a little story about Canada Post and your goods

emraphoto

emraphoto

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so in the past year i have had some 'issues' with Canada Post and sending things. a few cameras have arrived very late or vanished into the system only to show up weeks later.

today is day 3 of my visa/passport/travel documents for a trip to West Africa being lost in the void that is Canada Post's next am delivery guaranteed. Canada Post has no idea where the package is and during it's (the package) trip from just outside of Toronto to Ottawa it has somehow checked in at Richmond, B.C.

the complicated part is this, my destination is considered an area of conflict thus no cancellation insurance is offered. i am supposed to depart in 48 hours. at this point I am out the airfare, shuttle costs to the airport, the revenues/exposure from the trip and the integrity amongst the folks expecting me to be there.

Canada Post's 'guarantee' you ask? well they don't compensate for any losses. it's 'not their policy'. but the $ i paid to send the envelope to wherever the hell it has gotten to? they will graciously refund that?!?!

moral? choose someone else folks. don't send your important stuff or spend your hard earned money with Canada Post as they are obviously not up to the task they promise.
 
I find it fascinating how these various monoliths assert that they can decide where their obligations and responsibilities begin and end. Hope it works out for you somehow.
 
indeed. the most infuriating part.

in the end, i am screwed. Canada Post goes on as usual and i try and figure out how to move forward and come up with the $ to recoup. they won't pay to replace my passport even!

thousands and thousands of dollars down the drain.
 
Even though the US Postal system is widely denigrated by Americans, I can say that it is quite good. This is in comparison to Canada Post. Consider: Saturday service (soon to be phased out), and very good package tracking ability within the US. I lived in Canada most of my life, but when we moved to the USA, we were amazed at the efficiency of the USPS in comparison.

Usually, we estimate that it takes 3-4 weeks to get anything mailed to Canada. We live in the Chicago IL area. My relatives are in Toronto, Ont. We last sent my mother-in-law photographs of her grandson on Sept. 24, 2011. As of today (Oct. 5, 2011), she still hasn't seen them. I'm pretty sure that they reached the border within a day, and then they have been in Canada Post's black hole since then.

Most efficient of all in my experience is Japan's EMS system. They track internationally. Moreover, I know that a package sent from Japan will reach me in 3 days flat. Sent Thursday, received by the following Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

I sympathize with your lost opportunity and frustration. The only thing that I could suggest is to always have a valid passport close at hand. You never know when you need to leave the country (family emergency, etc.)
 
Major bummer! I feel your $$ pain. Korea Post is quite efficient too, especially their EMS. I think it's the only government function that actually works here.
 
emraphoto,

Why not take them to small claims court? You do not need a lawyer, though consulting one would be a good idea. Canada Post FAILED to provide the service you paid for. It is not a matter of being one day late with the document, but several. That in my opinion is not acceptable. I am layman, not a lawyer, but it would appear to me that Canada Post and you entered into a contract. Canada Post`s obligation was to provide you with next day service, but they failed to provide it. Your passport and document ended up in Richmond, BC. That is, what 5,000 kilometers from Toronto?

Anyway, it is a suggestion. Perhaps, you can set a precedent, get some money back and change how Canada Post operates. There is no reason for Canada Post to lose or misplace your documents. I shipped a parcel from Japan to Singapore on Saturday, October 1st with Japan Post using EMS. It arrived at The buyer`s house in Singapore on Monday, October 3rd. Canada Post needs a good kick in the ASS!
 
um, yeah.

If it matters, I use FEDEX.

If I don't care, I use Can Post.

I've had 2 packages lost by Can Post. One refund took over a year to process (I got my insured value back, but it took a lot of phone calls). I believe their strategy is "ignore it, wear them down, they'll go away".

...Vick
 
In 12 years of selling gear, the US Post Office has never lost anything that I've sent out. Sometimes late, twice misdelivered and then redelivered.

So no complaints here about USPS.

Getting things from Canada- sometimes late be a couple of weeks, but it has to go through Customs. THAT can back up.

