LETTER: Not impressed with postal options

I write regarding your editorial of Friday, Nov. 29 (“When you don’t buy local.”)

Myself and my wife have been sending “requested-type” Christmas gifts to family in Edmonton, and to others near Manila in the Philippines. The latest two — identical about nine by 12 inch business-type envelopes — went out the same day, dated Nov. 20, at the Kenmount Road Canada Post branch, with almost identical contents (family photos, notes, etc.) Air mail to the Philippines (international letter mail) cost $10.90, with three weeks to reach the addressee. To get to Edmonton, the stamp was $1.90 (regular mail, 16 to 18-day delivery, the counter clerks says. I say, “Can I send this to Edmonton by air mail?” She replies, “Sorry sir, we have no air mail in Canada.”

How much money is Canada Post losing? Our neighbour recently sent home-baked goodies plus four loaves of Manna Bread to relatives in Edmonton by Canada Post as a Christmas gift; get it out early, they say. Well, it took 18 days to get there. She told us everything in the package (a Canada post Box measuring 12 by 15.75 by 8.5 inches) was mouldy on arrival, due to the lack of air mail available through Canada Post. I told her we use UPS on Hamlyn Road in St. John’s. It arrives in Edmonton usually within 36 hours, with the contents still very fresh. No damage. It costs a bit more — hand-delivered — but everyone was happy.

As of Nov. 29, the $1.90 envelope mentioned still had not arrived in Edmonton. Several years ago, we had almost identical troubles with mail between St. John’s and relatives in the London, U.K. area. Sometimes delivery would take two months each way. A friend in the post office told us all our mail/parcels, etc., went through Montreal somewhere, like the Dieppe, N.B. mail limbo we hear about.

That’s my rant for today.

Jim Campbell

St. John’s