Expedited Parcel

[momoftwingles2]

Hi Everyone,

I sent a package to the Chesapeake, Virginia on October 3rd, 2010 via Expedited Parcel.

On November 2nd I filed a claim with Canada Post via the phone.

Rudia, the Canada Post rep, said that they would forward the information to the US Postal Service and that the US Postal Service would send a letter to my customer checking to see if in fact the parcel had been delivered.

Rudia e-mailed me and said that on November 5th the USPS sent the letter. Mind you on the 17th of November she still had not received THE LETTER.

So, I contacted Rudia once again and she said that this was nonsense and said that she would mail the letter out herself to my customer. She did. My customer received the letter and e-mailed and physically sent the letter back to the rep on November 30th.

Today, I called Canada Post and Rudia said that she had noticed that FINALLY on December 5th that THE PACKAGE had finally reached the destination country - the USA. So HOPEFULLY, the package will be delivered within the next few days.

She said that more than likely the package has been sitting in Customs since the 6th of October!

Thankfully, my customer has had the patience of a saint!

However, I'm curious....as this was an EXPEDITED Parcel ....am I not entitled to a refund of shipping since it's kind of late?

Why in the world Canada Post named this method of shipping Expedited when we all know that it's nothing more than a fancy word for surface shipping. It should have been called SNAILPEDITED!

Susan

[zarzuella]

This is confirmed in the Canada Post announcement posted by Nan*55 a couple of days ago:
>>
# Toner Cartridges – Printer toner cartridges weighing more than 453 grams are not acceptable for air transportation to any destination. Customers should instead ship these items using one of the following options:

* Within Canada: Regular Parcel, Expedited Parcel
* To USA: Expedited Parcel – USA, Small Packet – USA Surface
* Other destinations: International Parcel – Surface, Small Packet – International Surface


They are finally admitting that Expedited is just plain old parcel post. It will probably get priority over regular parcel if the truck is full, but that's about all.

Ann

[momoftwingles2]

Hi Ann,

I know. We've all known it all along that Expedited Parcel is nothing more than Surface mail.

I was just reading through the Service Standards and it looks like there is no guarantee on delivery using Expedited. So, I guess I should be glad that at least the parcel now has a better chance of arriving to Chespeake, Virginia than before!

However, from October 3rd and now it is December 9th....poor service has been given.

I'm glad my customer is a patient soul!

Susan

[axe_n_gear_music]

Just had the same issue with CP.
Package sent out Oct 12 to Australia via Expedited Parcel (which is plain Surface by boat....NOTHING expedited about it, believe me....I wish they'd change that term, its so misleading). Customer paid 125 dollars for shipping, and Xpress Air would have been 244.00, so they opted for the "EXPEDITED" (love that name - its like naming a turtle in a race, "SPEEDY").

Anyway, it still hasnt arrived, and still shows via tracking (read, there is NO TRACKING WITH EXPEDITED), only that it left Canada on Oct 15.

Customer is pissed big time, as this 700 dollar instrument was to be an Xmas gift.
I called CP, and they told me that Expedited has no delivery guarantee, and they will not even open an investigation until after 60 days (Dec. 12)

Also, because there is no time guarantee with Expedited, she said even if it takes 10 months to arrive, there is NO refund.
I said "yer fuc*&^%$#@ing kidding me right?"
She said......"no. Thats the way it is."

Same with every other service, except Xpress or Priority, both of which come with delivery guarantees and tracking, but of course the customer has to sell the farm to be able to afford them. X-(

AXE

[momoftwingles2]

Hi Axe,

You hit the nail on the head!

I, too, have a package that was sent to Australia on October 3rd via Small Packet SURFACE. I offered both AIR and SURFACE, but strongly advised against the surface method due to the HOLIDAY RUSH of international mail. This customer still opted for surface because it was about 1/2 the price of air.

Needless to say, she still does not have her package and it's now been 9-1/2 weeks and her package has still not arrived. I called CP to file a claim and they said that I had to wait until December 15th to file a claim.

Thank goodness she's another patient soul.

Susan

[cottonwoodindustries]

Surface to Australia is usually a minimum of 3 months, I send there all the time and my customers know that in advance. Reassure them that it is not lost and it will get there soon.

When did they start having expedited for international, it is either small package or xpress, is it not.

My Expedited packages to the states is only taking an average of 4-7 business days, the fastest it has ever been, no problem with delayed shipments this past year, it has been great

Loré

[axe_n_gear_music]

When did they start having expedited for international, it is either small package or xpress, is it not.

It has always been and still is available when you go in to the Post Office to ship, and it used to be available when printing a CP shipping label, but they removed that option (probably to try to save sellers DSR's!!!).

Going forward, I will only ship Surface Expedited Int'l when absolutely necessary. I'd rather lose the sale while pushing Xpresspost Int'l, than see customers pay 125 dollars for Surface Expedited and wait 3 months to get their item. (Xpress would be 245.00 for same item example)

AXE

[momoftwingles2]

Hi Loré,

I will add that I sent a parcel to Virginia Beach, Virginia on December 3rd via Expedited and it was received by my friend on December 8th. However, the one to Chesapeake, Virginia (a few miles away from Va. Beach) still has not made it there since October 3rd. Tracking was updated and it now says that on December 5th it has made it to its destination country. Today is the 11th and I'm hoping that by next week my customer will have the package in their hands.

I've sent Surface to Australia many, many times over the past 10 years and it has never taken 3 months to arrive. Canada Posts suggested timeline when I was purchasing the postage DIRECTLY from Canada Post was 4 - 6 weeks. There is a huge difference between that and 3 months!

I do believe that for the most part, mail is delivered in a timely manner, however it's the ones that are discussed here as late that stand out and irritate sellers because it hurts one's business.

Susan

[pjcdn2005]

When did they start having expedited for international, it is either small package or xpress, is it not.

I think that on the Canada Post website it is referred to as International Surface Mail and it looks like it has delivery confirmation.

[momoftwingles2]

My parcel to Chesapeake, Virginia was delivered on Saturday. Oh, my goodness, Canada Post, Customs and the USPS should all be so very proud of themselves for inconveniencing this customer!

Thankfully she understands!

Have a good one!
Susan

[marcopoloca]

Don't hold your breath, Susan; they think that you are lucky that the parcel was actually delivered at all. You get the sense that they are doing you/us a favor every time you talk to these unionized post/custom people (franchises not included). How dare of us to complain!

[momoftwingles2]

And, my parcel to Australia...mailed on October 3rd/4th was delivered today! My customer e-mailed me and was thrilled with everything!

All's well that ends well.

Susan