Delivery (nondelivery) rant ahead! ETA: NEW rant!! - YouLookFab Forum

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Delivery (nondelivery) rant ahead! ETA: NEW rant!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So frustrated. The holiday clothes that I ordered back in November still haven't arrived.

They weren't here last weekend. I had hoped to wear them for an appearance and then a dinner out. I'd also hoped to wear them the following night to a theatre outing with friends and all our kids.

And they're still not here. This weekend I'm going to the one holiday party we've been invited to -- but I don't have my new things.

ARGHHHHH!!! In this case it must be customs. They've just been "noted" at Canada Post - not even delivered there. They are sitting in the Fifty-One vast holding area. For all I know they won't even arrive in time for New Years.

ETA: So this afternoon I got my Gap order. Sort of. I had ordered two sizes of THE YLF sweater plus one other item. I got ONE sweater - and was charged for the entire order!!!

Okay, it is Christmas time. Deep breath. Have called Customer Service to get it taken off my bill....now I need some xmas cheer!

Shopping

39 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Raisin

Veteran

Ughhh.....I hate ordering from the states for this reason. You never know how long they will stay in customs.....it s such a crap shoot. Sometimes it's a few days or a few weeks! You know what I've noticed though? Anything I've ordered from overseas gets here within 10 days. You would think we could be a lot quicker through customs from the US. Sorry you're still waiting, I hope it arrives soon!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

That is so frustrating. I remember once waiting for like 3 months to receive a necklace I ordered from an Etsy store in Canada. She had to go to the post and track it some way (she said) to get it moving. Here's hoping that they arrive very soon!

Mochi

Veteran

Gawd, that sucks. It's almost like what's the point after the holidays? Sigh.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh no Suz!!! I had that happen once too and it took 4 weeks for my order to arrive. And then my snakeskin booties arrived in 8 days. It's like there's no rhyme or reason as to when something gets delivered and how quick Customs lets it through.

Anonymous

Totally frustrating! I'm in the U.S. and had to wait 4 weeks for a pair of eyeglasses from Brooklyn ... thought I was going to explode with frustration. I can only imagine how you feel. And you might not even get to wear them to the events for which you originally ordered them. Double argh!!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I can't even imagine how frustrating that must be. We, Americans just take things like this for granted... I order things from Ebay out of the country and they always say a possible 4 week delivery, but I usually get them earlier..

Hope you enjoy your events!

Anonymous

Oh Customs is the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE sometimes. I have had stuff languish there for eons.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I know!! And it makes no sense. The other stuff I ordered at the exact same TIME got here within a few days!!!! It just WOULD be those brocade jeans in the final order, right? GRRRRR.

Mochi, you are right. That was altogether too measured and Canadian a rant. Maybe I should up the ante.

Mochi

Veteran

(took my little joke out--thought it was lame) but anyway, you have every right to rant!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Ugh, that is so disappointing!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Customs are a pain! It is so frustrating, Suz. <offering my shoulder to cry on>
You really should consider ordering things to hold on the border for you. it is not a long drive from Kingston, right? Then you would be more in charge, no duties to pay and you can even return right away for free if they do not fit.

Sona

Veteran

I don't know what it is with Canada and the US. I remember one of our local postal workers even telling me " With Canada there's no idea how long it will take to really get there so don't waste your money on express shipping. It will get there when it gets there"

On the other hand- the US postal service that is brilliant and even delivers express on a Sunday is almost bankrupt.

Glory

Veteran

oh I feel your pain. Yesterday I posted about this exact issue. I ordered my sons xmas gifts and a party outfit for myself weeks ago and it has not arrived. and, the notice said MAYBE dec 24th. My one and only party is tonight, and I have to reshop for my child. Sister Rant!!!

cciele

Veteran

Boo

Gaylene

Veteran

I had a similar experience that soured me on the whole cross-border shopping experience a year ago. In my case, the package NEVER arrived. Nordstrom's was great at reversing the charge on my credit card when I phoned after the parcel still hadn't arrived after eight weeks, but it sure took the fun out of online shopping.

I've had better luck with companies who have B&M stores in Canada or who specialize in online shopping like LLBean. But intermediaries like FiftyOne make online shopping expensive, slow, and just not worth the hassle in my books.

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Yikes. That's just ridiculous. I really hope you get your items soon!

Tina.b

Veteran

I so hope your package arrives soon! I do most of my shopping online from the US so I can feel your pain. There is almost no rhyme or reason as to why the occasional package gets held up. Though I do have my go to retailers now after a lot of trial and error. My favourite words are free expedited shipping to Canada, lol!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Tina, TELL me which retailers do this and I will be on them in a flash. Honestly!! It's not worth the stress otherwise. Gaylene is right.

Sarah A

Veteran

So frustrating! Sending you some Christmas cheer!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Gaylene is quite right - it's not the retailer per se - it's the shipping company. And unfortunately that's almost always FiftyOne, who is notoriously overpriced and slow.

Sending you good cheer Suz and hopes for your items to suddenly arrive on your doorstep!

Gaylene

Veteran

Suz, I've never had a problem with online shopping with Banana Republic/Gap, J. Crew, and LLBean. It does take a 8-10 business days usually for the parcel to arrive, although I had one BR parcel in my hands in 4 days--totally shocking me! Returns have been easy as well, although usually I do have to pay shipping costs. These are my go-to online retailers.

But Shannon is dead on when she says that shipping companies like FiftyOne can be a nightmare with their added costs and slow "service?". And don't get me started about the nightmare of trying to contact someone at FiftyOne if your parcel vanishes... Eight weeks later, I was just getting boiler-plate messages that my parcel was "in transit". It's still "in transit" two years later!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Gaylene...I am crossing fingers for that parcel of mine. I tracked it as far as Canada Post. They have "noted" it, whatever that means. They still don't have it in their possession. Harumph.

As for Gap...I've never had a problem with them or their sister sites before, either. This is the first one. And I guess everyone is entitled to a mistake at this time of year. They took the other items off my bill (supposedly) immediately. So all I need to to is follow up with my credit card statement to make sure they really did that. All in all not the worst result. I am very grateful they exist here and we can shop from there because they're certainly our best options!

So sorry to hear about your nightmare experience. That is beyond frustrating.

Ditto to you, Glory!!

Ginkgo

Veteran

The only solution to your online shopping problem is to join the next NYC YLF meet-up (and leave the family at home). Then you can get some serious work done!

catgirl

Veteran

Sending a hug, Suz. We ordered an automatic misting system for our gecko so we could go away for the weekend on New Year. It's still not here 5 weeks later!

Mochi

Veteran

Ginkgo is so right. Plus I really must meet you for realz as soon as possible. We're meeting up first weekend in February

Mochi

Veteran

"Automatic misting system for our gecko"

I believe this is a first for me hearing of this.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You're in the clear Suz - as soon as it's noted by Canada Post that means it has left the responsibility of FiftyOne and is now tracked by Canada Post. The problem is when you've received your notification of shipment from FiftyOne but nothing noted by Canada Post - that's when your parcel has gone into some sort of vortex...

cobaltblue

Veteran

What a pain! If things turn out (as they may) that we move to Toronto next year, I'm definitely getting some sort of post office box across the border!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Becky - that would be amazing if you came up to Canada! We could meet in person!

Shannon, that is GREAT news. I may not have them in time for tomorrow's party, but I will get them (hopefully) in time for New Year's and maybe even Christmas....

Mochi, Gingko - I would really LOVE to come to the New York meetup. And it might be arranged. The real issue is cost of accommodation there....if you know of any not-too-pricey options, please let me know!

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