PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

What's going on here?

I just sent of my 129F to the Texas Service Center in Mesquite Texas using the US Mail (USPS) overnight delivery with a 1200pm guarantee. I received this message

Status: Notice Left

"We attempted to deliver your item at 11:25 am on October 26, 2005 in MESQUITE, TX 75185 and a notice was left. A second delivery attempt will be made. If unsuccessful, we will hold it for five business days and then it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later."

How is this possible when this is a goverment building that's open for business the gets and accepts mail all day?

Am I missing something here? I'm getting trouble and they don't even have the visa application yet!

If anyone understands what happend I would like to hear it.I think they were trying to avoid paying a refund for being late and made a ghost delivery attempt.

By El Escéptico on Oct 26, 2005, 16:39 in Visa & paperwork.

Diez Y Siete says on Oct 26, 2005, 16:50:

Thats aweful But the whole ghost attempt is possible, i sent a package to colombia and paid 30 dollars in shipping for it to arrive in 2-3 days and it took 3 1/2 weeks, so the united states parcel service is not quite up to par

0 funny, 0 helpful.

cam0940 says on Oct 28, 2005, 15:20:

Don't know what's going on with the OP's situation in Mesquite, but Quinceanera I know that US postal service guarantees are only to arrive in the country. Once it's in Colombian's hands, it's a different story. I paid the 2-3 day delivery fee too, and my USPS package didn't get to my girlfriend's house for a month. No refund, by the way. If it absolutely positively has to be there in 2-3 days, send it Fedex. Fedex takes it to the recipient's door, just like here. Be prepared to spend about $40 though.

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BAQ says on Oct 28, 2005, 15:57:

Double Check You need to double check the mailing address you sent it to. Lots of time the mailing address and the PHYSICAL ADDRESS are different.

Semper Fidelis !

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CaryGrant says on Oct 28, 2005, 17:10:

cam Bad news on shipping via couriers rather then USPS (or Canada Post): I sent visa papers to my wife via Purolator, from Victoria to Cali. Purolator hands over to DHL at some point in the US, I believe. Anyway, the papers sat in *US customs* for several days, even though shipped from Canada to Colombia.

Moral of the story: postal services are not safe or fast for shipping anything to Colombia, but there's no guarantee of speed with couriers, either.

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cam0940 says on Oct 28, 2005, 17:26:

Interesting comment Cary. At least with Fedex I was able to track the package the whole trip. USPS tracking is no good once it leaves the U.S.

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Diez Y Siete says on Oct 28, 2005, 18:03:

Im glad they make you aware of this when you tell them there is perishable goods in the box, i sent cookies and they were ok when they got there but not as good as they would have been, they should make you aware that it MIGHT not get there as fast as it says, it made me really mad, 30 dollars for a 1/2pound box of cookies!

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BAQ says on Oct 29, 2005, 10:45:

CUSTOMS I have had several documents sent to me from the USA via Fed Ex and UPS. EVERY TIME, the package is delayed 1-3 days while it sits in COLOMBIAN CUSTOMS.

On the reverse, I send some docs to Texas last month and using the "3 day" route, it was held up in U.S. customs for only ONE day.

I know every time will be different, but I think these numbers are good averages.

Semper Fidelis !

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