For Sale FYI - Shipping to Canada

rrankin · Jun 15, 2011

A lot of people knew about the possible impending postal problems in Canada, but now the mail has come to a halt, according to this story on CNN. I'm sure some Canadians have a better handle on this than I do (or CNN) but thought I'd mention it here just in case anyone else also has mail to send there.

Cheers, Richard

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/06/15/canada.postal.lockout/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

CGW · Jun 15, 2011

Yup, Canada Post workers were locked out today after a series of national rotating strikes over pension issues. Air Canada is out, too. Both will likely be legislated back to work soon. Just added inducement to stay off the "Big Auction Site."

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 15, 2011

Yeah, it's dead today: no pickup, no mail.

Over the next few days, the government is likely to put forth a special law to force the workers to accept their conditions. We should know better on Friday.

segedi · Jun 15, 2011

There's always UPS, FedEx and Purolator... All more reliable than Canada Post anyway!

dfoo · Jun 16, 2011

I've always found USPS/Canada post very reliable. Not that the couriers are not reliable, but they are significantly more expensive.

Paul VanAudenhove · Jun 16, 2011

dfoo said:
I've always found USPS/Canada post very reliable. Not that the couriers are not reliable, but they are significantly more expensive.

+1

And their brokerage fees can easily add $50+ to the cost!

CGW · Jun 16, 2011

No complaints about Canada Post service and their low brokerage fees. If you're into "shock and awe" fees and charges, try UPS standard to Canada from the U.S.

rrankin · Jun 16, 2011

CGW said:
No complaints about Canada Post service and their low brokerage fees. If you're into "shock and awe" fees and charges, try UPS standard to Canada from the U.S.

Personally, I've found Canada Post slow compared to Australia Post or Royal Mail, but they seemed to get the packages to and fro as they were meant to do.

IMO, as much as postal rates have gone up in the past few years, it is still a bargain to ship stuff and for all the crap, complaints and jokes postal workers seem to have to take, I think that overall they do an incredibly difficult job very well. I sent international packages by courier services (can't recall if it was DHL or UPS or what) a couple of times and each experience was unsatisfactory and incredibly expensive. So, I try to stick with the post office.

CGW · Jun 16, 2011

rrankin said:
Personally, I've found Canada Post slow compared to Australia Post or Royal Mail, but they seemed to get the packages to and fro as they were meant to do.

IMO, as much as postal rates have gone up in the past few years, it is still a bargain to ship stuff and for all the crap, complaints and jokes postal workers seem to have to take, I think that overall they do an incredibly difficult job very well. I sent international packages by courier services (can't recall if it was DHL or UPS or what) a couple of times and each experience was unsatisfactory and incredibly expensive. So, I try to stick with the post office.

Hard to know which postal service accounts for delays in international mail. USPS/Canada Post mesh well. USPS has lost packages. Never a problem with Canada Post.

CGW · Jun 16, 2011

rrankin said:
Personally, I've found Canada Post slow compared to Australia Post or Royal Mail, but they seemed to get the packages to and fro as they were meant to do.

IMO, as much as postal rates have gone up in the past few years, it is still a bargain to ship stuff and for all the crap, complaints and jokes postal workers seem to have to take, I think that overall they do an incredibly difficult job very well. I sent international packages by courier services (can't recall if it was DHL or UPS or what) a couple of times and each experience was unsatisfactory and incredibly expensive. So, I try to stick with the post office.

Hard to know which postal service accounts for delays in international mail. USPS/Canada Post mesh well. USPS has lost packages. Never a problem with Canada Post--when they're working...

Terrence Brennan · Jun 16, 2011

Paul VanAudenhove said:
+1

And their brokerage fees can easily add $50+ to the cost!

Canada Post charges a flat $5.00 fee to clear a parcel. Fedex charges $10.00 plus HST for a total of $11.30.

Timestep · Jun 16, 2011

Legislation to end the Postal strike will be tabled in Parliament on Monday June 20th.
It appears that there will be some opposition, which will delay passage.

ggervais · Jun 16, 2011

rrankin said:
I think that overall they do an incredibly difficult job very well.

What's so "incredibly difficult" in delivering mail? It's not rocket science...:devil:

segedi · Jun 16, 2011

CGW said:
No complaints about Canada Post service and their low brokerage fees. If you're into "shock and awe" fees and charges, try UPS standard to Canada from the U.S.

I had a sekonic l-558 lost by Canada Post coming from Utah. Somehow it ended up in Ontario and never seen again. It took 4 months to get my money back from USPS because of delays and nonexistent support in Canada.

And for a lens coming from Vancouver to Calgary sent express post, instead of next day it arrive 3 days later. And again support was lousy, just a "sorry we can't help you " attitude.

And based on the scant delivery of any mail in a Friday, I'd say they are doing pretty well with their 4 day work week!

For a relatively small population and compared to my experience with couriers and NZ Post and USPS, I find the Canada post lacking in every way - including price.

While I agree that ups and FedEx charge way too much, at least they deliver and in time, which equates to better value in my book.

CGW · Jun 17, 2011

segedi said:
I had a sekonic l-558 lost by Canada Post coming from Utah. Somehow it ended up in Ontario and never seen again. It took 4 months to get my money back from USPS because of delays and nonexistent support in Canada.

And for a lens coming from Vancouver to Calgary sent express post, instead of next day it arrive 3 days later. And again support was lousy, just a "sorry we can't help you " attitude.

And based on the scant delivery of any mail in a Friday, I'd say they are doing pretty well with their 4 day work week!

For a relatively small population and compared to my experience with couriers and NZ Post and USPS, I find the Canada post lacking in every way - including price.

While I agree that ups and FedEx charge way too much, at least they deliver and in time, which equates to better value in my book.

Exceptions apparently prove the rule in your world. The only eB** purchase I ever ended up eating was plainly a USPS error. Overall, no complaints with Canada Post.

MattKing · Jun 17, 2011

CGW said:
Exceptions apparently prove the rule in your world. The only eB** purchase I ever ended up eating was plainly a USPS error. Overall, no complaints with Canada Post.

FWIW, the phrase "Exception that proves the rule" uses an older, rarer meaning for "proves". In this use, "proves" means the same as "tests".

The root is similar to the root for the term "proof" when referring to alcohol content in alcoholic beverages.

And I agree, I have always had reliable service from Canada Post, and marvel at how well they serve a country with the size and geographical and cultural challenges of Canada.

However I too wish their tracking system extended to their lower priced services.

CGW · Jun 18, 2011

"However I too wish their tracking system extended to their lower priced services."

You get what you pay for.

mrred · Jun 18, 2011

For me it's just so positive. I pay all my bills electronically and I have noticed a significant drop in junk (none) in my mailbox. My KEH order got here in record time. Keep striking posties, I don't need you.

For Sale FYI - Shipping to Canada

rrankin

CGW

Michel Hardy-Vallée

Membership Council

segedi

dfoo

Paul VanAudenhove

CGW

rrankin

CGW

CGW

Terrence Brennan

Timestep

ggervais

segedi

CGW

MattKing

Moderator

CGW

mrred

For Sale FYI - Shipping to Canada

Membership Council

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency