A recent experience with postal tracking has got me to thinking. Who do tracking numbers protect and from whom?
In the past 4 months, I have received about 30 packages from China and 2 refunds for batteries that ended up in Asian postal limbo (one without asking & the other past Paypal time limit). All good experiences with Chinese sellers, only 3 or 4 taking more than the expected 15-25 days to receive.
I placed an order for 3 pocket knives with Fasttech on Sept 1, tracking not found until Malaysia Post Sept 8, arrived west coast Canada Sept 12, to Canada Customs Sept 14, cleared Canada Customs Sept 19, arrived my city Montreal Sept 23 - sent to Undeliverable Mail, arrived Toronto Undeliverable Mail Office Sept 29.
First I told my local Postman making another China package delivery Sept 24 giving him my Tracking no and info hoping to catch it in Montreal Undeliverable Mail. He passed info to his supervisor. Very friendly although my French is poor as was his English.
I now tried to contact Canada Post on the internet to tell them about my lost package but I cannot create a ticket with them, they will not give me an email address but will correspond only via their twitter account —@canadapostcares—. I send them several twitters requesting an email address, sending attachment photos of addressed package from my Fasttech account along with pictures of the items in the package. I told them Fasttech always includes packing slip with recipient address in package. I offer to email a copy of my shipment notice with tracking number and detail of package items. They tell me that only the sender can initiate an investigation. So I have opened a ticket with Fasttech for them to initiate the investigation with Canada Post. I suspect that Canada Customs tore the address label and lost the packing slip making the package undeliverable? But it did get sent 2000 miles from BC Customs to Montreal?
Previously I used to think that tracking numbers were to protect the customer. I now realize that tracking numbers are to protect the seller from the local Customs/Postal service in your own country. If there is no tracking then the seller is responsible if your local postal service pilfers. The seller gives free tracking above a specified value because then once a package reaches your local postal system, then the local Post are responsible in case of non-delivery.
I have had untracked packages fromChina that never arrived. I now suspect they were pilfered by my country’s customs/postal workers. I suspect my undelivered package has been partially pilfered and sent to Undeliverable Mail Office in hopes that I would forget about it. This is the 2nd time I have had to ask China seller to initiate action in my country’s postal service.
I have the patience to deal with long delivery times to realize savings & value from Chinese sellers. I am very cautious in checking the reputation of Chinese sellers, more on how much they value their own reputation than on the hot-headed rants of impatient buyers who failed to do due diligence. I have not been disappointed in China seller service meeting expectation.
My suspicion is that customs/postal workers in all countries think that China is stealing jobs from their country and do not feel the same consistent moral obligation towards packages from China as to packages from their own country. It’s very disappointing. When you name yourself —@canadapostcares— I was expecting more willingness to help or at least look at the info I could provide to prove that the package was coming to me. I will let you know how it goes over the next week or more.
What are your thoughts on who tracking numbers protect. Have you had similar experiences with your country’s handing of packages from China?