Canada Post is so sloooooooooooo - Page 4 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

lima20 · 2010-10-10, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leopard

One time it took 4 business days for me to get a letter from Toronto to Toronto.

Say it ain't so? That is just madness, you would have been better off giving it to a cyclist to deliver

David Susilo · 2010-10-10, 01:37 PM

Actually, the 3 post offices I usually ship my mails/parcels from actually said that local delivery (within the GTA) is between 3 to 5 business days to arrive.

I don't really complain though, because if it is really urgent, I'd drive it down myself.

It's the logic that I don't understand how a parcel from US to Canada takes half the time to reach my house than a package dispatched from Mississauga.

gorilla · 2010-10-10, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Susilo

It's the logic that I don't understand how a parcel from US to Canada takes half the time to reach my house than a package dispatched from Mississauga.

I used to work for a Post Office (Not Canada Post), so perhaps I can offer an informed opinion.

For most shipments the transit time is not the limiting factor. As we know it's possible to fly something from anywhere in the world to anywhere else in one day. Even driving there is no difference between NE USA and Ontario, and little time differences from futher afiel.

What is time consuming is the sorting. In order to be delivered to your house, it's got to end up either in a specific postman's bag or a specific truck which is going to deliver it to your house. This is easy to do for one letter, but the more you have, the harder it gets. The biggest problem you deal with is getting things to their destination in the most efficent way. Perhaps you should have a truck going from A to B, and another from A to C, or perhaps a truck which goes A, B then C?

That's how FedEx originally got their advantage. They had the methods of sorting so that they could do it overnight. They didn't mind shipping everything to Mephis, because that meant that they could put all the sorting technology in one place, and their shipping became simpler.

Now back to your problem.

IF the US was presorting their outgoing mail, so that it could be sent efficently to the right location to get fastest delivery to you, AND Canada doesn't have an efficent sorting operation, THEN you'd see US originating mail as faster.

I have no actual knowledge of the actual situation, my knowledge is 15 years out of date and from the wrong end of the planet, but it's plausible.

David Susilo · 2010-10-10, 08:29 PM

thank you for shedding some light into the matter!

Cheers!

JamesK · 2010-10-10, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Say it ain't so?

Sadly, it happens all too often.

JamesK · 2010-10-10, 10:25 PM

Quote:

What is time consuming is the sorting.

What happened to all those sorting machines that were installed several years ago? Back in the early - mid 70's, Canada moved from local sorting to large automated sorting stations that were supposed to to all that sorting to local destinations. That was also about the time mail performance took a serious turn for the worst and IIRC, rates jumped significantly. I've got a huge sorting plant a few kilometers from here and a smaller distribution office a couple of blocks away. There's another sorting plant in Toronto, about a 1/2 hour drive from here. Why does it usually take 2-3, even 4 days from a location that's a few blocks from that Toronto station to get to me. Also, with the technology today, it's a simple matter to bar code every piece of 1st class mail and track it the way the couriers do. With something like, they'd soon see if there were problems somewhere.

JamesK · 2010-10-10, 10:35 PM

^^^^
A big problem with the 407 is the sweetheart deal the Harris government gave that Spanish company. What other business has the power to deny you your licence sticker? On the other hand, IIRC, garbage collection in the Etobicoke area of Toronto is private industry and is more efficient and cost effective than the city operated collection in the rest of Toronto. So, it's possible to go either way and depends entirely on how the deal is set up and maintained.

JesseJ · 2010-10-10, 11:39 PM

I had a package apparently sit in Vancouver, or took 3 weeks to go from Vancouver to Calgary....Sep 8 it entered the country....FROM NEW YORK STATE....and I didn't get it until Sept 29.......

WOW....

it was a standard 4x6 bubble mailer.

mr weather · 2010-10-11, 09:37 AM

Delays on packages coming from out-of-country is exclusively due to customs. They have been known to sit on items for days before releasing them. I've had stuff come in with sameday turnaround; I've had other stuff sit for a week. Once it's released it's only been a day or two before CP delivers it.

For all the warts of Canada Post, UPS has to be the worst courier company to deal with. No PO box deliveries, limited rural deliveries and God help you if something get broken/lost/stolen and you have to file a claim.

Danster · 2010-10-11, 11:00 AM

I second that opinion. CP is good when it comes time to file a claim or do an investigation. Don't even talk to me about UPS. I'll refuse to buy something out of country if UPS is the only way to ship. As slow as the post can be, I'll take them anyday. As long as I'm not too much of a hurry to get it...

JamesK · 2010-10-11, 11:43 AM

I agree on UPS. In addition to obscene broker fees on imports, you can't arrange to pick up a delivery at a UPS store, as I have often done with Purolator stores. I have done this because the couriers like to come during the business day, when most people are at work.

arminia · 2010-10-11, 06:20 PM

Why would you want to privatize a company that has made a profit for the last ten years?

hugh · 2010-10-12, 07:44 AM

As noted, I think the CP times are quite reasonable given the price. If you want it faster or want to send packages then use more expensive options.

