Until recently I have had good luck sending from Canada to Europe..but now I have 2 considered lost....
For one, the other participant didn't send so no loss there, but one I did receive, and i haven heard back on what I need to resend (I split the shipment and I can't remember what was in which envelope)...bollocks...
But as an example for anyone wondering, a 100gram envelope air mailed to Europe is 14$cdn, tracked is 40$.....just to scan a barcode....
I’ve stopped swapping outside of North America now since the postage often is way more than the value of the coins. It’s getting more attractive to simply buy coins
I have stopped too. I have a package addressed and ready to send internationally but the PO wants to charge me 80$ for coins worth less than 20$. I can get some good coins for 80$ if the coin shows ever restart in my neighborhood. One was scheduled in September but was cancelled as the D variant swept through.
Since 2020 and covid the number of packages has increased but not the number of employees. It is slow going through customs. Bought some stuff from Joel's coins in California. Watching it on tracking it was a day and half from California to Vancouver(Richmond) then two weeks in customs then another day and a half to Calgary. In other times it would have been five days max. He sent me another, envelope only, no tracking and it was here in six days.
It's been a tough 2 years for everybody & I don't envy their lot (TBH). When I sent a few notes to Italy after the pandemic hit (full swing) it took 3 weeks for my package to arrive. My swapper sent my items at the same time & it took 3 months for them to arrive here in Canada so I'd say Canada Post wasn't too bad in comparison to the Italian system.
Re:
"then two weeks in customs then another day and a half to Calgary. In other times it would have been five days max..."
& I've experienced similar delays at customs but that's not really Canada Post's fault.
I actually prefer Canada Post to FedEx (who never knock/nor ring me) & always leave me a tag to go across town to pick up their packages. At least the carriers around here will knock & I get a chance to get my package from them (unlike the pricey FedEx).
I sent a Small Package to Bangladesh on the 5th August and as of Today it had not Arrived it was tracked but as soon as it left the UK it disappeared I can only presume it has gone Astray or some light Fingered Soul has Half Inched it the Value was not great but the Pleaser the Contents would have given to the Recipient collector has been gone.
Ian,
