Coronavirus impacting international mail services

drseg · Post by **drseg** » 08 Apr 2020 02:45

The situation in Barbados:

"The Barbados Postal Service has advised that the Post Office will not be accepting mail for international destinations, as this service will be temporarily suspended.

This is due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has resulted in a reduction and cancellation of flights, thereby reducing the transportation capacity for international mail.

However, incoming international mail, as well as mail posted locally will continue to be delivered."

Source:
https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/suspension-of-acceptance-of- ... I1HMpOXuz0

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 09 Apr 2020 10:42

Australia Post, 7 April 2020

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 09 Apr 2020 12:09

https://auspost.com.au/about-us/news-media/important-updates ... ernational

Please note Australia Post will suspend its “Economy Air” international delivery service for parcels to all countries effective 3 April and until further notice.

As someone who mails more stuff overseas than most/all here, this one bites.

It means to ANYWHERE a stock-book of stamps etc or a catalogue must now go full 1st Class air. Like $100 for a large stockbook or SG catalogue etc. ''Economy air'' was essentially airmail, at a heavily reduced rate and I used it all the time.

Glen

starling · Post by **starling** » 09 Apr 2020 23:23

The biggest change to today's (9th April) Australia Post update is that Canada now has the dreaded "4" next to it. No more mail from Canada to Australia.

I can't see any new European countries which have gone to Defcon 4.

Scott

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 09 Apr 2020 23:57

Scott -- yes foreshadowed here days back -

Global Administrator wrote:The Australia High Commission in Canada warned (below) that the last direct flight Canada-Australia ceased yesterday.

Sent A Mark a letter with a $90 KGV cover during the week, so hope it left before these bans!

Took in sendings to Spain and China today, both worth very many $100s apiece.

Staff told me NEITHER was accepting any kind of Extra Cover insurance sendings, or any signature on delivery or Registered service to EITHER country.

Well known and trusted clients, so needed to trust luck, used the free green CN22 labels, (that oddly are trackable in some countries) and declare for modest sums, so they do not get stolen by PO staff.

Sign of the times sadly. These will be OK I am sure, but for ebay sellers mailing to unknown buyers, they have lost their money before they even leave the POs!

Post by **gavin-h** » 11 Apr 2020 22:21

Germany to UK seems to be working fine at the moment - received an ebay item this morning four days after posting.

That's the item itself, not the envelope it arrived in (which was undistinguished in every way!)

MJ's pet · Post by **MJ's pet** » 13 Apr 2020 20:01

No changes yet to Australia Post's listing, the 9th April is still up. Interesting to see which restrictions start to be wound back and when.

Ricardsolan · Post by **Ricardsolan** » 15 Apr 2020 09:22

The post in Spain works with this situation. This is the message on the spanish post (correos) web:

Correos has implemented new organizational measures and action protocols in agreement with the Company's union organizations.

After the publication of Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, declaring the state of alarm for the management of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19, the public company works to guarantee the provision of the Service Universal Postal as ordered.

Only strictly essential personnel will be operational to provide the public service, the only service to be developed.

The Post offices will open from 09:30 to 12:30, keeping all the protocols dictated by the health authorities.

Global Administrator · Post by **Global Administrator** » 17 Apr 2020 12:21

Domestic interstate parcels are a NIGHTMARE the past fortnight. I saw a figure of 3000 TONS of mail backlogged at AP.

https://auspost.com.au/about-us/news-media/important-updates ... herImpacts

Lakatoi 4 · Post by **Lakatoi 4** » 17 Apr 2020 22:21

Just received a letter from NZ posted on 20 March. Almost a month to travel airmail across the ditch.

Vict0riann · Post by **Vict0riann** » 18 Apr 2020 10:41

I ordered some stamps from Swan Philatelics a while ago. I was told they were mailed on April 11, and I tracked the package today. In 6 days, it has gone from Missouri to Chicago! It will probably be held up at the border.... maybe I'll get it next month? Do you suppose it's going by bus?

