Royal Mail vs USPS
mindrobots
Posts: 6,506
I have a package coming from England to me via Royal Mail. When I checked the status the other day I was greeted with this cheerful message:
I sat back with the feeling that my microPython boards were being nestled into a box with a tin of me mums favorite biscuits.
In contrast, I have a package going from the US to Poland via USPS, when I check its status, I'm told:
It leaves me with an uneasy feeling and the puzzlement of why the USPS would have products that are only for Canada.
But then I realize the US Customs Service is involved and there won't be any tins of biscuits on this journey! (and I bet they nick my biscuits from the incoming parcel, too!)
Status: It's on its way
Your item, posted on 13/08/14 with reference RS076815589GB has been received at our international mail centre and is being made ready for despatch overseas.
I sat back with the feeling that my microPython boards were being nestled into a box with a tin of me mums favorite biscuits.
In contrast, I have a package going from the US to Poland via USPS, when I check its status, I'm told:
Tracking Number: LC577875790US
[h=2]alert[/h]
- Tracking for this product is only available to Canada. For future shipments, tracking is available for this country through Priority Mail International with some exclusions, Priority Mail Express International or Global Express Guaranteed® services. For more information visit: https://www.usps.com/international
It leaves me with an uneasy feeling and the puzzlement of why the USPS would have products that are only for Canada.
But then I realize the US Customs Service is involved and there won't be any tins of biscuits on this journey! (and I bet they nick my biscuits from the incoming parcel, too!)
Comments
C.W.
How do you expect the USPS to compete when the WWW will deliver all the junk mail for next to nothing? It was never the real communications that paid for mail service in the USA. It was all the bulk mailing.
You have to realize the the average US mail carrier was burdened more than a pack horse before being liberated by the Internet. There is no going back. The other big revenue source was monthly billings.. those have gone to paperless direct deposit.
I just thought it was funny the differences in the message wording between the two tracking services. The Royal Mail service was also a 9 pound charge for tracking and signature service where as my USPS charges were about $6 for International First Class. When you first read the USPS message, the Canada mention throws you off a bit until you realize that of course we would have efficient First Class tracking with our efficient Northern neighbor and as you get out to other countries either further away or less efficient (modern) the tracking success might go down. There are more expensive and better tracked services if needed with faster delivery times.
For example, the USP was more than will to deliver my small envelope to Poland in 2 days for $107 with complete tracking and certified signature service.....I thought that was a bit much considering the contents.
But now, there is no 'sack rate' and even international book rate is much higher as everything goes by air.
++++++++++
Actually, I find the British and the Commonwealth nations much more charming in how they explain things. Americans and Aussies seem to be much more direct and less concerned with courtesy. You may get nothing more from the Royal Mail, but you feel so much more appreciated. Ambiance does count for something.
Hey, but did I miss something here? I want a microPython board. I did not think we could get them yet.
Check your PM Inbox....but do it QUICKLY!!!!!
Had them since May 14.
Handoff between postal services can be a pain in the *** as not all of them bothers to do the job properly, regards scanning the bar-codes.
And sometimes, some of them assigns NEW codes to the package.
At the moment, I'm waiting on some goods that wa sent as 'international letter' or something like that, and was last seen leaving Los Angeles on the 23.
(Estimates is that it should have been here no later than on the 12. But with summer and the Norwegian post offices staffed by primary school dropouts as it is every summer, it's anyone's guess when it shows up)