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sending mail to russia
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Contexts, Myths and Truths
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2006 11:29 pm    Post subject: sending mail to russia Reply with quote

Has anyone had any problems sending packages regular mail to Russia (St Pete) I just sent an expensive package with insurance on it and am worried as I hear the mail system over there is risky
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:56 am    Post subject: Re: sending mail to russia Reply with quote

surfguy wrote:
Has anyone had any problems sending packages regular mail to Russia (St Pete) I just sent an expensive package with insurance on it and am worried as I hear the mail system over there is risky


If you've already sent it, it's too late to ask the question, isn't it? Smile

I would think you should send anything valuable via some private delivery company of a firm like UPS that guarantees delivery. Russian mail system is not reliable. A postman can simply steal your stuff. Although, everything may be OK. If you're religious, pray Smile
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nikir
Frequent Guest


Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 1:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been sending stuff through the mail for years, including cash sometimes. Apart from being very slow there have been no problems.
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Generation-P
WayToRussified


Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 316
Location: SHE WENT TO BARCELONA!

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nikir wrote:
I have been sending stuff through the mail for years, including cash sometimes. Apart from being very slow there have been no problems.


You're so damn lucky! When I was in St. Pete I recived only 50% of all the letters my friends and family sent me... So jealous... Surprised
On the other hand all letters that I posted from Russia to "western" Europe reached their recipients. Allthough it took weeks. Snail mail indeed. Evil or Very Mad
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Rick
Moderator


Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never had anything that got lost. Both to and from Russia. Only once a special delivery from Russia got sent back from my town to the sender again. This was due to a local postage error though, not a Russian one. Occasionally mail to Russia takes forever, but 2 to 4 weeks is normal from western Europe.

Delivery times seem to vary a bit, depending on the destination. Piter seems to be slow, at least that is my experience.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I was trying to time the delivery so it would take about 10 days from the states-I am certainly praying that it arrives. Bummer if it doesn't and a waste of $$$
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Fire_Goddess
Guest





PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The lady at the post office advised me to send everything registered mail when sending stuff out of the country, because in the event the package is "lost", the country it gets "lost" in will be answerable to the USPS.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Last time I sent a package it got there-this time though I'm more worried as I sent money with it-but hopefully I will be ok. It's a birthday gift-well I guess I will find out in a week
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krasatulya
VIP


Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're a brave man to send cash through the mail.
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overseas_expat
VIP


Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

surfguy, it seems a near miracle that both of you packages arrived in Russia in 6 days?! Even though they ground to a halt at customs--wow. I'm awed.

There were some well publicized incidents involving Fedex and Russian customs about 2 years ago. The gist of it was that Fedex had changed customs clearance providers (subcontracted company) and their packages sat at customs endlessly after that. I've seen a lot of similar tales.

The moral of the story? Use DHL for parcel delivery. DHL has a lock on international shipments in this country. Their stuff always seems to fly through customs and gets delivered on time. DHL is a subsidiary of the German post office and is the #1 international shipper in Europe. They have customs magic. UPS and Fedex just suck here.

Also the international postal service seems reliable (sort of) albeit slow. And indeed, sending cash through the mail is something you should avoid in the future Shame on you
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More of an idiot...not brave! And it was a lot too.
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krasatulya
VIP


Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

surfguy wrote:
So frustraighting when all I wanted to do was send a nice Birth Day Gift


That is definitely disappointing, and annoying that they can charge such outrageous fees upon pickup!

My husband rarely sends anything home to Russia because his family rarely receives the goods. He did, however, recently send some paint supplies to an artist friend back home that were received in a rather timely manner. I thought things might be looking up, but not from your stories.
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

DHL is usually more reliable than FedEx or UPS as they have a more established company here in Russia.

If there are delays it is most likely to be because of customs.
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mediashark wrote:
DHL is usually more reliable than FedEx or UPS as they have a more established company here in Russia.

If there are delays it is most likely to be because of customs.


It's the opposite in the USA. Here, UPS and FedEx are the most reliable companies to ship anything anywhere.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just opened an account with DHL and they too said they were having problems with customs. But they are cheaper to use than FED EX. Which is good. Russian Customs is where I think the problems are. I will try DHL next time.
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