AMark · Post by **AMark** » 24 Apr 2020 07:51

Latest news from Canada Post regarding domestic mail deliveries.

beerwagen · Post by **beerwagen** » 24 Apr 2020 11:01

My latest experience is that it takes at least three weeks for a letter from UK to USA. Can someone in USA confirm this?

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 24 Apr 2020 12:29

I know I've had some "normal" delivery times from US/Canada to Wales

Postmarked 30th March from Massachusetts arrived 23rd April
Postmarked 31st March from Edmonton in Canada arrived 20th April
Postmarked 2nd April from Tennessee arrived 23rd April
Written 2nd April from Ontario arrived 22nd April
Written 3rd April from Alabama arrived 20th April
Postmarked 4th April from Regina arrived 14th April
Postmarked 4th April from California arrived 15th April
Postmarked 4th April from New Mexico arrived 16th April
Postmarked 6th April from Virginia arrived 14th April
Postmarked 7th April from Colorado arrived 20th April
Written 9th April from BC arrived 20th April
Postmarked 11th April from Virginia arrived 22nd.
Postmarked 13th April from Wisconsin arrived 20th April
Postmarked 14th April from Philadelphia arrived 21st April

Vict0riann · Post by **Vict0riann** » 25 Apr 2020 03:43

Yay. My package is in town. Now to see when it is delivered!

Ordered April 8. Mailed in Missouri April 11. In Chicago April 17. Now: "Your item has arrived at the delivering post office in CANADA at 8:42 am on April 24, 2020." I don't imagine it will be delivered today, but maybe Monday....

HalfpennyYellow · Post by **HalfpennyYellow** » 27 Apr 2020 20:56

At the moment, are members in Europe receiving any mail at all from North America?

I had made a number of eBay purchases from the USA just before or around the time that the travel restrictions began, and I still haven't received items which were posted between 11 March and 2 April. I did however receive a lot from Brazil, but that had been sent in early/mid-March before the restrictions.

On the other hand, most mail from Europe itself seems to arrive without any problems. I have received mail from the UK, Germany and Belgium with no or only slight delays. However, I still haven't received some items purchased from Serbia on 12 March.

22028 · Post by **22028** » 27 Apr 2020 23:25

I just received an ebay item mailed from Canada, purchased on 18 April and marked shipped on the 22. April..., not bad...

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 28 Apr 2020 04:37

HalfpennyYellow wrote:At the moment, are members in Europe receiving any mail at all from North America?

I had made a number of eBay purchases from the USA just before or around the time that the travel restrictions began, and I still haven't received items which were posted between 11 March and 2 April. I did however receive a lot from Brazil, but that had been sent in early/mid-March before the restrictions.

On the other hand, most mail from Europe itself seems to arrive without any problems. I have received mail from the UK, Germany and Belgium with no or only slight delays. However, I still haven't received some items purchased from Serbia on 12 March.

Yes, still getting mail from US and Canada. See my previous post.

Today I received, postmarked 18th April from GA/US, and postmarked 30th March from Texas (also postmarked 26th April by RM, to celebrate that captain's fundraising efforts for his 100th birthday).

Ricardsolan · Post by **Ricardsolan** » 30 Apr 2020 07:38

News from Spain
Post service works at 30%.
Last week Spain post service works at 10%. All goes better here.
Regards

librarianc · Post by **librarianc** » 30 Apr 2020 08:15

Received 2 parcels from OZ this week, dated February.

I guess they were mailed before the stuff hit the fan

John A

nota bene · Post by **nota bene** » 30 Apr 2020 18:34

There are still registered letters from Hong Kong to Sweden and UK that I posted before service suspension on March 27 that have not yet arrived. (Posted March 21 and March 24 respectively)

I am currently HK based, and sending stuff within Asia is mostly still available by airmail/registered airmail. A few destinations are EMS express mail only (Japan being a notable one, South Korea was for a while). However many destinations in Europe and Americas are now SURFACE MAIL only. Hence my expected delivery time for eBay sales of cheaper items is 30-70 days by sea to US/Canada/most of EU.

