Chile Forum

Certified letters in the states work the same way I believe. You receive a notification in your box and you sign for it.

Hmmmm.... how I would love to copy many of the comments regarding the bad mail service in Chile. As a U.S. Postal Service employee, I can gloat about how good 'we' move the mail. In spite of the horror stories many americans may have about our 'snail mail' and how bad the service is. I have mailed packages to Santiago from the U.S. and it has taken no fewer than 15 days each time. I guess it's sort of a thing to keep in mind when complaining about our US postal service, in stark comparison to what I have read here.

PaChileVoy wrote:...I guess it's sort of a thing to keep in mind when complaining about our US postal service, in stark comparison to what I have read here.

You´ll never hear any complaints about the USPS from me! Best mail service in the world. Chile on the other hand is still in the 18th century, I actually had better mail service living in Mexico.

Lets not forget the Customs holding packages hostage in Santiago until I pay a ransom to them even though said package has my name and address in Arica on it, that is always "fun". Then there was that one package that I never received in Chile and the sender swore up and down it was mailed to me. The Correo is up on me about $1,300USD. Dont get me started on this I will go psychotic real quick.

I get so many damaged packages from my local postal guy on the bike, that he is now really proud and tells me in broken English, "look not damaged". He has gotten so use to them being damaged, that he has smartened up and refused to deliver them from the post office so as not get his name on the damage reports I believe. Instead he tells me I have to go down and claim them at the office, so he does not get caught in the middle.

zulu789 wrote:Yes, you have to pay for certain mail delivered to you,The mailman will keep an accurate acount of how much money you owe to him,a couple pieces of mail may go "on credit" , but after a while you may experience "lack" of mailing.....

These is establish by a Government Decree (Decreto del Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones, de octubre de 2004), and the cost is $CL 30 for every piece of mail.

It all makes sense now...

mlightheart wrote:Certified letters in the states work the same way I believe. You receive a notification in your box and you sign for it.

That's true.

PaChileVoy wrote:. . . . As a U.S. Postal Service employee, I can gloat about how [well] . . . 'we' move the mail. In spite of the horror stories many americans may have about our 'snail mail' and how bad the service is. . . .

Many of those complaints may be based on the contrast between present-day service and service years ago (mail was delivered twice a day in cities a century ago, and I'm old enough to remember that cross-city and cross-country deliveries often were faster before implementation of the once-notorious Zone Improvement Plan). Or they may be based on a lack of improvement commensurate with increases in charges to the customer. Or, of course, it may just be human nature to complain . . . .

PaChileVoy wrote:Hmmmm.... how I would love to copy many of the comments regarding the bad mail service in Chile. As a U.S. Postal Service employee, I can gloat about how good 'we' move the mail. In spite of the horror stories many americans may have about our 'snail mail' and how bad the service is. I have mailed packages to Santiago from the U.S. and it has taken no fewer than 15 days each time. I guess it's sort of a thing to keep in mind when complaining about our US postal service, in stark comparison to what I have read here.

I agree. Despite the occasional "glitches" that we love to complain about, the U.S. post office does an excellent job. Mail gets delivered quickly, at no charge, and (usually) with a smile.

When I go back to the US this fall, I promise that I will kiss the first Mail Carrier I see, and post a picture here! Some "socialized" programs really work well! Hey, go buy those eternity stamps while you can!

Vicki

Vicki and Greg Lansen wrote:When I go back to the US this fall, I promise that I will kiss the first Mail Carrier I see, and post a picture here! Some "socialized" programs really work well! Hey, go buy those eternity stamps while you can!

Vicki

About the only gov't program I can't complain about...oh wait, they lose how may billion a quarter? The mail does get to us quick though.

Sorry to revive this thread, but I had a question about packages mailed from the US to Chile. Do I even dare try and have packages of goods mailed to me? I'm thinking that I could mail shoes and Clothing that I can't get in Chile. Can you insure the package internationally? I'll have no real reason to return to the US so it'd make more sense for me to even pay air freight than fly up just to go shopping.

But the USPS claim they are a "private" corporation?? And service continues to decline and rates continue to increase despite it all.

Regarding the question, your ultimate problem will be with Chile Aduanas. Important points:

(1) Always better to have something shipped to you from a residential address appearing to be a family-like care package than from a business.
(2) If no choice and sent from a business address, have that businessperson classify the shipment as a "gift" with maybe an enclosed letter to you with evidence of "familiarity."
(3) If 1 or 2 can't be done, it may slip through or not. The less inside the box and the less the dollar declaration, the more likely it will slip through without a hold.

Bottomline, for clothes, personal care type items, smaller tools, parts, etc., have someone repackage and forward to you from a residential address or residential-like address in the States.