My wife went to McGill in the late 70s and early 80s. She told me that Canada Post had a slogan "70% of our mail gets delivered on time!".
 
Will never use UPS as they 'lost' two custom made canoe packs a number of years ago.

Canada Post has done fine by me so far. Cameras sent overseas by Xpresspost were delivered although they charged an arm and a leg to do so. If the chips are down and I need FAST delivery, I trust Fed Ex.

Hope it works out for you and Canada Post does the right thing.
 
Maiku said:
emraphoto,

Why not take them to small claims court? You do not need a lawyer, though consulting one would be a good idea. Canada Post FAILED to provide the service you paid for. It is not a matter of being one day late with the document, but several. That in my opinion is not acceptable. I am layman, not a lawyer, but it would appear to me that Canada Post and you entered into a contract. Canada Post`s obligation was to provide you with next day service, but they failed to provide it. Your passport and document ended up in Richmond, BC. That is, what 5,000 kilometers from Toronto?

Anyway, it is a suggestion. Perhaps, you can set a precedent, get some money back and change how Canada Post operates. There is no reason for Canada Post to lose or misplace your documents. I shipped a parcel from Japan to Singapore on Saturday, October 1st with Japan Post using EMS. It arrived at The buyer`s house in Singapore on Monday, October 3rd. Canada Post needs a good kick in the ASS!
Click to expand...

i most certainly will be seeking compensation. not only am i out the cost of getting there, i am out future revenues on the work, the contacts and people on that end will not be trusting me to complete anything in the future and all other monies involved. malaria meds, visa apps, fixer etc.

bloody infuriating!

and as usual, nobody will be accountable.
 
I had a letter sent from Canada using Canada Post some months ago, it took about 7 weeks to reach France cause they were on strike...
 
Never a problem with Canada Post, but realize that sending very time sensitive items carries a risk. There are always delays crossing the Canada-US border (in both directions), much more-so since 9/11. Customs and security take time. However, as seems to be common these days, the importance of 'maximizing profits' has resulted in less hands on staff and a decrease in 'customer service' at Canada Post. I hope your documents show up in time!

Steve.
 
Ouch - I really hope you can sort it out or at least get some of your losses back John, we're pretty lucky here in Australia with AusPost - the consensus seems to be that they're quite reliable.

I wish you luck!
 
so an update.

today i phoned and spoke with a 'customer service' rep named Lorna (she would not identify herself beyond the first name). she explained that what i was told yesterday, that Canada Post would intercept the package and get it to it's destination as soon as it showed AND contact the embassy, explain the matter and ask for cooperation in rushing the visa, is not going to happen!!! i then asked to speak with Margo, the woman who said these things WOULD happen and i was told i could not. i asked why and was told 'she is on another line'. no problem, i'll hold.

'no'.

this is completely insane! how are they still in business?
 
i have shipped/had things sent to me "next a.m. guaranteed" on 3 occasions. not once did they actually show up the next morning. if you can't provide the service, why bother?
 
This really sucks. I mean - I could understand that issues may arise when a package is crossing borders, but within the country there is no way a post can loose a package and not to be liable for it (within the coverage for given type of post). Unfortunately you can hold them reliable for you missing the trip, AFAIK.

Hearing story like this really makes me appreciate the Deutsche Post (DHL) - at least within Germany and EU they do a good job.
 
SteveP said:
Never a problem with Canada Post, but realize that sending very time sensitive items carries a risk. There are always delays crossing the Canada-US border (in both directions), much more-so since 9/11. Customs and security take time. However, as seems to be common these days, the importance of 'maximizing profits' has resulted in less hands on staff and a decrease in 'customer service' at Canada Post. I hope your documents show up in time!

Steve.
Click to expand...

+1 ...the post offices are a high volume, low cost (yeah I know if doesn't seem like it 😀 )services and there will be some problems. For time sensitive/high value items I'd look to courier services and pay the price. Hope this works out for you.
 
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