Shipped ~200 pounds of stuff back from Palolem May 3 to US--where is it?

schrader

Hi everyone:

I went to India for the second time this year and went all-out shopping in Palolem! I bought enough to fill five very large bags. I shipped it all back May 3 via India post using a Parcel Post center on across from Bliss Travels where all the taxi and rickshaw drivers hang out.

On my previous trip to India, I'd shipped using the beachside parcel post run by the twins from Pushkar, but they had already left for the monsoon by the time I had arrived the second time.

Anyway, I didn't receive a tracking number or anything. To be honest, I didn't expect to, as I didn't receive one the first time I shipped back. The first time--for much less stuff, mind you--it only took four weeks for my bags to arrive safe and sound.

Both times I shipped my loot air mail, and certainly paid AirMail prices--this recent one set me back over $400!

Anyway, I guess my question is this: today, nearly six weeks on, should I be concerned that something has occurred with my packages? I unfortunately misplaced the contact info for the shipper, or else I'd call him. Is there a chance that my stuff will not arrive, or do I have reason to believe it might simply take a little bit longer?

Thank you!
Robert in Austin, TX

schrader

Boost!

camelgirl

By air it shouldn't take much longer. But if you have no records at all, you are in deep doo doo! You have no one to contact and no way to track it. I am amazed that you didn't get any paperwork. There is always tons of paperwork connected with doing most everything in India!

I hope you can find your contact person because otherwise, I don't know what you can do.


We have always received whatever we shipped, so you are probably OK. Fingers crossed!

I love all my India "stuff" & you obviously do too, so I hope you get it soon.

Let us know!

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Haylo

Bliss Travels must advertise their contact info, how about no phoning them and asking them the name of the parcel office opposite?

Good luck tracking down your parcel!

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

edwardseco

No tickee, no washee is the old Californio saying..

wonderland81

Hi
I like you sended stuff home to Amsterdam the Netherlands and London from Arambol Goa by air and it took almost 8 weeks to arrive..whilst my mate sended stuff home to Israel by sea (cheapest slowest option) and it arrived in 2 weeks in Israel...
So just be patient it will get there....
Dont worry take care be well feel good

camelgirl

Lucky! We sent our stuff by sea and it took more than 3 months!! Then there were completely unexpected huge charges because it had to go through a customs broker and the port fees & charges just kept coming! Our US$180 wooden Ganesh wound up costing $400 We love our drum playing Ganesh, he welcomes us home as he sits near the front door, and we are still glad we bought him

We've since learned that sending things by air don't encounter all those extra port fees & charges and in the end cost less than by sea! (even though air costs way more than sea).

PeakXV

In this day and age with all the internet tracking and needed customs paper work, declarations, appraised values etc. - if you've got no reference number whatsoever before you left the depot - shame on you!

On the other hand, I had a package sent by DHL recently from Nepal all paperwork, tracking etc. fine - except for the small error that it was inadvertently declared for $100,000 instead of the actual 100,000rps ...... 9 1/2 weeks(should have been 4 days) later I eventual sorted the mess out & got the package. Anything can happen & often will.

Best of Luck!

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What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

camelgirl

Wildhorse

Not surprising - the Netherlands are much further away from India than Israel!

schrader

None of the shippers in Palolem Beach are able to offer tracking information, so far as I have experienced. Aside from bringing all my stuff with me in a taxi up to Margao, I really had no other option. So no, no "shame" here. Plus, last time everything arrived fine and within five weeks.

So what everyone is saying basically is just be patient? It will be 6 weeks Monday, and as I said I had 5 very large bags totaling about 200 pounds in weight.

PeakXV

Okay that explains alot and really you are only one week past due from your previous shipping experience which under the scheme of things is no real reason to panic -- as of yet.

However, I would definitely recommend 'going the extra mile' in the future & having it shipped out of a more central office, one that is equipped with calibrated weighing scales & 24/7 contact numbers/email. Also for $400.00 bucks and more importantly depending on the declared &/or replacement value of the goods in question - a valid online tracking number.