A couple years ago I spent as much in shipping as was the agreed upon ‘limit’ because I was sending out-of-country. 

Some online stores can ship at lessor rates globally than we can as individuals and some offer free shipping as well with the store being responsible for delivery so I’ve started using these stores (i.e. Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk since I have accounts with both by accident).  I’ve been able to send what I think are nice gifts even though I do admit I spent a little bit more than the limit.  I was able to track everything. 

Well I can state with confidence that my target/giftee has received their parcel.  Amazingly it actually made it on time.

My Secret Santa JUST arrived!  It’s beautiful!!! Thank you!!!  Spectacle chain jewelry!

Ooooh… Ahhhhh…

Very nice!

Well it’s almost the end of January and I still haven’t seen anything.  I’m not sure where it got held up but it’s likely in the system somewhere.  This is the second time I’ve tried this and haven’t received anything so I think I’ll pass on the next one. 

Awww… Sorry to hear that.

I think we need to know at this point who gray’s secret santa was then and maybe also the last time so we might ascertain just what has been happening.

Incidentally, among our mail we found Bebe’s magnetic calendar for this year!!!  Thank YOU!!!

gray - 28 January 2012 11:07 AM

Well it’s almost the end of January and I still haven’t seen anything.  I’m not sure where it got held up but it’s likely in the system somewhere.  This is the second time I’ve tried this and haven’t received anything so I think I’ll pass on the next one. 

What I sent to Smerk for Christmas didn’t get there until just a little while ago, while I’ve also sent stuff to Boo that never arrived.  There’s no telling what goes on with international shipping sometimes.

I’ve had the elves contact me earlier in the week saying they were ready to send out Nettie’s and my parcels.

Acci, you’ve also sent me stuff that’s never arrived, or has ended up returned to you over the years.

I wonder whether it’d be worth paying the extra for parcel tracking?

I just sent stuff to Nettie via Priority mail (it cost a bit extra $45US for a 3lb package) but it got there very quickly. My room mate just sent stuff to Ireland yesterday via first class mail (the other option to have tracked) and it was about half the cost $22 for a 2.5lb package). I did not use tracking and neither did she. I do know that tracking is inexpensive and worth the cost if you are concerned there are issues about the arrival of the package.

There may be other methods to assure arrival:

1.  Purchase from an online store such as Amazon, But.com etc. and have the item shipped directly from the source (typically tracking is automatically supplied)

2.  Purchase from a store located where the recipient lives

3.  Shop early before the actual holiday rush causes conflicts

When an item doesn’t reach the recipient within a prescribed period, at the VERY least it’s time to let that person know who you are, when you shipped etc. so that maybe, just maybe they can figure out what happened at their end. 

I know we have a limit of $20 but I also know that I, myself, have doubled that amount in just the purchase and shipping.  Just shipping to my own sister who lives just 4 States away cost me $19 for the same item I can ship overseas at the same cost or a couple dollars more because she lives in an extreme rural area.  That alone is the limit we’ve set. 

If I had gone to that expense (I usually spend $35-$40 each time) each time we’ve done this and didn’t receive anything either time, I too would drop out.  The only way gray can know what happened is by knowing who sent each time so he can get a better handle on which shipping systems didn’t work and maybe even why (sometimes something is sent that will not clear customs but the sender may not know what or why it didn’t if there is always a dead end of silence)