Of course, any more expensive items I ship by Fedex or UPS as those are still working at somewhat normal speed.

aerogi · Post by **aerogi** » 30 Apr 2020 19:13

Since the start of the crisis we cannot send any letters or parcels from Belgium to outside Europe.

Normal priority letters within Europe are received as usual regarding timing, but registered letters takes an awful lot of time. It took 1 month to send a registered letter to France, and it took nearly 1,5 month for a registered letter to arrive to Croatia.

22028 · Post by **22028** » 30 Apr 2020 19:54

Ricardsolan wrote:News from Spain
Post service works at 30%.
Last week Spain post service works at 10%. All goes better here.
Regards

Two days ago i received a registered letter from Spain, transit time about 2 week...

mikotz · Post by **mikotz** » 30 Apr 2020 20:34

aerogi wrote:Since the start of the crisis we cannot send any letters or parcels from Belgium to outside Europe.

Normal priority letters within Europe are received as usual regarding timing, but registered letters takes an awful lot of time. It took 1 month to send a registered letter to France, and it took nearly 1,5 month for a registered letter to arrive to Croatia.

May I ask if you know the starting date that mails cannot send out of Europe from Belgium? I am expecting a mail sent on Mar. 16 from Antwerp, and just wondering if it is still in transit or should I just give up hope ...

HalfpennyYellow · Post by **HalfpennyYellow** » 01 May 2020 03:27

A small update... the item from Serbia arrived yesterday. It was a registered letter, and it took over 1½ months to arrive, but when I checked the tracking number there were no details whatsoever on where the item was after leaving Serbia in March and before arriving in Malta a few days ago. The situation seems to be similar to aerogi's registered letter from Croatia.

Still no sign of any mail from the United States.

22028 · Post by **22028** » 01 May 2020 04:29

COVID-19 CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS UPDATE FROM USPS

International Service Impact

Alternate Transportation: Air to Sea Diversion in Effect

The Postal Service will utilize sea transportation to address the issue of limited air transportation resulting from widespread flight cancellations and restrictions due to COVID-19. This option will remain in effect until sufficient air transportation capacity becomes available.

The first sea transport departed from the JFK International Service Center on April 20, 2020 and is estimated to arrive at the Rotterdam (Netherlands) port on May 7, 2020. Sea route arrival dates are not exact and may vary depending on weather related events and queuing at port of arrival. The vessel is carrying 6,036 receptacles in 5 containers weighing 32,768 kilograms. It is serving mail destined to:

• Austria • Denmark • Hungary • Poland • Sweden
• Czech • Finland • Netherlands • Spain • Switzerland

When calculating estimated delivery times, additional days required for unloading, customs clearance and road transit should be considered. The table below outlines a typical sea transit delivery cycle that begins upon arrival to the destined port:

Rotterdam Port Unloading: 1-2 Days
Rotterdam Port Custom Clearance /Clear Customs: 2 Days
Rotterdam Port Transit to Den Hague OE: 1 Day
Den Hague OE Acceptance & Sorting: 2-3 Days
Den Hague OE / Road Transit to Delivery Address: 1-4 Days

These service disruptions affect Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®), International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), and M-Bag® items.

The Postal Service is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to update customers until the situation returns to normal. Please visit our International Service Alerts page for the most up to date information:

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm

Erinmania · Post by **Erinmania** » 01 May 2020 05:47

As far as letter post from the USA,Germany and Ireland to the UK is concerned , if anything it is arriving faster than before the covid-19 outbreak.

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 01 May 2020 09:59

An airmail letter from Occussi-Ambeno New Zealand to Queensland Australia. 14 days.

RogerE · Post by **RogerE** » 01 May 2020 11:20

I've been expecting a fat envelope from NZ for ages (I don't have an
exact date, but probably four weeks ago) — no sign of it yet.

