Here is something for you all to think about. Thanks to an Alert reader out there that sent this to me.
Canada Post……………
“ I learned something over Christmas that I feel compelled to share with you. This won’t change your life dramatically or help you survive the apocalypse but it will save you some $$$.
I recently mailed two identical packages via Canada Post one week apart. One would think that the postage should be exactly the same…well, let me tell you…
Pkg # 1 was mailed from an actual Canada Post postal outlet. Postage came to $11.74. Since I knew a second identical package would be mailed in about a week’s time, I bought sufficient postage for the second pkg while I was there.
When it came time to mail Pkg #2 I happened to be closer to a franchised postal outlet in a nearby retail shopping mail so I planned to drop pkg #2 off at the franchised CP outlet. When I handed the pkg to the clerk to be put in the outbound mail bag, I was informed that I did not have sufficient postage attached. The clerk proceeded to inform me that I needed to purchase and additional $6 worth of stamps if I planned to have “them” submit my pkg to Canada Post for delivery. After explaining how I knew exactly what the postage should be, the clerk offered some lame excuse that CP is unionized and they can say and do anything with impunity and if I wished to mail that pkg at that outlet, I needed to purchase more stamps.
I told the clerk they were out to lunch and took back my package and headed to the “real” CPÂ outlet to raise hell…Much to my surprise, the CPÂ employee took my package, weighed it and tossed it in the mail bag ready for transport to the sorting facility to be sent on its way. I was informed the amount of postage attached was sufficient and that was that.
The Truth comes out:
Still perplexed by what I was told by the franchised location, I fired off an email to CPÂ for clarification. The reply I received is reprinted below.
The summary: Real CPÂ outlets charge postage for packages at the published Canada Post rates. Franchise locations can charge whatever they like. If you regularly mail packages at franchise locations you are probably paying too much. Franchise locations are found in shopping malls, drug stores and private businesses everywhere. From now on, all of my mailing will be done from a real Canada Post location.
Thank you for your message to Canada Post.
A postal outlet is not a federal government agency and is not owned or managed by Canada Post. For example if the postal outlet is within grocery store or pharmacy it would follow the stores working hours, therefore if the store must be closed, so will the postal outlet inside.
Only Canada Post Depots and Corporate Post Offices are obligated to follow the price of stamps and postal products that are legislated by Canada Post. Any commercial and private establishment may charge extra fees as a convenience to their customers. It is at their discretion to apply additional service fees to products that they sell. We suggest visiting a Corporate Post Office in order to avoid paying additional service charges that corner stores or other establishment may implement on their products.
Regards,
Veronika Strofski
Customer Service “
Something to think about when you need to send Parcels
Remember to Support Our Troops
Until Next Time
I remain
The Cranky Old Bastard
I found your blog post while searching Google. Very relevant especially as this is not an issue which a lot of peaople know that well…
It’s not bad enough Canada Post screws us over but now we get from both ends