Can India Post be trusted??

sunshine06 · Jan 14th, 2009, 22:23

Hi folks! I just posted off a few boxes from the Koramangala Post Office to its destination in Singapore. I'd like to find out if the PO services here are reliable. Will my boxes reach their destination, or get lost somewhere during the delivery process? Has anyone posted their stuff to their homeland via PO before?

DHL/Fedex rates are exhorbitant so I wasn't keen on using them...

Also the boxes went by AIR mail and the PO staff told me they'll reach Singapore in 15 days - can I trust them or shall I expect a longer time?

Sorry for the ongoing questions..last one coming! I was provided with tracking/ref no. starting with "RR". Can I track my shipment progress online with this no.?

Any reply/advice is greatly appreciated,thanks!

wonderwomanusa · Jan 14th, 2009, 22:41

We've discussed this many times; you might try searching for previous threads.

sunshine06 · Jan 30th, 2009, 11:13

I've been looking at other posts, but couldn't get much info off them.
I shipped 4 boxes from Bangalore to Singapore on 13th January 09 and the service guy there said it'd take 15 days. It's been 15 days and there's still no news of my boxes. Help

Getting a little anxious as 2 boxes contain clothes that I need to start using soon. Does anyone have similar experiences?

I called the post office but they were extremely unhelpful and told me to file a complaint with them - how am I going to do that if I am no longer in Bangalore...

Getting pretty worried and frustrated. Any comments would be appreciated!

goangoangone · Jan 30th, 2009, 12:36

15 days? Give them a bit longer.

Aishah · Jan 30th, 2009, 12:51

My thought too - allow another week before hopping up and down. I think they will arrive. Were they by Speedpost or Airmail. The latter can take up to 3 weeks sometimes (you would think faster but this is what happens occasionally).

olav1956 · Jan 30th, 2009, 12:52

I have shipped parcels home (to the Netherlands) and they have all arrived safely sofar. Some within two weeks, some as late as four weeks.
Keep faith.
olav

artisticanurag · Jan 30th, 2009, 12:53

Its Indian Postal Service - for the record

Aishah · Jan 30th, 2009, 12:55

Yes we know artistic, and it can be erratic too! I have never had trouble with them shipping back things, but the time it takes is very variable. Everything I have ever sent back has arrived safe and sound.

palerider · Jan 30th, 2009, 13:05

I've never had a problem with stuff, can take a bit longer if you post from a "suburban" post office, not a main one.
I wish all postal services were so efficient.

sunshine06 · Feb 2nd, 2009, 11:17

Thanks everyone for your replies! Just to update all you guys, 2 of my parcels arrived on the 16th day (Saturday), and 1 parcel arrived on the 18th day (Monday). Still 1 more parcel coming up...

Thanks again!

Update: Oh one thing I learnt is to wrap your items securely! The cheapest DIY way I did was to cling wrap the box and put heaps of masking tape around. I've seen some people using white cloth but it was a hassle for me.

Aishah · Feb 2nd, 2009, 19:03

Well there you go - that's good news and I'm sure the next parcel will turn up too.

SteveK · Mar 10th, 2009, 00:36

I'm glad to hear that things do arrive eventually! I'm thinking of posting back some silk from Varanasi for my daughters and I'd hate it to go astray.

OTOH, I posted some things off to Nepal and I've since been told that items often never arrive. Quite where they go is anybody's guess...

atala · Mar 10th, 2009, 02:40

I have sent many books and other stuff back, by sea mail, over the years. Everything arrived safe and well, within 3-4 months. I am not doing this anymore as it has become too expensive to do (around Rs 2000 for less than 20 kg).

A package that I mailed years ago arrived well sealed and all, but an old camera was missing that a friend had put in without my knowing about it. They could not care less about Indian stuff, while they might be more enticed by foreign stuff. I understand they have screening equipment at customs.

A similar thing was with foreign exchange, like hundred dollar bills sent in letters, between carbon-paper. Since it was/is illegal, they could seize it, yet how they knew which letters to open, and close them in a way that afterwards you would not know that that letter had been opened...

The only unreliable thing about the Postal services used to be that stamps might get stolen from letters or packages.

wonderwomanusa · Mar 10th, 2009, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveK

I'm glad to hear that things do arrive eventually! I'm thinking of posting back some silk from Varanasi for my daughters and I'd hate it to go astray.

Be sure to wrap the silk in a plastic bag before the parcel wallah sews it up.

SteveK · Mar 10th, 2009, 21:06

They sew parcels up? I was thinking I'd wrap it up in some brown paper & tape! Is there an 'Indian' way of doing parcels that involves sewing?

(BTW, I'm taking a couple of packs of Ziploc bags, mainly for sending back tea from Darjeeling when I'm there but I guess silk folds up pretty well!)

