, how long would take if I select Samll Packet Surface, anyone could give me some advice? Thanks in advance.

Called CP today and was told that the delivery standards for Small Packets expectation similar to that of the equivalent parcel service. What's the equivalent service mean? Expedited Parcel?

[mhha]

There is no service standard for small packet. That is the difference. The average however is about 1.5 weeks for ground and air small packet (unless it's around Xmas, then small packet ground drops to about 2 to 3 weeks).

That is my experience.

I swear by small packet.
Mary Helen
eBay mhha

[zarzuella]

I ship by small package whenever the package weight allows me to use the category.
I have found that surface small packet has been taking 3-4 weeks from SW Ontario to California or Nevada, 4-5 days to upper US states.

Depends on where you are and where its going.

Ann

[althetrainer]

One of the reasons I like shipping Expedited parcel is that I can track it. I know, CP tracking system is not perfect, far from it! But at least my customers think they can track it. LOL Most of the Expedited parcels I send take 8 - 12 business days. Small packets can take up to 3 weeks.

[rd1000]

ground small packets are consistently 3 weeks, give or take a couple days, for me.

[abcit]

Thank you buddy, it's really helpful!

[tpman99]

Personally, always ship via expresspost as this gives me more information when it is tracked. Plus takes only 3-5 business days to anywhere in the US.

:-)

[josephine]

The official numbers from CP I give the customers for Canada Post Expedited Parcel: Estimated delivery time is 1-7 business days within Canada. USA buyers please allow 6-12 business days for delivery.

Note that Expedited Parcel goes by GROUND to the USA, while it goes by AIR within Canada. So it's really misleading when everyone thinks that "Expedited" means it will arrive fast because it doesn't! For venture one holders, the price for the same packet is the same as shipping by Air to the US.

So the choice is yours ... do you want to ship Expedited Parcel and get tracking and free insurance up to $100? Or ship by Air and have it arrive sooner but with no insurance at all? Hope this helps.

[fashion-files74]

I have noticed that small packets take between 1 - 3 weeks to arrive.

[novafashions]

Josephine is right, Expedited is misleading.

Small Packet now includes $100. of Insurance, but no tracking. I highly recommend Small Packet Air, never had a problem with it. I've never used the Surface option.

Lynn

[althetrainer]

Sometimes I wonder how in the world you can prove that you've shipped something based on a payment slip. That's the problem with small packets. You can't prove what's in the package and you can even prove who it was addressed to. The Expedited form gives all information including the contents and value of the item shipped. Unless it's something cheap, I always go Expedited.

[niko*_*]

Although I ship mostly small packet I would prefer to ship expedited. Problem is getting customers to pay for it.

[muminlaw]

althetrainer, haven't you gotten the new small packet labels from your post office? They also give all the info - who it was addressed to and the contents and value. No tracking number, but at least proof that a packet was mailed to that person.

Glenda

[vesivus]

My experience with small packet surface is roughly 3 weeks, with a few packages taking up to 8 weeks to arrive! Airmail generally arrives within 2 weeks.

John

[ospreylinks]

This time of year we ship a fair number of winter golf gloves which fit in an 9.5 x 12.5 envelope and are small and light enought to go through the slot and qualify as lettermail, which means they ship for $1.60 to the US.

Delivery for this method normally takes 10 to 12 business days to US addresses and we have been very lucky as 99% of the time they arrive in this window.

We also send this same item internationally and it was interesting to note a couple of weeks ago we sold a half a dozen pair to the US and one pair to the UK. We sent the pair to the UK Small Package air and it was delivered in about 3 to 4 business days, while the others went lettermail rate to the US and took the full 12 days...

It is frustrating though to have cheaper small parcel (not lettermail) rates if shipping to the US or Internationally versus shipping the same parcel within Canada.

Jeff

[llee2]

Jeff,

I regularly send items to the UK by airmail small packet. 99% of them get there within a week. I'd say less than 10% of the same items going to the States get there in that time. I also send CDs to the US which go oversize lettermail. They generally take 10-14 days to the US too. Then again, I had an Expedited Parcel sent from Windsor Ontario to Parry Sound Ontario (supposed to take 1-2 business days) take 6 business days. Getting to be more like a crap shoot every day.

Lincoln

[ospreylinks]

Lincoln, are you in Windsor? I use to run a golf course in Leamington for a few years. Loved the area.

Jeff

PS - Now I am in North Bay (which is close to Parry Sound).

[llee2]

Jeff,

I'm still in the area - Tecumseh these days. Still lots of golf courses here. You must be freezin' your arse off in North Bay (snowed for the first time today here - less than a centimeter and it melted by noon).

Lincoln

[muminlaw]

Jeff,

Nah, I won't say it {{{{{ biting my tongue! }}}}}

Glenda

[ospreylinks]

Thats right Glenda.... 16 posts and we are talking about golf courses.....

Jeff