Do I trust the Post Office?

Gator says on Dec 12, 2007, 06:53:

As far as the wife and I are concerned there service is just OK-we have used them before. BUT USPS is slower than molasses in January. If you can I suggest UPS, FedEx, or DHL

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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Waterdawg says on Dec 12, 2007, 07:52:

I just got lucky with a package from my Son .. He sent it USPS/ Express .. The cost difference was like $150.00 compared to $350-$400 for UPS , Fedx. .. Took about 10 days !

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mranderson says on Dec 12, 2007, 08:24:

I've had letters and small packages mailed to me here in medellin through USPS. In my expierience it takes at least 30 days even though they will say 4 to 6 days. I wouldn't be surprised if it took 2 months or more during the christmas season. My mother once used UPS which was much more expensive but got to me in about 4 days.

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Mononoke28 says on Dec 12, 2007, 09:41:

Last year I sent my husband his Christmas present via the USPS. It went out the first week of December and it didn't get there until the end of January. The USPS will deliver it to Colombia within the timeframe they give you, BUT the Colombian Postal Service is a complete joke and they will take their sweet old time delivering it.

We sent his family their Christmas presents the last week of November and it got there within 10 days BUT they called my sister in-law and told her she not only had to pick up the package at the postal office but she also had to pay $2,000 pesos to do so.

It's a joke!

Diana

Diana

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Rob77 says on Dec 12, 2007, 12:53:

The bottom line is USPS does the job for less, but will take much longer than the competition and usually much longer than they say it will take. They are a good alternative when time is not an issue.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 12, 2007, 13:56:

Similiar experiences as MrAnderson.,

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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miamimike says on Dec 12, 2007, 14:03:

With a Great Company like Servientrega why would anyone fool around with Fed X, DHL ect Twice the price or more,,, For what??

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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durito says on Dec 12, 2007, 14:30:

I had some books sent to Ecuador a few years ago via UPS once and the Post Office the other time. Took a month for the Post Office package to arrive. The UPS books came 6 months later. They said it'd take a week. Where they were all that time I have no idea.

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Azul says on Dec 12, 2007, 15:57:

I would have used Servientrega, but not living in Texas, NY, or Florida...I don't have a point of drop of close to me. And it being only 12 days before Christmas I just wanted to get the package on its way, hassle free. If I had more time I would have used Servientrega. I ended up shipping it FedEx today. They said that it would be delivered in 2 days...but we'll wait and see on that one.
FedEx has tracking numbers, how far can you track that package? Can I track it only up to the point that it enters Colombia, or can I track it all the way until it is delivered?

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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Lowell says on Dec 12, 2007, 16:13:

I use fedex economy international and I get the packages in about 3-4 days and yes you can track it all the way to delivery. Check their site and you can set yourself up for updates and execptions if any and if they occur you will be e-mailed. With that you will be e-mailed upon delivery. Very good service.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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la campiña says on Dec 12, 2007, 16:52:

do I trust the postman

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famsearch says on Dec 12, 2007, 18:01:

we sent 2 packages to colombia this year with usps. one made it there, and i found out the other day that the other didn't. using usps is a bit of a crapshoot.

dan

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 12, 2007, 19:35:

USPS is a crapshoot because once the package arrives in Colombia, God knows who is then responsible for it. USPS is great - they will get the envelope or package to Colombia within 2 days. It is after the article arrives in Colombia and how it gets to the receiver's address that is the question. I have used USPS twice. Had good luck both times. Just be sure not to send anything that you can't afford to lose.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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john_stark says on Dec 12, 2007, 19:38:

I'm surprised that no one mentioned that any parcel delivered by the Colombian postal system will have anything of value removed and stolen. That's been our experience. No one I know in Colombia ever uses the Colombian postal system.

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manINred says on Dec 12, 2007, 19:42:

I have sent lots of stuff to Colombia, as well as received lots of stuff. Everything has worked well, credit to the Colombian postal system!!!

I will say that I once received some poor soul's CD full of pictures that they were obviously mailing not to me, but to someone else, I think customs messed up on that one. My stuff came through intact from Medellin.

Use Colombia-post!

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goin_south says on Dec 12, 2007, 19:46:

No.

Colombia es

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goin_south says on Dec 12, 2007, 19:48:

and, if you use Servientrega in Miami... the friendly lil helper many of us came to know and use... Ms Beatriz... una Colombiana.... I believe has been promoted to another position perhaps.. and, although she is available.. I think someone else is dealing directly with 'receiving and further shipping' your package on to Colombia.

