Maybe I should stop modelling US trains

[csxnscale]

I am in a bad mood now.
I ordered MT couplers and some rolling stock on oktober 15.
The order supposed to be a Christmass gift from my brothers and sisters in law.
Mark (4nscale.com) dropped an e-mail on oktober 30 that the order was shipped.
On december 20 still nothing arrived and contacted Mark. He ensured the order was shipped on oktober 30 with Global Priority.
He passed the package express number to check the local customs.
Did a check and local customs told me nothing has arrived.
Contacted local Post office and they traced the package, US postal services replied that the package arrived in Louisville december 23.
On december 26 Mark e-mailed that the order arrived at his place because it was sent back from Europe by General Logistics Services. He will send it to my adress again next week with no extra costs.
Did a Google search on this compagny and their logo is "Quality Counts".
Dropped an e-mail to "GLS" that they are of great quality to ruine someones Christmass and told them they are a bunch of maetheads. Not clever, but better than a hart attack.
All orders i have made were posted with Global Priority, this is my experience:
first order it took 3 months and 3 weeks
second 2 weeks
third 2 weeks
fourth 4 weeks
fifth 1 week less than 2 moths
sixth still not arrived after 2 moths
Maybe I should start another hobby.

Paul

 

[shaygetz]

I sell on Ebay. I've dealt with an Australian (Perth) and a French (Paris) buyer, both have received their packages from me (Florida, USA) in less than 7 days from the day I mailed them. Both were shipped Global Priority. Because they used Bidpay money orders that came straight to my PO Box, the whole process from start to finish took less than 14 days. Sounds like a problem with 4nscale.com, not the shipper.

 

[csxnscale]

Shaygetz, got the same experience with haybros on e-bay order arrived within 7 days.
Paul

 

[csxnscale]

Folow up on my topic.
Got an e-mail from GLS that the package with the express number I gave never reached their compagny and never entered Europe.
Dropped an e-mail to Mark (4nscale.com) and he replyed that the package that was returned from Europe, was surrounded with tape with the GLS logo.
Wrote an e-mail back to GLS about this, wonder what their answer will be.
Did I tell you they are a bunch of meatheads ?
Paul

 

[Topo]

Paul, I have had also lots of troubles in Spain with my purchases from the U.S.

Apparently, the U.S. Mail Service came to an agreement with an european courier ("General Parcel Service", I think that is their name), and all U.S. shippments bound to Europe are handed to these guys.

Their offices in Spain are called Extand Sistema (or something like that). They grab your package and send you a letter asking for your permission to do customs dispatchment and other manipulations (that you MUST pay to them, of course). They also threaten you about returning the package if you don't accept their "conditions" :curse:

I had one shippment grabbed by these guys, but I never received the letter asking for "ransom" (so I never know that and I wasn't able to answer), and they retourned the package to Toy Train Heaven, causing a real mess!!! :curse: :curse: :curse:

By reasons that I don't know, some packages "avoid" the hands of these guys and are received without hassles. Maybe it's a luck game, I think.

 

[ezdays]

Can't you guys specify FedEx or UPS for shipments out of the USA? It might be a bit more expensive on the front end, but from what you guys are saying, cheaper in the long run.

Just a thought.

Don

 

[csxnscale]

Javier,
Sorry to hear you have the same problems with this package servers as I do.
As soon as all is cleared up who is responsible on my package transition I will make an official complaint to USPS and my local Postal service.
I hope more people will do that to get this pirates out of the package distribution and let serious compagnies take over.
Paul

 

[csxnscale]

Don,
The package was shipped with UPS Global priority, but once it arrives in Europe, some dubious package servers take over and that is the problem.
Paul

 

[ezdays]

Paul,

I'm kinda confused. I was understanding that you had it shipped with the US Postal Service (USPS). I'm talking about United Pacel (UPS), the guys in brown. I thought UPS handled their own packages portal to portal.

But from what you're saying, it sound like someone is hijacking shipments and are holding the packages for ransom. :curse: Sounds illegal.

Don

 

[csxnscale]

Sorry Don it was shipped with USPS, but once in Europe some nitwit package servers take over and that is creating the problem.

Latest update:
Got an e-mail from GLS, that in that case the package/express number is wrong.
Wrote them back that the Belgian Postal sevices did a trace on this number and they stated that the package was sent back from Europe and arrived in Louisville KY on december 23. Mark (Owensboro KY)got the package back on december 26 fully covered with GLS tape and no markings on the express label. This means that nobody ever even did an attempt to deliver, cause if they did they should mark it on the Express label.
Wrote this meatheads back if they still denie that it was their fault they will look like the formar minister of information of Irak, remember:" There are no American troops in Bagdad", while US tanks were running behind his back.
Paul

 

[absnut]

Up until a few years ago, I did a lot of mailing to Europe. I never used Global Priority but, rather, small packet or air mail service. Does the USPS contract with GPS also apply to regular air mail or air parcel post?

