I hate the Post Office - other suggestions?

[catknit 144]

I'm looking for the best of both worlds - from what I've researched it looks like I have three options for sending packages to India. Option #1 is Fedex which is crazy expensive but I can track the package and request a signature. Option #2 is DHL - less pricy and trackable but a pain to find an outlet here to drop off a package [the closest is like 25 miles away and yeah, I'm in NJ which is all densely populated]. Option #3 I hate because of missing packages but is ok priced - the post office. For the second time, my SO is awaiting a box that appears to have "lost" it's way [totally an aside, but even with all my paperwork meticulous, my postal insurance claims never came thru either]. There are at least 2 letters that haven't made it to me from India - simple letters, not packages, that have been in transit at least 6 weeks.

My goal is the occasional [probably every month or so] package, typically about 5 lbs of random stuff.

Is there a service out there that I'm missing or should I suck it up and pay thru the nose for Fedex or DHL?

[JanaknJanet 0]

I'm looking for the best of both worlds - from what I've researched it looks like I have three options for sending packages to India. Option #1 is Fedex which is crazy expensive but I can track the package and request a signature. Option #2 is DHL - less pricy and trackable but a pain to find an outlet here to drop off a package [the closest is like 25 miles away and yeah, I'm in NJ which is all densely populated]. Option #3 I hate because of missing packages but is ok priced - the post office. For the second time, my SO is awaiting a box that appears to have "lost" it's way [totally an aside, but even with all my paperwork meticulous, my postal insurance claims never came thru either]. There are at least 2 letters that haven't made it to me from India - simple letters, not packages, that have been in transit at least 6 weeks.

My goal is the occasional [probably every month or so] package, typically about 5 lbs of random stuff.

Is there a service out there that I'm missing or should I suck it up and pay thru the nose for Fedex or DHL?

Personally.. I use either Fedx or ups... I have decided and declined any delivery anymore from DHL when I found out that they service many of their shipping tru USPS.... I waited and waited for delivery for three packages all which went via .DHL... and.. each one was delivered via usps.. when I asked the postal driver why he had a DHL package that was supposed to be rush transit.. he said. that .. DHL ships tru them...

SO.. never again will I ship via DHL... especially when I ship rush.. and it takes longer than even USPS... ...

The price difference between UPS and Fedx.. not too much to make note of... .. just wish i knew of a place that I could order things in India.. and Know they got shipped correctly.... then I would send gifts from there... but.. for now... I will simply just wait for important things to ship... and.. yikes.. ship it out .. 5 lbs for like $100 .. augh.. but .. Id do anything if it ment my baby would get his package with no trouble...

[cjindia 0]

I'm looking for the best of both worlds - from what I've researched it looks like I have three options for sending packages to India. Option #1 is Fedex which is crazy expensive but I can track the package and request a signature. Option #2 is DHL - less pricy and trackable but a pain to find an outlet here to drop off a package [the closest is like 25 miles away and yeah, I'm in NJ which is all densely populated]. Option #3 I hate because of missing packages but is ok priced - the post office. For the second time, my SO is awaiting a box that appears to have "lost" it's way [totally an aside, but even with all my paperwork meticulous, my postal insurance claims never came thru either]. There are at least 2 letters that haven't made it to me from India - simple letters, not packages, that have been in transit at least 6 weeks.

My goal is the occasional [probably every month or so] package, typically about 5 lbs of random stuff.

Is there a service out there that I'm missing or should I suck it up and pay thru the nose for Fedex or DHL?

Personally.. I use either Fedx or ups... I have decided and declined any delivery anymore from DHL when I found out that they service many of their shipping tru USPS.... I waited and waited for delivery for three packages all which went via .DHL... and.. each one was delivered via usps.. when I asked the postal driver why he had a DHL package that was supposed to be rush transit.. he said. that .. DHL ships tru them...

SO.. never again will I ship via DHL... especially when I ship rush.. and it takes longer than even USPS... ...

The price difference between UPS and Fedx.. not too much to make note of... .. just wish i knew of a place that I could order things in India.. and Know they got shipped correctly.... then I would send gifts from there... but.. for now... I will simply just wait for important things to ship... and.. yikes.. ship it out .. 5 lbs for like $100 .. augh.. but .. Id do anything if it ment my baby would get his package with no trouble...

I use the indian couriers.. the package gets there in 3 days and they track it

[catknit 144]

Cjindia - ok I'm intrigued - where are these couriers? Are they a forwarder of some sort that I can send a package to here in the US?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[sara..... 371]

Cjindia - ok I'm intrigued - where are these couriers? Are they a forwarder of some sort that I can send a package to here in the US?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

i would like to know too last time i sent everything ups and it took 15 days to reach perviz and i paid for 4 day delivery sure it got to delhi in three days time but ups does not take anything to kashmir its contracted out.......when i called fedx they also told me they could not get anything to kashmir shorter than 14 days

[vikasp 0]

Use UPS. I sent a digital camera to my wife when she was there. It got there in 5 days. You have to decide: is saving $50 worth the hassle of lost documents?

[catknit 144]

I was talking to my SO last night and with the strike called over fuel prices I wanted to know if the package would be delayed even more!!!! He's claiming the mail system shouldn't be effected but I'm figuring if the package does make it up to Kashmir it will be sitting until next week to be delivered.

[sara..... 371]

I was talking to my SO last night and with the strike called over fuel prices I wanted to know if the package would be delayed even more!!!! He's claiming the mail system shouldn't be effected but I'm figuring if the package does make it up to Kashmir it will be sitting until next week to be delivered.

omg getting anything to kashmir in a timely manor is complicated enough with out a gas strike lol

[catknit 144]

I totally agree with using UPS/Fedex for important documents and high ticket items.

I'm just looking for a way that is a little more reasonably priced than Fedex for average, run-of-the-mill care packages. Nothing that would be impossible to easily replace or worth a lot of money - just little gifts and books I've read and want him to read too, local magazines, pretty simple stuff but things that help the two of us feel more involved in each others lives given the distance.

Honestly, waiting a couple of weeks isn't too bad - but, like I said, I'm looking for a service that's reliable, we've have packages go missing thru the postal service.

[DanielParul 50]

We used Fedex all the time. When he had to send me papers, gifts whatever and I did too.. very reliable

[Jigi 0]

hi,

My answer any day any time is FEDEX..... they are the best when you send any stuff

Jigi

hi,

You can check out with the Indian Embassy in SG if you cannot leave SG.

Jigi

[Matt and Chandra 0]

I realized that someone already replied negatively about this, but we found DHL to be cost-effective and extremely reliable. FedEx is also very good; it was UPS that I'd heard some complaints about. I suspect it has to do with the reliability of the local affiliate in India.

In our experience, care packages sent through the regular postal system tended to get pilfered or lost, and aren't worth the trouble unless one knows one's post office/carrier are reliable on the Indian side. Important documents, however, should never been sent USPS/Indian Post because it is that much more crucial that they arrive on time and intact, and pretty much require DHL or FedEx.

M & C

[ELW 5]

Agreed with the others - anything you want to definitely arrive, and arrive safe and in a timely manner to India, you gotta pay FedEx for it. Stuff sent via regular mail, yes even letters, have a VERY good chance of being pilfered. Working in a post office in India must be a wildly prestigious job - so much STUFF to take away! While I was living there, practically half or more of the letters I got were opened before they reached me, then clumsily re-glued with the Indian black glue. I guess they look for cash and whatever else is of any value at all.

P.S. Anything that is "lost" on the way to its destination in India, I firmly believe, is only "lost" in the pockets of postal employees.

Edited June 16, 2008 by ELW