back alley
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i've never had a large problem with canada post and most of the time it's the local clerks who mess up by putting away parcels without scanning them into the system so they look lost while sitting comfortably on a shelf somewhere.
but don't get me started on customs...
but don't get me started on customs...
jan normandale
Film is the other way
My Canada Post experience is actually better than my experience with Fedex and UPS. Try getting responses from those two giant corporations. I have 3 files going with them both. One owes me for double billing the other for 'customs' fees on a camera that was not applicable. Eventually they refused to even acknowledge prior receipt of my correspondence or respond to my emails. Phone calls were a exercise in frustration. I'm out several hundred dollars and they haven't settled two years later.
If you want to believe that all other providers are good you'll find the private couriers entirely capable of screwing you up. Our business spends in excess of a thousand dollars annually and the private couriers are all bad on a given day. I have had parcels sit for three days awaiting pick up by DHL that were "guaranteed overnight delivery prior to noon the next day"
I genuinely wish you the best in tracking the parcel.
If you want to believe that all other providers are good you'll find the private couriers entirely capable of screwing you up. Our business spends in excess of a thousand dollars annually and the private couriers are all bad on a given day. I have had parcels sit for three days awaiting pick up by DHL that were "guaranteed overnight delivery prior to noon the next day"
I genuinely wish you the best in tracking the parcel.
Shac
Well-known
Wow - that's the exact opposite of my experience. I've found it's usually 2-3 times the cost of USPS. Plus USPS has a service called media mail and the fixed price packages.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
I've ordered stuff from that neck of the woods (White Rock/Richmond/Van) and they shipped out of Bellingham (or was it Blaine.. anyway) - the item, via USPS (and, granted, Canada Post) took more than two weeks. And this dude was IN the greater Vancouver area - he said it would cost more money to ship via Canada Post Xpresspost (but, to me, that didn't matter, because I was paying the shipping and I specifically requested Xpresspost) - who cares about the cost if it takes three times as long and/or goes missing and you don't have a tracking number.
Dave
dfoo
Well-known
For a small parcel from the US using USPS (for example, a RF lens) to me minimum price is about $25. I shipped a lens to my friend to try, and it was $9. Shipping service was the same; a bit less than 2 weeks.
emraphoto
Veteran
Hi Dave,
it was sent expresspost guaranteed delivery by 5pm the following day.
Thankfully it was insured however the process (trace) is long and I won't be seeing any of that $ for a while.
it was sent from Ottawa (Kanata) to London... not far.
a photojournalist friend sent it.
i have spoken with Canada Post over the past 6 months and have been given numerous claim numbers. i have also had folks up the chain of command call me. most times it seems disconnected. they are unaware of my numerous issues, they don't know the facts of the relative issue and so far the "issues" just continue to escalate. this time around, the sender got on the phone with them and they have NO IDEA WHERE THE PACKAGE IS, what happened to it nor are they able to offer any help. wait another 24 hours and then start a claim is the official response at this point. the odd thing is beyond it being "accepted" at the original post office it then vanished. no updates along the way. this is why i suspect it is permanently gone!
i am not frustrated really. i don't even want to talk to them anymore. they are 100% incompetent in my books and all i want is my $ at this point. i know i will have a long wait for that though.
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Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Can anything really be worse than UPS?
jan normandale
Film is the other way
6 months of headaches now. 6 months of phoning, complaining, packages not being delivered, broken stuff and the list goes on. 6 months of calling them and still no solutions.
i have spoken with Canada Post over the past 6 months and have been given numerous claim numbers. i have also had folks up the chain of command call me. most times it seems disconnected. they are unaware of my numerous issues, they don't know the facts of the relative issue and so far the "issues" just continue to escalate.
You have had parcels sent and they are still outstanding? How many parcels are missing at the time of this post?
it was sent expresspost guaranteed delivery by 5pm the following day
I'm trying to figure out the time line you are posting here...what day and month was the most recent parcel sent to you?
i have spoken with Canada Post over the past 6 months and have been given numerous claim numbers. i have also had folks up the chain of command call me. most times it seems disconnected. they are unaware of my numerous issues, they don't know the facts of the relative issue and so far the "issues" just continue to escalate.
You have had parcels sent and they are still outstanding? How many parcels are missing at the time of this post?
it was sent expresspost guaranteed delivery by 5pm the following day
I'm trying to figure out the time line you are posting here...what day and month was the most recent parcel sent to you?
emraphoto
Veteran
Well it started with Canada Post not attempting delivery. They would pull up in their truck, I would watch from the window, then the driver would jump out and place the slip in my mailbox and drive off.
So I complained. This has not changes to date.
Then I had a package destroyed (and I mean DESTROYED). I complained about this. After about 2 months I was re-embursed.