/RogerE

ToivoK · Post by **ToivoK** » 03 May 2020 04:42

Out of 15 eBay purchased from UK made from 7th to 13th of April so far 9 have arrived, including the latest purchase. One envelope which hasn't arrived is meant to be signed for.
Meanwhile Estonian inland mail arrives really fast but the postal rates are supposed to go up 40% starting from the next month

Not the best time to restart hobby...

rehautala · Post by **rehautala** » 03 May 2020 04:55

Received a letter back destined for New Zealand (from Canada).

The label states, "Temporary Suspension of Postal Services" - you may resend this letter once postal service resumes.

It does not indicate if NZ is not accepting Canadian mail or if Canada is not sending to NZ.

Anyone in NZ know if Canadian mail is no longer accepted?

AMark · Post by **AMark** » 03 May 2020 07:43

rehautala wrote:Received a letter back destined for New Zealand (from Canada).

The label states, "Temporary Suspension of Postal Services" - you may resend this letter once postal service resumes.

It does not indicate if NZ is not accepting Canadian mail or if Canada is not sending to NZ.

Anyone in NZ know if Canadian mail is no longer accepted?

Surface mail from Canada to New Zealand is still accepted, but not AirMail. Your other option was, mailing your cover as Priority Mail (Which would have been probably be very expensive?). But that is your call.

Wolfgang · Post by **Wolfgang** » 03 May 2020 07:57

I had a letter back that was sent to China:

drkohler · Post by **drkohler** » 03 May 2020 13:40

HalfpennyYellow wrote:At the moment, are members in Europe receiving any mail at all from North America?

Got my journal by sea mail. That is not surprising as the entire Swiss fleet is grounded.

Looking at flightradar, I still see flights to/from USA/Canada from/to Great Britain and few to Germany so my guess is GB and some quota of Germany might still get mail roughly in time.

Kipling · Post by **Kipling** » 09 May 2020 08:50

6 days for an auction lot from Danbury, Connecticut to Nambour, Queensland with Fed-Ex.

Not bad.

David Benson · Post by **David Benson** » 09 May 2020 10:54

Has anyone seen any reports from Australia Post regarding mail going by sea instead of airmail.

It appears that airmail letters were sent by sea from late March but no reports of what is currently happening,

David B.

sebjarod · Post by **sebjarod** » 10 May 2020 02:17

Mail between Metropolitan France and the French Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Martinique) are now going though two different routes:
- airmail for express parcels and registered / follow-on-the-web mail,
- surface for anything else by containership.

In consequence, almost all mail from March arrived late April in these overseas départements.

Source: a Martinique newspaper, 30 April 2020.

Finchley Chris · Post by **Finchley Chris** » 10 May 2020 02:56

David Benson wrote:Has anyone seen any reports from Australia Post regarding mail going by sea instead of airmail.

It appears that airmail letters were sent by sea from late March but no reports of what is currently happening,

David B.

8th May update from Australia post:

https://auspost.com.au/about-us/news-media/important-updates ... ernational

Continuing to deliver to these destinations via Sea Mail
In the below destinations, we are only able to offer delivery via Sea Mail for Standard Parcel and Letters and Economy Letters services. Australia Post is working to ensure that items reach their destinations as quickly as possible, however, protracted timeframes for delivery are to be expected:

Arab Emirates
Canada3
Cook Islands
Czech Republic1
Denmark1,3
Fiji
Finland
Greece3
Hungary
Israel
Nauru
New Caledonia1, 3
Papua New Guinea1
Portugal1, 3
Qatar
Saudi Arabia1
Slovenia1
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Vanuatu
Vatican

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 10 May 2020 06:31

So if they are still flying to Sweden, presumably it is only surface from there to Finland - a short hop?
Or have no arrangements been made?

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 11 May 2020 01:45

Elsewhere, someone said that a letter from Australia to US reached him in two months.

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 11 May 2020 23:06

Today's (11th May) incoming:

WV/USA postage label says 27th March.
Norway, postmark 28th April
Prince Edward Island, no postmark but letter dated 26th April

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » 14 May 2020 03:14

International post from Singapore is OK.

Posted 18 Apr, arrived yesterday - just over 3 weeks.

The old Empire air mail routes are still running!