Jan 14th, 2009, 22:23	#1
sunshine06 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 32	Can India Post be trusted?? Hi folks! I just posted off a few boxes from the Koramangala Post Office to its destination in Singapore. I'd like to find out if the PO services here are reliable. Will my boxes reach their destination, or get lost somewhere during the delivery process? Has anyone posted their stuff to their homeland via PO before? DHL/Fedex rates are exhorbitant so I wasn't keen on using them... Also the boxes went by AIR mail and the PO staff told me they'll reach Singapore in 15 days - can I trust them or shall I expect a longer time? Sorry for the ongoing questions..last one coming! I was provided with tracking/ref no. starting with "RR". Can I track my shipment progress online with this no.? Any reply/advice is greatly appreciated,thanks!

Jan 14th, 2009, 22:41	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	We've discussed this many times; you might try searching for previous threads. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Jan 30th, 2009, 12:36	#4
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	15 days? Give them a bit longer. __________________ GoanGoan......here

Jan 30th, 2009, 12:51	#5
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,616	My thought too - allow another week before hopping up and down. I think they will arrive. Were they by Speedpost or Airmail. The latter can take up to 3 weeks sometimes (you would think faster but this is what happens occasionally). __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Jan 30th, 2009, 12:53	#7
artisticanurag Indian Metalhead Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 767	Its Indian Postal Service - for the record __________________ Anurag Sahu (Ricky) Rock & Delhi When Ricky Plays Critic Unveiling India

Jan 30th, 2009, 11:13	#3
sunshine06 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 32	I've been looking at other posts, but couldn't get much info off them. I shipped 4 boxes from Bangalore to Singapore on 13th January 09 and the service guy there said it'd take 15 days. It's been 15 days and there's still no news of my boxes. Help Getting a little anxious as 2 boxes contain clothes that I need to start using soon. Does anyone have similar experiences? I called the post office but they were extremely unhelpful and told me to file a complaint with them - how am I going to do that if I am no longer in Bangalore... Getting pretty worried and frustrated. Any comments would be appreciated!

Jan 30th, 2009, 12:52	#6
olav1956 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: amsterdam Posts: 15	I have shipped parcels home (to the Netherlands) and they have all arrived safely sofar. Some within two weeks, some as late as four weeks. Keep faith. olav

Jan 30th, 2009, 12:55	#8
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,616	Yes we know artistic, and it can be erratic too! I have never had trouble with them shipping back things, but the time it takes is very variable. Everything I have ever sent back has arrived safe and sound.

Jan 30th, 2009, 13:05	#9
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I've never had a problem with stuff, can take a bit longer if you post from a "suburban" post office, not a main one. I wish all postal services were so efficient. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Feb 2nd, 2009, 11:17	#10
sunshine06 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 32	Thanks everyone for your replies! Just to update all you guys, 2 of my parcels arrived on the 16th day (Saturday), and 1 parcel arrived on the 18th day (Monday). Still 1 more parcel coming up... Thanks again! Update: Oh one thing I learnt is to wrap your items securely! The cheapest DIY way I did was to cling wrap the box and put heaps of masking tape around. I've seen some people using white cloth but it was a hassle for me. Last edited by sunshine06 : Feb 2nd, 2009 at 13:05.

Feb 2nd, 2009, 19:03	#11
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,616	Well there you go - that's good news and I'm sure the next parcel will turn up too.

Mar 10th, 2009, 00:36	#12
SteveK Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 44	I'm glad to hear that things do arrive eventually! I'm thinking of posting back some silk from Varanasi for my daughters and I'd hate it to go astray. OTOH, I posted some things off to Nepal and I've since been told that items often never arrive. Quite where they go is anybody's guess... __________________ 'The journey is the reward.' - Chinese proverb

Mar 10th, 2009, 02:40	#13
atala 8 years in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 978	I have sent many books and other stuff back, by sea mail, over the years. Everything arrived safe and well, within 3-4 months. I am not doing this anymore as it has become too expensive to do (around Rs 2000 for less than 20 kg). A package that I mailed years ago arrived well sealed and all, but an old camera was missing that a friend had put in without my knowing about it. They could not care less about Indian stuff, while they might be more enticed by foreign stuff. I understand they have screening equipment at customs. A similar thing was with foreign exchange, like hundred dollar bills sent in letters, between carbon-paper. Since it was/is illegal, they could seize it, yet how they knew which letters to open, and close them in a way that afterwards you would not know that that letter had been opened... The only unreliable thing about the Postal services used to be that stamps might get stolen from letters or packages.

Mar 10th, 2009, 21:06	#15
SteveK Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 44	They sew parcels up? I was thinking I'd wrap it up in some brown paper & tape! Is there an 'Indian' way of doing parcels that involves sewing? (BTW, I'm taking a couple of packs of Ziploc bags, mainly for sending back tea from Darjeeling when I'm there but I guess silk folds up pretty well!)

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