Colombia es

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miamimike says on Dec 12, 2007, 20:00:

ITS BEEN POSTED MANY TIMES HERE ON PBH, IF POSTERS DO NOT LIVE IN (caps sorry) here in the Miami Area, they can send their Packages to Miami's Servientrega Address via USPS, Parcel Post and Servirentrega will then ship it Colombia. Save maybe 50 % or better.DHL, Fed-X are Postal Scalpers at best,,,Regular US mail to Col is enreliable and a crap shoot at best.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 12, 2007, 20:14:

Miamimike is spot on. I actually learned about Sevientrega from him. I have NEVER heard one complaint about Servientrega's service or reliability in my two years here on PBH. Send the stuff to the Miami office, have them forward it to the recipient in Colombia. No problem, never heard of a bad story (knock on wood).

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Clinman says on Dec 12, 2007, 20:46:

My experince recently has been one shipment from US to Barranquilla using USPS was 11 business days (13 lbs, $60, books)
second shipment from US to Barranquilla using USPS was 12 business days (1.5 lbs, $11, running shoes)
third shipment from US to Barranquilla using USPS was sent 5 business days ago (12 lbs, $56, camera and new clothing).
I am thinking I should have paid the extra $50 and used FedEx since the net worth of the package was a little over $400. USPS I believe is reliable (box size total is limited to 72 inches) and cost efficient to Colombia, However with no tracking system you have your fingers crossed if your package is delivered by the Colombian postal service. Right now I have absolutely nothing to complain about except I am worried about the present shipmeny in transit.

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goin_south says on Dec 12, 2007, 23:32:

Hey Clinman, will you kindly keep us abreast of current shipment?
Honest feedback, please.
I hate to be the barer, bearer ... of bad news, but...
I'd think most people on this forum would be willing to bet that thing won't get there. I'm thinking the clothing might. The camera??? Therein lyes the problem

I hope it makes it to whomever you sent it.
Sinceremente.

Colombia es

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miamimike says on Dec 13, 2007, 01:20:

Too Bad new posters looking for Col Shipping Info don't use the search function here on PBH. If they did, a cursory search would bring up many detailed posts on the cheapest, fastest and most secure shipping method,complete with addresses and they would have saved a Ton of Money!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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scumbuster says on Dec 13, 2007, 07:07:

Everything I have ever sent to Colombia has been through UPS . Everything has arrived ok. On one occasion I thought my package was stolen but 2 months later it did arrive.

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Azul says on Dec 13, 2007, 16:35:

Hey Mikey, do you work for them or something...geez. I know I would have saved money using them, but as I said before it is only 12 days before Christmas and I wanted to just get the box sent hassle free that day. I know I could have shipped it to them, and then on to Colombia...but like many people this time of year I am in the Christmas Rush and it is worth a little extra money to avoid the extra time.

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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Azul says on Dec 13, 2007, 20:53:

FedEx tracking is kinda cool! My box left Kinko's last night at 5:57pm and at 7:16pm tonight it was in Bogota. Now we'll see how long it takes to makes its way to Cali.

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 14, 2007, 09:21:

Azul, FedX might contract that out to another carrier. Assuming FedX themselves complete the delivery, or if they contract it out to a company like Servientrega; Bogota to Cali should take 2 more days. A couple of times I sent envelopes via FedX and UPS. They both arrived in Villavo 2 business days after Bogota. Both also had "other carrier" over stamps on the envelopes. I can't remember which one had Servientrega. I think it might have been UPS.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Azul says on Dec 14, 2007, 11:20:

Well, as of 10am today (Friday) my package was in Cali. FedEx called the recipient to arrange with her a time for delivery. I'm pleased with the service, although it was expensive, it took less than 48hrs to be delivered.

las cosas caen por su propio peso

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arthur brode says on Dec 15, 2007, 06:04:

i have packages delivered to my freight forwarder in Miami.from Miami to my door in Cali,Colombia they charge $2.70/pound.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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goin_south says on Dec 15, 2007, 14:02:

A.B.... is it GUARANTEED delivery?
what else?

Colombia es

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Clinman says on Dec 26, 2007, 00:20:

Going South,

My novia received the shipment last Thursday complete in Barranquilla in 14 business days. I can certainly tell you I was certain it would not arrive for Xmas and not much more certain that the camera would arrive at it's destination.
I have had great results now with (3) shipments USPC/Colombian PO in 11 days to 14 days in height of Xmas rush. Do I think I have been dodging bullets...yup. Any other shipments of value go with full insurance via FedEx. I can track the shipment and know that a Colombian FedEx employee values his job enough that the theft is very low.
I have to say this timely shipment to novia and her family made a big difference in my christmas cheer. Hope everyone had a great holiday

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goin_south says on Dec 26, 2007, 00:58:

yeah? servientrega! touchet!

Colombia es

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