22028 · Post by **22028** » 14 May 2020 04:11

Update from a letter shipped registered from Huston.

May 11, 2020, 8:54pm, ARRIVED AT TRANSIT FACILITY [DESTINATION COUNTRY] RANKFURT/M
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, CANNED INTO SACK/CONTAINER, Melrose Park
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, PROCESSING COMPLETED AT ORIGIN, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 2:38pm, CLOSE BAG, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 6:31am, PROCESSED, Melrose Park
May 6, 2020, 6:32am, PACKAGE RECEIVED AT DHL ECOMMERCE DISTRIBUTION CENTER Melrose Park
May 4, 2020, 7:17pm, Arrived at Consolidation Center. Shipment is being processed. ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:25am, Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery by 8:00pm, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:14am, Arrived at Post Office, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 3:50am, Departed USPS Regional Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 9:32pm, Departed USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 11:36am, Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 2, 2020, 12:00am, In Transit, Arriving On Time
May 1, 2020, 7:27pm, Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility, NORTH HOUSTON TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 1, 2020, 6:12pm, Accepted at USPS Origin Facility, HOUSTON, TX 77067
Apr 30, 2020, 9:27am, Tracking number provided

So depend if Cusotms Office sniffs the letter and keeps it for collecting tax or releases it for delivery, i will get it in 2-7 days...

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2020 06:03

22028 wrote:Update from a letter shipped registered from Huston.

May 11, 2020, 8:54pm, ARRIVED AT TRANSIT FACILITY [DESTINATION COUNTRY] RANKFURT/M
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, CANNED INTO SACK/CONTAINER, Melrose Park
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, PROCESSING COMPLETED AT ORIGIN, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 2:38pm, CLOSE BAG, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 6:31am, PROCESSED, Melrose Park
May 6, 2020, 6:32am, PACKAGE RECEIVED AT DHL ECOMMERCE DISTRIBUTION CENTER Melrose Park
May 4, 2020, 7:17pm, Arrived at Consolidation Center. Shipment is being processed. ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:25am, Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery by 8:00pm, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:14am, Arrived at Post Office, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 3:50am, Departed USPS Regional Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 9:32pm, Departed USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 11:36am, Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 2, 2020, 12:00am, In Transit, Arriving On Time
May 1, 2020, 7:27pm, Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility, NORTH HOUSTON TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 1, 2020, 6:12pm, Accepted at USPS Origin Facility, HOUSTON, TX 77067
Apr 30, 2020, 9:27am, Tracking number provided

So depend if Cusotms Office sniffs the letter and keeps it for collecting tax or releases it for delivery, i will get it in 2-7 days...

Do you know what the lines I have highlighted mean?

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 14 May 2020 06:48

Today, received a letter finished on 10th May posted in Finland.

22028 · Post by **22028** » 14 May 2020 06:59

norvic wrote:
22028 wrote:Update from a letter shipped registered from Huston.

May 11, 2020, 8:54pm, ARRIVED AT TRANSIT FACILITY [DESTINATION COUNTRY] RANKFURT/M
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, CANNED INTO SACK/CONTAINER, Melrose Park
May 8, 2020, 4:09pm, PROCESSING COMPLETED AT ORIGIN, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 2:38pm, CLOSE BAG, Melrose Park
May 7, 2020, 6:31am, PROCESSED, Melrose Park
May 6, 2020, 6:32am, PACKAGE RECEIVED AT DHL ECOMMERCE DISTRIBUTION CENTER Melrose Park
May 4, 2020, 7:17pm, Arrived at Consolidation Center. Shipment is being processed. ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:25am, Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery by 8:00pm, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 8:14am, Arrived at Post Office, ERLANGER, KY 41018
May 4, 2020, 3:50am, Departed USPS Regional Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 9:32pm, Departed USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 3, 2020, 11:36am, Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility, CINCINNATI OH DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 2, 2020, 12:00am, In Transit, Arriving On Time
May 1, 2020, 7:27pm, Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility, NORTH HOUSTON TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
May 1, 2020, 6:12pm, