Sending something by US Postal Service

negrecita2003 · #1 01-15-2004, 12:09 PM

I have a question:

If I was to send a regular envelope by U.S. Postal Service to the Dominican Republic, would it get there? I have heard that when sending something to DR, it never gets there. The letter does not have any value and it would be sent to a major Hotel in Boca Chica.

Porfio_Rubirosa · #2 01-15-2004, 12:47 PM

No. The Dominican postal service is now completely nonfunctioning. Use a courier.

Oche · #3 01-15-2004, 12:47 PM

It used to be as you heard, mail never or rarely ever got through, but from a few years ago, efficiency has been excellent if you compare it with how it used to be. However i'd not send any valuables through it.

Chirimoya · #4 01-15-2004, 01:02 PM

If it obviously of no value, like a postcard or an aerogramme (how quaint that sounds) it might just reach the recipient. Although I have a private mailing (POBI) address some of my dopier friends still sent their Christmas cards to my street address, and guess what, some even got here!

The postman and his skills are another matter. Like all the houses in our residencial, we have a mailbox by the gate, but he - like most private messengers - prefers to leave the letters on the drive, especially on a rainy day.

Chiri

ricktoronto · #5 01-15-2004, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by negrecita2003
I have a question:

If I was to send a regular envelope by U.S. Postal Service to the Dominican Republic, would it get there? I have heard that when sending something to DR, it never gets there. The letter does not have any value and it would be sent to a major Hotel in Boca Chica.

It will NOT arrive, ever, never, not in a billion years.

If its a letter fax it to the hotel for the guest's attention. As long as it isn't a Dear John letter or something. No postal service to speak of exists and you are looking at around $30 for a FedEx envelope (which WILL get there).

Chris_NJ · #6 01-15-2004, 02:22 PM

Last Christmas I sent two envelopes to my girlfriend - 1 (a Christmas card) never reached her. After a month she was able to track down the second 1 (a small bottle of vitamins) at the post office.

On the other hand, a fedex envelope (about $30) arrived at the house in like 2 days which I found pretty impressive.

Does anyone know of the success ratio and prices these days of something being mailed back here from DR? In 2002, I was 3 for 3 with post cards. Even though it took 1 month a stamp was only 12 pesos.

andy a · #7 01-15-2004, 02:22 PM

About 3 years ago I sent a US foreign postal money order for $100 as a test case to the address of a house in a good neighborhood.

It made it in about a week, and the money was collected.

I never found out what exchange rate was obtained, but it cost me less than $5 overhead total (excluding exchange rate).

marliejaneca · #8 01-16-2004, 11:41 AM

When I first moved to Puerto Plata, of course, I had not a clue how to get mail delivered to me from Canada. Upon suggestion from my employer, and after learning that my mother had sent me a letter the month before, I went to the Post Office and explained my situation. What happened next still makes me smile. I was sent into the sorting area and myself and two Dominican ladies sat there and went through all the mail until we found my letter, plus a couple more for me from friends and also some mail sent to Canadian co-workers of mine that just happened to be sitting in the back room of the POP post office as well !!!
So, every couple of weeks from that point on, me and the ladies would sit in the sorting office and go through the mail as they would giggle away thinking (I'm sure) crazy gringa!
Aah... the good old days !
Marlie

Hillbilly · #9 01-16-2004, 06:01 PM

I think it is called International Express Mail that does get through very well....That would be the cheapest.

Registered Mail also gets through.

Chris in NJ: Tell your girl maggie to open an account in Business Mail there in POP. You mail whatever to Miami, and she gets it in POP. Safe and sure. She pays by weight so don't send her batteries for her inverter!! A letter is about RD$10 or RD$15 pesos and packages by weight, @$2.50 or $3.00 a pound.

HB

dale7 · #10 01-17-2004, 01:24 AM

I have sent photos, letters by USPS global(international) priority mail and I am 3 for 4 now. All arrived in 2-4 weeks. One letter was lost. Now I am perfect with FedEx, used that several times now sending valuables(clothes, gifts, etc) and generally receive within 4-5 days of my sending. So if it is valuable and/or must get there, best choice is to use FedEx, that's just my opinion.
dale7(Howard)