Seller told CP to not deliver parcel, but put a card for pick up

[amcdc79]

On July 2, my mailman brought my normal mail, a parcel for my daughter and a pick up card for another parcel to my door. He told me there was no way he could give me the one for the card even though he had it in the truck. When asked, he said the seller had specifically marked the item as a pick up only.

The seller is in the same Province, and when I sent a message asking why they had shipped it that way, they replied that CP was to blame.

Talking to CP, the person explained that the shipper had set the parcel up this way when they had filled out the electronic shipping notice online.

Have any of you seen this before? I did not have to sign for it, just show ID, and of course it had tracking with a bar code on the box.

Shipping was fast, product was good, I'm just not happy that I had to go to the PO in the mall to pick it up. I buy online so I don't have to go out  and have to carry the item home.

What would you do for feedback, and what would you say? I'm all ears. thanks.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Yes, pick up only is an option that can be selected when purchasing some CP services.

I myself will occasionally select that option when shipping something that cannot be replaced or is relatively expensive. The reason being that some post office people, particularly those with the USPS often will leave packages unattended on doorsteps or in porch mailboxes from where the shipment goes missing. Many sellers have experienced this sort of thing where the tracking says delivered but the customer claims they never received the shipment. Choosing the pick  up only option prevents this possibility.

Now, in my personal experience the Canada Post people around here will knock at your door when attempting delivery and will not just leave the parcel unattended on your porch or doorstep but that's here, may be different elsewhere. If I have concerns regarding safe delivery to a Canadian address before checking the "pick up only" box I have been known to contact the buyer asking if there is likely to be anyone home during the day to receive CP delivery of the parcel. I'm aware that having to travel to the local post office may be an inconvenience for some but occasionally pick up at the post office is prudent. A seller may add signature confirmation which should accomplish the same end result but that option carries a significant charge, pick up only does not.

[amcdc79]

I understand that there are instances where using that shipping option is prudent, but to not understand that using it for every sale means that even when the buyer is home, the mailman is not allowed to give the buyer the parcel.

This is their response,

"I try to choose the best way to safely get the item to the customer. Most people do not want to have something left on their doorstep by couriers or the post due to unkind people stealing packages. If you were home and answered the door, there is no reason why the mailman should have refused to get the package off the truck for you. The must leave card is only supposed to be for when the customer isn't home, or when it gets delivered to the a PO Box."

They do not seem to understand the meaning of the word "must" as in no choice.

I will not leave a neutral or a negative, but I "must" let other buyers know that this seller does not let Canada Post deliver to their door, that all they sell, must be picked up at the Post Office.

[kawartha-ephemera]

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@amcdc79 wrote:

I understand that there are instances where using that shipping option is prudent, but to not understand that using it for every sale means that even when the buyer is home, the mailman is not allowed to give the buyer the parcel.

This is their response,

"I try to choose the best way to safely get the item to the customer. Most people do not want to have something left on their doorstep by couriers or the post due to unkind people stealing packages. If you were home and answered the door, there is no reason why the mailman should have refused to get the package off the truck for you. The must leave card is only supposed to be for when the customer isn't home, or when it gets delivered to the a PO Box."

They do not seem to understand the meaning of the word "must" as in no choice.

I will not leave a neutral or a negative, but I "must" let other buyers know that this seller does not let Canada Post deliver to their door, that all they sell, must be picked up at the Post Office.

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It would seem to me reasonable to leave positive FB while noting your pick up at post offfice concern.

Sellecting post office pickup means that photo id is required to release from the post office, thhis is valuable to sellers in certain situations but imo should not be used lightly, reserved for special circumstances only. 

[strange*highways · Accepted solution]

I wish the Post Office would do away with this "card for pickup" option.

If a sender doesn't want something left on the doorstep they can use one of the "signature required" services. 

I actually answered the door once my regular carrier was there and had a parcel for me.

He scanned it then told me he couldn't give it to me because it was card for pickup.

If I was thirty years younger I would have been tempted to grab it from him and slam the door.

As it was I have mellowed in my old age and the guy still got a Christmas Tip that year. 

[esclyons]

AS A SELLER, I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN THAT OPTION,, i always choose the signature required option..  and as far as the postal carrier not being able to release the package to you, i would probably want to challenge that with my local post office. But i honestly don't know the answer to that..  With that being said i wouldn't leave the seller bad feedback, as the package and item, were received in good order.. perhaps if you ever use that seller again, just ask that they pay for the signature option..

[amcdc79]

I left positive feedback with a note saying the sellers will not allow the PO to deliver the parcel. I did call Canada Post, who said the Postie did the correct thing in NOT giving me the parcel. If the sellers wanted make sure that I received the item, they should have paid the extra couple of bucks for signature. I could have signed for it, end of story. Item cost was $115, it went from Comox(Vancouver island) to Burnaby, I'm sure the shipping was less than what I paid.

Thanks to all who replied. 

[femmefan1946]

Card for pickup is free to the sender.

Signature costs $1.50.  Worth it for an item valued at a few hundred dollars, probably not on an item that sold for $115 (because the profit was much lower than $115).