What's up with Canada post?

[Mangelore]

Earlier today I received another e-mail from a guy in Canada who purchased a MIDI interface from me.
I posted it from Australia 23 days ago using normal airmail service and it still hasn't arrived.

This is very frustrating for me as it's not the first time it's happened.
The last MIDI interface I shipped to another fellow in Canada took 6 weeks to arrive.

Normal airmail to other countries like the U.S. or U.K. takes about two weeks.
So, today I complained at the local post office only to find out that I'm not the only one.
She advised me that they always have customers complaining about mail sent to Canada and India. She also mentioned that it's common for mail to take up to 6 weeks to arrive to Canada via normal airmail and up to 2 weeks using Express Courier International (ECI should take 3 to 4 days and is very expensive).

So, I jumped onto Google and read the following...
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=75977&sc=96

:ironisk:

[Blacklord]

Earlier today I received another e-mail from a guy in Canada who purchased a MIDI interface from me.
I posted it from Australia 23 days ago using normal airmail service and it still hasn't arrived.

This is very frustrating for me as it's not the first time it's happened.
The last MIDI interface I shipped to another fellow in Canada took 6 weeks to arrive.

Normal airmail to other countries like the U.S. or U.K. takes about two weeks.
So, today I complained at the local post office only to find out that I'm not the only one.
She advised me that they always have customers complaining about mail sent to Canada and India. She also mentioned that it's common for mail to take up to 6 weeks to arrive to Canada via normal airmail and up to 2 weeks using Express Courier International (ECI should take 3 to 4 days and is very expensive).

So, I jumped onto Google and read the following...
http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=75977&sc=96

:ironisk:

I've had the same issue twice in the last 6 months sending auction items to Canada - I no longer sell to Canada because of this.

cheers,

Lance

[Golan Klinger]

I can attest to the backlog. I bought something from a guy in Buffalo, New York which is about 1.5 hours by car from where I live. It took 17 days to arrive. It use to take < 5 days for packages from California to get to me so there's a problem that Canada Post needs to rectify. Our soaring dollar has increased sales from the U.S.A. and when you add in the increased security measures you end up with a huge mess. The good news is that questions are being raised in the House of Commons and the head of Canada Post and the Canada Border Services Agency (the blokes responsible for customs) are being pressured to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the problem. My fingers are crossed.

The joy I felt at seeing my eBay purchasing power increase is being offset by the time it takes for me to get my toys.

Edit: Lance - don't shut us out! Just indicate in your listings that shipping to Canada can be a lengthy affair and that you won't be held responsible.

[Blacklord]

I can attest to the backlog. I bought something from a guy in Buffalo, New York which is about 1.5 hours by car from where I live. It took 17 days to arrive. It use to take < 5 days for packages from California to get to me so there's a problem that Canada Post needs to rectify. Our soaring dollar has increased sales from the U.S.A. and when you add in the increased security measures you end up with a huge mess. The good news is that questions are being raised in the House of Commons and the head of Canada Post and the Canada Border Services Agency (the blokes responsible for customs) are being pressured to do whatever is necessary to eliminate the problem. My fingers are crossed.

The joy I felt at seeing my eBay purchasing power increase is being offset by the time it takes for me to get my toys.

Edit: Lance - don't shut us out! Just indicate in your listings that shipping to Canada can be a lengthy affair and that you won't be held responsible.

'spose so

[airship]

It doesn't surprise me that even by plane it takes mail weeks and weeks to reach some of those remote little Canadian villages (like Toronto) way up there in the frozen North.

What I find surprising is that they have electricity to power their toys once they arrive. Maybe they make electricity by rubbing a polar bear against a moose. Something like that.

[nikoniko]

From the article linked above:

The Canadian dollar closed yesterday at US$104.92.

:förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad:

No wonder our Canadian friends are on a buying spree!

[Golan Klinger]

It doesn't surprise me that even by plane it takes mail weeks and weeks to reach some of those remote little Canadian villages (like Toronto) way up there in the frozen North.

What I find surprising is that they have electricity to power their toys once they arrive. Maybe they make electricity by rubbing a polar bear against a moose. Something like that.

Canadian scientists developed a technology that uses stupidity to generate electricity. It wasn't much use until we realized we could situate the power plants near the U.S. border and harness the overflow. Now we have more electricity than we know what to do with. Such is the benefit of sharing a border with the country that has the world's largest supply of the raw material.

The Canadian dollar was as high as $1.10 US recently and most analysts, Canadian and America, are predicting it will stabilize around $1.25 to $1.30 US. This isn't all that surprising to those of us over 35 because we remember the 70's when the Canadian dollar was worth quite a bit more than the greenback.

[Guest]

@Golan

This is really uncalled for, especially here where we've managed to go a couple of years without any of this BS.  Keep it on c.s.cbm where it won't affect the signal:noise ratio.

[airship]

Yeah! BS should only flow NORTH!

PS Golan, maybe you should locate a power plant in your embassy in Washington. THEN you'd have a REAL surplus!

