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teenytrinkets · ‎12-12-2020

I have a large sale that I want to ship as quickly as possible to a reserve in NU from BC.

Xpresspost (8 business days) is my fastest option, and I can ship in my own box for around $25 but wondering if using a large prepaid envelope would be faster? The prepaid envelope is more expensive, but I'm wondering if it would be worth it to pay more because visually it will be obvious that it's express? I'm concerned that using my own box will just cause it to be chucked into the "regular" parcel pile?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

ricarmic · ‎12-12-2020

I could be wrong but once that special Canada post expresspost bar code is on it, everything is done by machines, so the only place it would be a problem is at your local PO if they put it in the wrong routing box, I suspect even then if they did, it would be correctly picked up as expresspost after that at some point anyway...

teenytrinkets · ‎12-12-2020

Yeah, I figured that, but I'd think even putting it in the wrong spot one time could cause a significant delay during this busy time of year.

I recall the CPC counter having Xpresspost stickers, which could help with that... but not sure if those stickers still exist?

All the local post offices have 30 min+ lineups, and seem to be sold out of most prepaid options... so using Snapship at home and using Xpresspost with my own box is definitely the more convenient shipping option, as well...

ricarmic · ‎12-12-2020

Yes the postmaster is supposed to put the expresspost stickers on..... at least on 2 sides of the box.

My PO gives me the stickers ahead of time so I've already got them on all my boxes when I drop them off.....

ricarmic · ‎12-12-2020

As another side note, sometimes Xpresspost is no faster than Expedited to remote communities, the PMs can give you the inside scoop, if you know them well enough....

recped · ‎12-12-2020

You would probably find that all services are pretty much the same for delivery time.

One difference between Expedited and Xpresspost is that from BC Expedited will travel by ground to Ottawa before flying to NU while Xpresspost will fly BC to Ottawa (possibly Montreal).

If you want super fast your choices are Priority Post (Purolator) or FedEx, both will be VERY expensive.

A prepaid envelope will travel at the exact same speed as Xpresspost, they are the same service.

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-12-2020

@teenytrinkets wrote:
I have a large sale that I want to ship as quickly as possible to a reserve in NU from BC.

Xpresspost (8 business days) is my fastest option, and I can ship in my own box for around $25 but wondering if using a large prepaid envelope would be faster? The prepaid envelope is more expensive, but I'm wondering if it would be worth it to pay more because visually it will be obvious that it's express? I'm concerned that using my own box will just cause it to be chucked into the "regular" parcel pile?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

From my past experience, NU can get delivered in 5 to 7 days or 7 ot 12 days. Really luck of the draw or available space on the plane. and the season(weather). Those experiences were with expedited. Xpresspost would definitely have higher priority in the scheme of things. To which point is it going to? A little hamlet or one of the larger bergs. Rankin or Arviat as examples seems to have quicker service compared to Whale Cove or Baker Lake. Lastly many of those points have scheduled flights. You miss one flight, it goes on the next.

-Lotz

PS. The western side of the territories are serviced out of Edmonton. The eastern side Winnipeg or Montreal.

femmefan1946 · ‎12-12-2020

When I worked at IAND, there were three flights a week to Iqaluit. I doubt that has improved much and that's the biggest centre.
Have you also compared the prepaid boxes for price and speed?

Only because they are slightly unusual and may, when there are humans involved , might stand out for attention.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-12-2020

@femmefan1946 wrote:
When I worked at IAND, there were three flights a week to Iqaluit. I doubt that has improved much and that's the biggest centre.
Have you also compared the prepaid boxes for price and speed?
Only because they are slightly unusual and may, when there are humans involved , might stand out for attention.

I did a quick comparison prepaid vs my packaging. Because of shape prepaid wasn't going to work. I haven't had one recently. Last one was 2 or 3 months ago. The one thing I did notice was my discounts did not seem to be applying to NU. They did to the Yukon. I passed this on to them)Canpost) but had no luck with any follow up on the ticket. Wasn't sure if it was a glitch or those points were no longer qualifying for a discount.

As for flight schedules I have a feeling some points may be direct/more frequent. Others on some sort of a scheduled loop. Same thing can happen with expedited. I've had packages take 4 days to Mtl for forwarding.... others there overnight(from Calgary). Priority vs Xpresspost vs Expedited vs regular are priorized by their attached guarantee or in other words a pecking order. If there is left over room your package wins the priority sweepstakes. Same goes with couriers unless they have their own flights. Back in the 80ies/90ies Canadapost had priority space with Air Canada. Puro/Loomis etc were next in line. We would have freight bumped from time to time...Before Puro and CanPost aligned. What's going on with that game now? Who knows? Especially since Covit threw a wrench into passenger travel and flights have been moved more to cargo.

-Lotz

teenytrinkets · ‎12-13-2020

The town is called Cambridge Bay.

I seem to recall I didn't get a small biz discount on past shipments to remote towns. One reason prepaid Xpresspost could be cheaper.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎12-13-2020

@teenytrinkets wrote:
The town is called Cambridge Bay.

I seem to recall I didn't get a small biz discount on past shipments to remote towns. One reason prepaid Xpresspost could be cheaper.

From your location it would need to get to Edmonton...On to Yellowknife...Then to Cambridge Bay. Round trip if you wanted to take in person is only 1400 + taxes. Vancouver to Edmonton would be extra. Bring your mittens.

http://www.cambridgebay.ca/visitors/getting-here

-Lotz