If courier rates weren't so high...
Nov. 22nd, 2013 09:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonbat2006Last September, I mailed a small package to a friend in the Philippines. Total value was under $15: a plushie that fit in a small bubble mailer (5x8? 6x10? Smaller than a sheet of 8 1/2x11 paper, anyway) a couple of sticker sheets and a bookmark. Since the cheapest mailing option that would get me a tracking number was $75.00—which neither of us could afford, and since she wasn't in a hurry, I sent it regular mail. They quoted me 4–6 weeks delivery. Fine. Well, she got it yesterday. Nearly a month later than anticipated.
I'm glad. The plushie was handcrafted and something she'd bought online from a Toronto-based hobbyist (which is why she asked if she could have it sent to me in the first place: the seller would have shipped the merchandise courier at my friend's expense, and she really didn't have that kind of money to spend on a $7.50 doll.) The other stuff was convention swag I got at Fan Expo in August. In other words, NOT easily replaceable. Wish I knew where the package has been all this time. I don't think the recent typhoon was much of a factor, given when it was mailed. (And my friend's mailing address was in La Union, outside the devastation zone.)
I'd like to say that this is a lesson well-learned and from now on, I'll only courier. The truth is, I still can't afford the cost, neither can she, and if I ever need to send her anything in future, I'll likely still send it regular mail and hope for the best.
I'm glad. The plushie was handcrafted and something she'd bought online from a Toronto-based hobbyist (which is why she asked if she could have it sent to me in the first place: the seller would have shipped the merchandise courier at my friend's expense, and she really didn't have that kind of money to spend on a $7.50 doll.) The other stuff was convention swag I got at Fan Expo in August. In other words, NOT easily replaceable. Wish I knew where the package has been all this time. I don't think the recent typhoon was much of a factor, given when it was mailed. (And my friend's mailing address was in La Union, outside the devastation zone.)
I'd like to say that this is a lesson well-learned and from now on, I'll only courier. The truth is, I still can't afford the cost, neither can she, and if I ever need to send her anything in future, I'll likely still send it regular mail and hope for the best.
