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Hi everybody.. How long.. if the address is right.. should a Certified Letter Take to go from Harrisburg Pa. to BC>??This is starting the 8th day...I'm going to call it Slug Mail..I know there are a lot of you guys out there that are experienced in shipping instruments...Is all mail going into Canada that slow??Sure want my new horn.!!...Would Certified take longer?? patience was never one of my virtues<s>....BB

I KNOW I MISS SPELLED CANADA SORRY.....BB

Not to sound like a smartass, your best bet is to call your post office and ask them. Especially since its certified, it should have a tracking number on it and they can look it up. Yes, 8 days is a lot, but it doesn't totally sound out of line. FWIW, when I have to send something important like that, I use a FedEx overnight envelope. It costs like $20 or something, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to thousands of dollars for the tuba!

Let us know if you find out more!

bigbob wrote:..Is all mail going into Canada that slow??

Yes. Once it crosses the border, it can be notoriously slow. (I sent a parcel to a major urban centre about 1500 miles away on the 15th, it got to that city this morning) Any parcel shipped with USPS is handed over to Canada Post once it arrives to the border. In my understanding there seem to be few sorting centres and the routes taken by parcels are not always the most direct. I think that Canada post doesn't work nights and weekends (except around Christmas).

Call the post office.

bort wrote:Not to sound like a smartass, your best bet is to call your post office and ask them. Especially since its certified, it should have a tracking number on it and they can look it up. Yes, 8 days is a lot, but it doesn't totally sound out of line. FWIW, when I have to send something important like that, I use a FedEx overnight envelope. It costs like $20 or something, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to thousands of dollars for the tuba!

Let us know if you find out more!

Bort..I checked my Post office ...They tracked the letter to the N.Y. Boarder into Canada..They gave me a code to try to find it but I was put on hold so much..never did get to talk to a real person....I finally had to give up...I sure hope he gets it today!!..Thank You for the great advice on FedEx.overnight envelopes... I know now... US mail never again!! for 4 dollars more I could have sent it FedEx!BUMMER <s>...............................................BB

If you have a code, try entering it in the tracking system on Canada post's webpage:

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/ ... ution=e1s1" target="_blank

PMeuph wrote:If you have a code, try entering it in the tracking system on Canada post's webpage:

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/ ... ution=e1s1" target="_blank" target="_blank

Hi I went to where you said ...entered my tracking #..Again It said arrived at JFK Airport .there are two colors one for in flite and one for arrived ..Guess which one I am<s> there were no other records...................bummer............................BB

Be patient. The postal systems in both countries operate with many quirks. Your best bet is to continue checking the Canada Post website with your tracking number. If you do call Canada Post, once they start on the automated spiel, punch zero on your phone and wait for a live employee to answer the phone. I had much more success when I dealt with an actual person. Since Canada is considered an "international destination" there are some hurdles to overcome. Pennsylvania to Vancouver is a very long way. Your letter went to JFK and then probably Toronto before it was rerouted to Vancouver. Hang in there.

I guess my angst is Feeling bad because he hasn't received his money!!Of course without it no Tubahhh....I'll keep trying and thanks for the advice....BB

I have reason to exchange goods between Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, WA frequently. It can take a long time. My cousin lives in B.C. and it almost always faster to bring it across the border and send it USPS than to start with Canada Post.

Be patient.

When I was going to school in Indiana, mail to and from Toronto would sometimes arrive within a week but every now and then would get inexplicably hung up at the border, and arrive 2-3 weeks after sending. Don't worry, it will get there eventually!

As of 1:30 AM this moning it left Portland...It took 5 days to go from NY to Portland who knows how long from there >BB

Count on at least five more business days and in Canada that means Monday to Friday only. There is no delivery on Saturday although the mail does move. As well, you can request through USPS that a tracer be put on your letter. International mail sits in Richmond BC near Vancouver until it is released to Canada Post by Canada Customs for delivery. They cannot check every piece of mail, however it could sit there for awhile. Hang in there, your new tuba looks terrific!

All I know is I'll never use the US mail again!!!I should sue them for angst<s>I should have used Paypal!! or like Bort sent it FEDEX..Oh! Well Hind site ...I'm new to this!.......BB

Another day has passed! No more Tracking from USA or Canada since it left the Portland facility at 1:30 am on the 27th...To me I see why our postal system is failing!! I live near Hbg,Pa. Why would a letter that is going to BC go to JFK airport???Then 6 days later be in PORTLAND??!Why not send it from Pa???Hell I think the poney express was faster haha...at least the guy I'm buying the Tuba from isn't upset..I would be! I might think the guy was Bull shiteing me!!.I'm just not experienced with this stuff! I've only had two instruments... a BBb King Sousaphone and for 22 years my little 3J...No experience what so ever!!I don't understand how I can buy a box something from california and get it in three days???but a letter takes sooooo long?<s>..BB

come now, the government can ship fast too. His mistake was not paying the extra money for express service.
Actually the best bet would have been to wire the money using a bank, or simply paying by interac email transfer, if you're set up for it.

kontrabass wrote:come now, the government can ship fast too. His mistake was not paying the extra money for express service.
Actually the best bet would have been to wire the money using a bank, or simply paying by interac email transfer, if you're set up for it.

Unfortunately, interac email transfer only works on this side of the border.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interac_e-Transfer" target="_blank

I wish there was a service as reliable as that one across the border...

Not sure what happened, but when you get your money back, a few options I would consider:

-- Resend by FedEx (again, I've only done this within the US, but I would *guess* it would still be quick within Canada... it's a company, not a government agency).

-- Use PayPal and eat the fees. It's not *that* bad, all things considered.

-- Drive to Canada and get it myself.

I don't know Bort...I'm almost sick...It I guess is on it's way to the destination?!I checked USPS they track it to Portland,O Then Canada said they got it..Even reconised it was registered!That was Fri..Then Sunday I checked even though they wern.t open.. Canada then said there was nothing there!!I checked on Mon.by telephone to the canada postoffice.they said the letter was sent back??So I checked with USPS They show everything but the trip to CANADA??!!It seems to be eraced..funny..It was back in N.Y. and sent back out on the 2nd...I don't know weather it's comming back to me or going to To Tubadoor?? Isn't this crazyee???bummer.......................................BB