As far as privatization, what does that do? CP has got about 50,000 militant union members who have been given sweatheart deals with the approval of the federal government for years.

Privatizing it won't change the major reason for higher prices, the union.

docted · 2010-10-12, 10:58 AM

I personally have no complaints with Canada Post with shipments from Canadian or US locations.
Unfortunately, today with the internet we think of service in milliseconds and are too impatient.
I know when I got my first computer (8-9 years ago) I was amazed at the speed , now,despite several upgrades, my computer is "slow".

Danster · 2010-10-12, 03:25 PM

Their service is slow but they are quick to raise the prices though. Effective JAnuary 17 2011, stamps for regular mail will be 59 cents, up by 2 cents.

2010-10-10, 01:37 PM	#47
David Susilo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: in my home theatre Posts: 3,418	Actually, the 3 post offices I usually ship my mails/parcels from actually said that local delivery (within the GTA) is between 3 to 5 business days to arrive. I don't really complain though, because if it is really urgent, I'd drive it down myself. It's the logic that I don't understand how a parcel from US to Canada takes half the time to reach my house than a package dispatched from Mississauga. __________________ THX, ISF, Control4 Certified Professional; CEDIA Trainer

2010-10-11, 11:00 AM	#55
Danster Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lincoln.NB Pop 465,123 Posts: 5,342	I second that opinion. CP is good when it comes time to file a claim or do an investigation. Don't even talk to me about UPS. I'll refuse to buy something out of country if UPS is the only way to ship. As slow as the post can be, I'll take them anyday. As long as I'm not too much of a hurry to get it... __________________ Home Theatre: Yamaha HTR-6190, Klipsch Speakers, SANYO PLV-Z4, TOSHIBA HDDVD, LG BD555C, Cerwin Vega HTS12 Sub, VIP2300, XBox 360, HTPC.

2010-10-12, 07:44 AM	#58
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,501	As noted, I think the CP times are quite reasonable given the price. If you want it faster or want to send packages then use more expensive options. As far as privatization, what does that do? CP has got about 50,000 militant union members who have been given sweatheart deals with the approval of the federal government for years. Privatizing it won't change the major reason for higher prices, the union. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2010-10-12, 03:25 PM	#60
Danster Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lincoln.NB Pop 465,123 Posts: 5,342	Their service is slow but they are quick to raise the prices though. Effective JAnuary 17 2011, stamps for regular mail will be 59 cents, up by 2 cents. __________________ Home Theatre: Yamaha HTR-6190, Klipsch Speakers, SANYO PLV-Z4, TOSHIBA HDDVD, LG BD555C, Cerwin Vega HTS12 Sub, VIP2300, XBox 360, HTPC.

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2010-10-10, 08:29 PM	#49
David Susilo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: in my home theatre Posts: 3,418	thank you for shedding some light into the matter! Cheers!

2010-10-10, 10:35 PM	#52
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	^^^^ A big problem with the 407 is the sweetheart deal the Harris government gave that Spanish company. What other business has the power to deny you your licence sticker? On the other hand, IIRC, garbage collection in the Etobicoke area of Toronto is private industry and is more efficient and cost effective than the city operated collection in the rest of Toronto. So, it's possible to go either way and depends entirely on how the deal is set up and maintained.

2010-10-10, 11:39 PM	#53
JesseJ Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Calgary, Shaw Digital HD Plus, 3416 & Expander Posts: 6,313	I had a package apparently sit in Vancouver, or took 3 weeks to go from Vancouver to Calgary....Sep 8 it entered the country....FROM NEW YORK STATE....and I didn't get it until Sept 29....... WOW.... it was a standard 4x6 bubble mailer.

2010-10-11, 09:37 AM	#54
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	Delays on packages coming from out-of-country is exclusively due to customs. They have been known to sit on items for days before releasing them. I've had stuff come in with sameday turnaround; I've had other stuff sit for a week. Once it's released it's only been a day or two before CP delivers it. For all the warts of Canada Post, UPS has to be the worst courier company to deal with. No PO box deliveries, limited rural deliveries and God help you if something get broken/lost/stolen and you have to file a claim.

2010-10-11, 11:43 AM	#56
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,089	I agree on UPS. In addition to obscene broker fees on imports, you can't arrange to pick up a delivery at a UPS store, as I have often done with Purolator stores. I have done this because the couriers like to come during the business day, when most people are at work.

2010-10-11, 06:20 PM	#57
arminia Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 235	Why would you want to privatize a company that has made a profit for the last ten years?

2010-10-12, 10:58 AM	#59
docted Join Date: May 2004 Location: Guelph,Ont. Posts: 313	I personally have no complaints with Canada Post with shipments from Canadian or US locations. Unfortunately, today with the internet we think of service in milliseconds and are too impatient. I know when I got my first computer (8-9 years ago) I was amazed at the speed , now,despite several upgrades, my computer is "slow".