[Golan Klinger]

Payton: Right, so when airship makes a condescending joke stereotyping Canada/Canadians, it's okay. When I respond in kind, you've got a problem with it. That's an excellent example of why so many people think what they do about you (myself included.)

[Andrew Wiskow]

From the article linked above:

The Canadian dollar closed yesterday at US$104.92.

:förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad: :förvånad:

No wonder our Canadian friends are on a buying spree!

Hmm... I had missed that the first time I read through that article...

So, let's see...   If I win something on an eBay.ca auction that's listed for C$20.00, that means I'll need to come up with US$2098.40!!!  And the other way around, if someone from Canada wins something from me at US$20.00, they only have to pay me C$0.19!  No wonder so many Canadians are buying from the U.S. right now!  It's all so clear!  :ironisk:

-Andrew

[Dragos]

oooh oooh, can i join the fray on this?   the BS factor has attrated me to post

[airship]

I hope everyone knows that any posts I make like that are complete ribbing, which I expect to receive in kind.

If Lance has a problem with this, or if any of you object to that kind of chatter on this board, I'll quit.

I just think it makes it more fun. But if anyone is offended by it, I'll quit and we can just buckle down and be all serious-like.

Maybe when Lance gets back from his day job as a kangaroo-wrangler (or whatever it is he does Down Under), he can render an opinion.

[Blacklord]

Maybe when Lance gets back from his day job as a kangaroo-wrangler (or whatever it is he does Down Under), he can render an opinion.

I have an opinion on everything Anything specific ?

Lance

[Guest]

I think both of you are wrong.

[Ian Colquhoun]

I'd just like to throw out my opinion here because I'm actually quite offended. I could certainly tell both Airship and Golan were joking in their posts. They both provided quite a good chuckle in fact. Payton however, your reaction is what I found offensive because you vilified Golan and didn't have a word to say to Airship who was equally as harsh. The elitist attitude that you display in c.s.c. seems to have spilled over here now. Get off your high horse and let's just enjoy our favourite computers and maybe have a bit of fun on the side too.

Back to lurking...

[airship]

We don't care what lurkers think.

BTW, I have nothing against Canada. I have many close personal friends in their southernmost provinces Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine.

[wte]

Huh, a flame war!
That's nice to see :tummenupp: (from a safe spot in Europe )
I'm very amused.
airship's remark was joky (I like polar bears - not in my house but in the zoo or better in far nature) but Golan's reply was better (I would recommend the White House as a high energy generating place for this special technology - if Mr. President is in the town). But I was not amused about Payton's statement (not to say his comment sucked).

More polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!

Regards WTE

[Guest]

More polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!

Regards WTE

More polar bears!
More power stations!
No ditsy comments!
No Bush haters!

Regards Dan...

[Blacklord]

No Bush haters!

Regards Dan...

Who's Bush ? Oh yeah, one of the Gang of Three (Howard, Bush & Blair) - one already gone & we have our election in two weeks :tummenupp:

Lance

[airship]

Religion and politics should be off-limits. However, US politics is one of the funniest shows going right now, so it's hard to afford.

And BTW, I'm sure WTE and Golan and Lance, et. al., are VERY proud that their countries have never had laughable 'leadership'.

[Guest]

However, US politics is one of the funniest shows going right now, so it's hard to afford.

I don't think it's a bit funny. If the democrats win in 08, we'll turn into a socialist country like our neighbors up north and like most of Europe. I don't want the federal government running my life and that's what we're slipping into.

Some European countries are beginning to realize it, France, Germany and Canada have all elected conservative leaders

Dan...

[Golan Klinger]

Citizens of the U.S.A. can elect whoever they want to be their President. I just think that they'd be better off with someone who isn't a) stupid and b) a liar. Of course, the majority did in 2000 but the fix was in and it was one that would have made the Romans shudder.

It's also worth noting that the current administration has acted in a way that is almost completely contrary to the ideals of the GOP. They've raised taxes, put the country on an almost irreversible course towards fiscal collapse, taken away civil liberties and waged pointless and illegal wars on foreign soil. Abraham Lincoln is rolling in his grave.

[Blacklord]

And BTW, I'm sure WTE and Golan and Lance, et. al., are VERY proud that their countries have never had laughable 'leadership'.

Where do I start....  

[Blacklord]

If the democrats win in 08, we'll turn into a socialist country like our neighbors up north and like most of Europe. I don't want the federal government running my life and that's what we're slipping into.

But your current government is running your lives & taking away many of your 'freedoms' with it. Unfortunately our government seems to think that emulating the US government is the way to go. Fortunately, our Federal election is in two weeks.

Unfortunately due to Howards' support of the US war in Iraq Australia has taken a giant step backward & we're now well & truly set up as a 'terrorist target'. Add to that the extreme workplace laws his government has introduced (all in the name of a strong economy of course), the dismantling of Medicare, the flogging off of Telstra....

Hopefully after 24/11 we *won't* have a conservative government & Australia can start returning back to the country it was prior to Howard's election 11 years ago.

Lance