I posted two packages to two different addresses on the 27th of Aug by surface mail from Alberta to Scotland and neither have been received yet? Is this the norm to take so long?

Canada Post say 4-6 weeks on their website.

The delay might have nothing to do with the mail service (in either country) because the packages will have to clear customs which could be the cause of the delay.

There is of course a common denominator between both Canada Post and Royal Mail going from not very good at times to quite awful more often than ever before:

Canada Post once had Moya Greene running the show who caused no end of upheaval with her 'efficiencies'and 'modernisation' programme. Popular buzzwords spun by corporate supremos who claim it will make a company more efficient and give better service to Joe Public - What it really means is cutbacks which mean a lousier service to the public.

Royal Mail has gone through much upheaval in recent years with many of the above mentioned "efficiencies" and "modernisation" programmes, not to mention the highly controversial privatisation where the family silver was flogged to the institutions for pennies. The Royal Mail service is at breaking point in places due to cuts - Must keep the shareholders sweet.

Oh yes - The Person at the head of Royal Mail? One time Timmies supervisor, Moya Greene!

Anyway, in regards to the OP's packages: I hope they arrive soon. Next time it may be worth paying extra to have any packages tracked?

Swings and roundabouts both to / from UK. I've have a letter from Canada to the UK take two months to get there, and conversely a package take less than a week. Also had express mail take longer than regular mail as well.

From UK to Canada, similar things. I've had one package take a month or so, finally turning up with a sticker mentioning it was accidentally re-routed to Australia! Also had a letter turn up within a week, only to find it damaged and one of the items within it missing, but the accompanying photo perfectly fine. Little birdy has alleged it's due to a bit of thievery going on in a south east bast sorting office.

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Just a note to say my brother posted me two parcels from the UK in February. One arrived in May and one never arrived. My brother hadn't tracked it...lesson learned. Track all parcels! He couldn't claim compensation as he couldn't remember what was in the missing one. Lovely Next clothing was some of it ...boo hoo

Last November I mailed a parcel to the UK and it took 18 weeks via surface mail haha

Have you checked out Next Ca? Same clothes but delivered straight from store.

Not the whole range though Tiry

Yeah I knew about this site but it is still cheaper to have them from the UK, that's if they had arrived! They do say no shipping and taxes on the Canadian site but then it's just hidden in their overinflated clothing prices!

No, I did notice that, still better than nothing. I still have no clue where to buy clothes from. Maternity wear has saved me from this experience though. I hadn't really noticed about the prices...surely they must work out roughly the same?

Ive never sent anything surface mail, but I did post something airmail on May 29th that arrived in Scotland 3 days ago! It was a birthday present as well, it was a bit late!

Just had notification they have both been received, 7 weeks it took lol

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