POSTAL DELAYS

MEXDefenderOfSteel · Post by **MEXDefenderOfSteel** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:40 am

no clue about my orders from the US still,now almost 2 months waiting

is this because of holidays or what?

Stormspell · Post by **Stormspell** » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:53 am

pan_Heathen wrote:Anyone knows how is the USPS Priority Mail International (small flat rate box) service better than the standard First Class Mail Intl?

There's not much of a difference as both go via regular airmail. Basically it is just a fancy wording USPS uses. In reality:

First class international = Airmail letter post (available for up to 4 lbs only)
Priority mail international = Airmail parcel post

Is it supposed to be faster? (I have plenty of examples it is not, maybe even slower) More reliable? What is the excuse that it is much more expensive?

It is not faster nor more reliable. It is just the same as letter and parcel posts in Europe. You wanna reliable - you have to pay for Express EMS.

First class (aka Airmail letter post) is only applicable on small packages of up to 1.9kg (4lbs). When you go over 1.9kg the only available option left is priority (aka airmail parcel post).

The worst service in USA is registered mail. Not only it is HUGELY overpriced (+$11.50 on top on the actual shipping cost) BUT the packages are not kept separated from the regular mail anymore. I've talked to my local clerk about it after a registered package to Mexico got lost and no one could find it and she admited to me that registered mail is no longer kept separated under lock and key as before. Now it is just dumped in the regular bin and goes with the rest.

So registration is a rip-off joke. The only reliable way is Express EMS. It costs arm and leg, but there are no other options.

JB · Post by JB » Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:28 pm

I've almost 100% stopped ordering from the States. Lost several parcels between September and December last year. First time ever losing something outright in over 10 years of buying online. Not willing to take the risks anymore. Lost to much money to justify it. Plus the cost of postage has gotten stupid for stuff coming from the states.

Went down to the post office to collect late last march to pick up an order that had come in. Asked if they could check to see if there were any more packages there for me that had not been collected. Mentioned the alarming volume of packages not showing up. He had a look and came back and said there was nothing there. That very morning the a delivery docket landed in the post. Turned out to be part of the largest order that went missing the previous September!

These days, I find its more fun to save a little stockpile of cash for records and blow it all at stalls at festivals about Europe.

MEXDefenderOfSteel · Post by **MEXDefenderOfSteel** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:46 pm

no wonder why my stuff is still missing...now im worried

chatzial · Post by **chatzial** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:13 pm

Has anyone bought vinyls from Venezuela? How long does it take to receive?
I have been waiting for a month and i am starting to worry.

perishinflames · Post by **perishinflames** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:20 pm

chatzial wrote:Has anyone bought vinyls from Venezuela? How long does it take to receive?
I have been waiting for a month and i am starting to worry.

I received a package from Venezuela on Tuesday. I had been waiting ~10 weeks...

Herkus Monte · Post by **Herkus Monte** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:41 pm

chatzial wrote:Has anyone bought vinyls from Venezuela? How long does it take to receive?
I have been waiting for a month and i am starting to worry.

Packages from some countries of South America are often delayed, as they probably have to go through customs barriers. I don`t know, maybe the customs clerks are looking for drugs smuggled between records?

chatzial · Post by **chatzial** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:39 pm

Many thanx for your info. This is the first time i bought from Venezuela, so i did not know that there is such a delay. In the past i bought or traded records from Brazil, Mexico and Colombia but packages arrived usually in 2-3 weeks.

Cochino · Post by **Cochino** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:44 pm

Nah, that drug thing is just silly. It's probably just because of the holidays. Last year a guy sent me some stuff from Ireland around december the 20th and I got it on february, yet some stuff that was sent to me in january got here in 2/3 weeks. I'd say it's better to hold any trade/order for a couple of weeks until the mail services are back on the usual rhythm.

MEXDefenderOfSteel · Post by **MEXDefenderOfSteel** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:07 pm

today i got stuff from Greece i ordered less than a month ago, but still no clue about my US orders from 2 months ago...my conclusion is, US postal service sucks big time

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:34 pm

Can't remember what I posted in this topic anymore though I think I started it

Anyway think it was over 3 months I waited at the most, only had one parcel get lost so far, so don't give up hope yet.

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:15 am

Three weeks and counting for shit that I've been waiting for from both the US and greece.

We'll see how this turns out because disputes are about to be filed.

Khnud · Post by **Khnud** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 11:45 am

I've been waiting for a package from Bulgaria for 6 weeks now. Mailed the seller a few weeks ago who told me he "had trouble" (?), but had sent it long ago, with a tracking number. He was to get back to me with said number, but I haven't heard from him since.

If it hasn't arrived today I'll file an "item not received"-dispute.

Nebuchadnezzar · Post by **Nebuchadnezzar** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:16 pm

Some guys are blaming Greece's post when it takes 1 day for the plane to arrive their land (what about their customs?) but they keep on buying (just to have the opportunity to whine again!)

on topic :

6 packets today :

from ohio - 10 working (13 total)
from NJ - 7 working (9 total)
from Georgia - 8 working (11 total)
from Utah - 9 working (12 total) [priority]
from Arizona - 8 working (11 total)
from Hawaii - 10 working (13 total)

I don't count less days because of the various problems (snow, strikes etc...)

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:10 pm

Nebuchadnezzar wrote:Some guys are blaming Greece's post when it takes 1 day for the plane to arrive their land (what about their customs?) but they keep on buying (just to have the opportunity to whine again!)

on topic :

6 packets today :

from ohio - 10 working (13 total)
from NJ - 7 working (9 total)
from Georgia - 8 working (11 total)
from Utah - 9 working (12 total) [priority]
from Arizona - 8 working (11 total)
from Hawaii - 10 working (13 total)

I don't count less days because of the various problems (snow, strikes etc...)

And what about out-going?