 

[csxnscale]

absnut,
I don't know if GLS contract with USPS to regular air mail.
Maybe you can do a Google search to find out.
Paul

 

[Sir_Tainly]

Hi Guys,

I've found shipping stuff from the US to the UK is very hit and miss also. Once I ordered some stuff on 6am US local time on a Friday only to have it arrive the following Monday..I can't send domestic parcels that quickly usually. Ordering some milled frames I had them arrive in 10 days or less, and yet some things take months..no rhyme or reason. Also sometimes here you get charged customs fees, other times not. It is simply pot luck I think.

Right now I'm waiting for a parcel from France..fingers crossed it arrives ok

Simon

 

[csxnscale]

Simon, I hope your parcel from France arrives soon.
Over here no sign of my package yet.
I heard from another Belgian modeller that he orders his stuff in Germany.
This German internet shop is specialised in US train stuff.
The prices are higher, but when the postman arrives no taxes to pay. I think I will try this on my next order.

Paul

 

[Fred_M]

What you guy are saying has been happening to orders going out of the US for several years now by the USPS. I sell computer parts and I got so mad at out of country deliveries that I suspended sells to everywhere but the USA. I can send anything anywhere in the USA and there is no problem with time of delivery. Almost anything that goes out of the country is SLOW. The USPS can by law only operate in the US and its territories. It has to subcontract with foreign companies to deliver to other countries. How these sub-contractors behave is out of their hand and subject to the laws governing them by the country they operate out of. Of course, as stated above, you guys always want to blame the shipper, who has to repay for the second shipment out of his own pocket. I got SO tired of nasty emails, loosing money on shipping, and hateful complaints that I suspended overseas USPS sales period, even to Canada, which seem to have the same problem with Purolator (which is a Canadian Company BTW). The only way I will ship out of USA anymore is FEDEX, who charge a premium for their service. So if you want fast service I say, "smile and pay FedEx for their service or lobby your local government to change who they allow to accept US packages for delivery". DASH

 

[csxnscale]

Dash10,

I can understand your frustrations, but when I pay Global Priority to USPS and they need subcontractors when the package leaves the US, they should be more critical and investigate if their overseas partners are capable to handle the job.
I can't understand that the US is able to send a robot-jeep to Mars, without being able to send a parcel to Europe within a reasonable time in 2004.

Paul

 

[Sir_Tainly]

Thanks Paul, no sign of it yet..maybe tomorrow

Dash10,

I'm not sure in the UK the government decides who ships what, it may be up to the the sender in the US (in my case) to negotiate who delivers their goods outside the country. For example, USPS items arrive here via the Royal Mail, but items sent my private couriers usually arrive by private courier here, IIRC one item I bought was delivered by "Amtrak", a parcel delivery firm here.

Simon

 

[fifer]

Trouble

Hi Paul , I'm sorry you are having so many postal problems but I have about 2500 ebay sales and all have gone USPS and Never lost a package and usually very timely.I have had trouble shipping out of the US as you state though and unfortunitly that is why most Ebayers only ship within the US.
The hasstle is to great and does the seller and the buyer on justice.
Good Luck and glad your modeling US.
Mike

 

[Fred_M]

Originally posted by Sir_Tainly
Thanks Paul, no sign of it yet..maybe tomorrow

Dash10,

I'm not sure in the UK the government decides who ships what, it may be up to the the sender in the US (in my case) to negotiate who delivers their goods outside the country. For example, USPS items arrive here via the Royal Mail, but items sent my private couriers usually arrive by private courier here, IIRC one item I bought was delivered by "Amtrak", a parcel delivery firm here.

Simon

I was speaking of the USPS who is our postal service and the UK does indeed have laws on who delivers US Mail in the UK, it's the Royal Mail as you have stated. UPS and FedEX can deliver in the UK or could hire it out because they are private companies (UK law allowing), but the USPS is a government agency and are only allowed to work in the US and its territories. That's why I suggest you guys use FedEx and pay the extra. In Canada US Mail Packages are handed over at the border to Perolator who is owned by the Canadian Government. Purolator collect tarrifs. Canadians as a rule get mad about that and blame the shipper (ME?) for tarrifs imposed by Canada on Canadians. That's Canadian Law. All countries that I am aware of have a law saying who, what, when, where, and why the US Poastal Service gives mail to in their country for delivery. DASH.