Then a I had two packages dissapear. Never to re-appear. Complained.
Then I recieved a Final Notice for a package that I never revieved an original notice for (which wouldn't be needed if the driver wasn't so bloody lazy). This package had been MIA for 14 days.
Throw a few more "get out and leave slip" versus actually delivering, a package on the step in the rain and we arrive at the latest "we have no idea where it is" BS.
They can't help me. There is no point in calling them any more. Do the trace, write the check and someone gets a free pro Canon body.
So I complained. This has not changes to date.
Then I had a package destroyed (and I mean DESTROYED). I complained about this. After about 2 months I was re-embursed.
Then a I had two packages dissapear. Never to re-appear. Complained.
Then I recieved a Final Notice for a package that I never revieved an original notice for (which wouldn't be needed if the driver wasn't so bloody lazy). This package had been MIA for 14 days.
Throw a few more "get out and leave slip" versus actually delivering, a package on the step in the rain and we arrive at the latest "we have no idea where it is" BS.
They can't help me. There is no point in calling them any more. Do the trace, write the check and someone gets a free pro Canon body.
cfritze
Established
Funny timing.
Months ago I sent a parcel to Canada, int'l priority leaving San Francisco, goes to Canadapost as it enters canada. no traces shoed after the US departure point. didn't arrive at recipient. called USPS to complain, they said Canadapost can trace. Asked them to do so. Two weeks later, recipient gets package (lens inside). Yesterday (!) I got notice from canadapost that they could find no record of the package and it id presumed lost, fill out form if I want to pursue...
Months ago I sent a parcel to Canada, int'l priority leaving San Francisco, goes to Canadapost as it enters canada. no traces shoed after the US departure point. didn't arrive at recipient. called USPS to complain, they said Canadapost can trace. Asked them to do so. Two weeks later, recipient gets package (lens inside). Yesterday (!) I got notice from canadapost that they could find no record of the package and it id presumed lost, fill out form if I want to pursue...
dfoo
Well-known
Erm, Christian... Actually that really isn't Canada Post's fault. The main issue is that the form Canada Post sent me asking me whether I got the package is sitting on my counter!
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
hehehe
YOU are the weakest link What I've gathered from John's initial posts are that there are varied experiences with Canada Post (and just about every other delivery service).
That said, it would appear that, in John's case and based on his description, he has had an inordinately (for whatever reason that is - whether it's a shifty mail carrier or just plain incompetence) large amount of bad experiences over any good ones.
Cheers,
Dave
LeicaFoReVer
Addicted to Rangefinders
I have not had big issues but I agree that they are incompetent. It is really expensive to send things out of Canada except to US.
dfoo
Well-known
hehehe
...
It is, however, someones fault that the initial package too forever to deliver... it took like 2x longer than normal.
cfritze
Established
Erm, Christian... Actually that really isn't Canada Post's fault. The main issue is that the form Canada Post sent me asking me whether I got the package is sitting on my counter
Chuckle. Ah well - the claim for reimbursement form they sent me went right into recycling!
Spleenrippa
Yes, Right There
Complaining about your garbage or mailman is like sending a steak back at a restaurant. When you get your food back, you know some dudes balls have touched it
You're on the list, man. Time to move.
CopperB
M3 Noob
Yes, Canada Customs. My Voightlander 40mm 1.4 Nocton arrived in Customs on April 19th. It took a week to get from CA to Customs. Still no sign via UPS tracking that it has been processed and on its way via CanadaPost. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. We're over the 2 week mark now.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I can see Toronto across the Lake on a clear day (from my rooftop). It takes two weeks to exchange mail with someone there.
A Canadian sent me an F3 a few years ago and it arrived broken, in an insured package. Who broke it - USPS, CP, or did the seller send me something broken? Postal insurance is a cruel joke, everything is at your own risk, don't risk more than you can afford to lose.
I tell people that when I sell stuff now. If it is precious, spend the extra for FedEx and at least have tracking.
A Canadian sent me an F3 a few years ago and it arrived broken, in an insured package. Who broke it - USPS, CP, or did the seller send me something broken? Postal insurance is a cruel joke, everything is at your own risk, don't risk more than you can afford to lose.
I tell people that when I sell stuff now. If it is precious, spend the extra for FedEx and at least have tracking.
IgalSc
Established
I received my LX1 from Vancouver to Israel in less than a week (sent by regular post, no insurance, no tracking).
emraphoto
Veteran
you should see what they did to my Mamiya 7. it was in so many pieces they must have been playing shiny with the package!
after complaining for the 100th time in 6 months Canada Post has assured me there will be no more problems with my packages and have located my missing item. now they have been promising me "no more problems" for a while now so i won't hold my breath.
thankfully i don't see myself needing to have anything shipped in the coming months so they should be able to meet their promise.