Parcel to Ukraine ...

[docetae]

I have sent now two months ago two parcels to Ukraine, one containing photos enlargement (photo is one of my hobby and I have sent some home made print of her to the woman I'm dating) and a small lego toy, and another parcel containing a large lego toy for her son. That was sent trough purolator , all paperwork was done but they never were delivered. When I check on the purolator web site, it's "pending custom clearance" since two months now ?

No idea how about to solve this situation ?

[Michelangelo]

Hmmm...must be a problem from Canada.  In the US, I have learned the United States Postal Service is the best.  I have sent 30 packages or so to Ukraine and Russia the past 3 years, and 100% of them made it to the destination.  It typically takes 10 to 14 days.

An interesting tidbit for those of you mailing from the US.....I have discovered that Air Mail beats Global Express and is a fraction of the cost.  A movie I sent Vik of our Paris trip took 5 days via Air Mail this week!   And it costs $4.40 to send :-)

[docetae]

Hmmm...must be a problem from Canada.  In the US, I have learned the United States Postal Service is the best.  I have sent 30 packages or so to Ukraine and Russia the past 3 years, and 100% of them made it to the destination.  It typically takes 10 to 14 days.

An interesting tidbit for those of you mailing from the US.....I have discovered that Air Mail beats Global Express and is a fraction of the cost.  A movie I sent Vik of our Paris trip took 5 days via Air Mail this week!   And it costs $4.40 to send :-)

follow up : Parcel is still pending custom clearance in Kiev ... after two months... the recipient will check with DHL directly if she can get them... for an express shipping that should be done in 5 days, we are now about 2 months late ...

[tim 360]

In the future use USPS for normal items. Air Mail, Global Priority and Global Express.  Customs? Probably being held up for possible VAT tax my best guess. Have your friend check up. 2 months is a long time.

[docetae]

usps is not available in Canada .... I give her all references and she will ask DHL ...

[docetae]

Update ... the guy at DHL told her that parcel are sent back to Canada... If I ask Purolator here, they told me that they are still in Kiev ? Stolen ?

[Shadow]

I would guess that the children of a Kiev customs officer are very happy with their new toy.
But hey that is just me 

[docetae]

I would guess that the children of a Kiev customs officer are very happy with their new toy.
But hey that is just me 

update : parcel were still waiting for custom clearance last week and Purolator is going to contact directly Ukrainian custom ...
I believe this will be one of the slowest express shipping ...

[docetae]

And another update .... If you send a parcel with Post Canada in express, this is sent trough purolator which is using DHL. DHL delivers only documents everywhere in Ukraine. Parcels are only delivered to large cities.

And if the parcel can not be delivered, Ukrainian customs release it only after 90 days ! I'm trying right now to get the parcel redirected to one adress in Kiev one time this will be released back to DHL ...

[Noleman]

I've sent about two dozen packages to Tver,Russia via USPS Air Express with 100% receiptiant rate. My packages always arrive there within 5 to 6 days after mailing .

Noleman

[Sohkay]

I've had packages take up to 12 weeks to arrive in Ukraine from the U.S.

[Michelangelo]

I've had packages take up to 12 weeks to arrive in Ukraine from the U.S.

For the last three weeks, I have mailed a package from the US to my girl in Ukraine.  I use USPS airmail, and not global express.

Each package got their in less than a week, and cost much less than the global express service which is suppose to be faster, but is not.

My guess is that customs takes a longer look at global express packages and does nothing to airmail packages...

[docetae]

An update ! I get the parcel back ... but Youri the ripper was on duty to control if there was no dangerous and prohibited substances in the lego as the box was completly ripped in the middle with a knife ... everything was completly crashed too ... So if you want to send a parcel with post canada or DHL in one small Ukrainian city, do not use these services ... regular mail is probably faster ... 4 months to get everything back and destroyed.

[LatinSwede]

I've sent a few parcels to Odessa with harldy any trouble.  She's recieved them within 2 weeks.  It's mainly magazines, and little things for her nephew.  I wish I could say the same thing about the Panamanian postal service.  The only time friends and family get gifts from me, is when I go there in person with luggage packed to the brim.  Many years ago, I tried to send some cassettes to a cousin.  He likes heavy stuff like me.  It was sent registered mail, and still got ripped off!  I was angry, after I asked him if he got it.  You can't even subscribe to a magazine, because somebody will try to sell it on the street.  Many countries in Latin America are like this.  Ukraine is efficient and trustworthy compared to my cultural homeland.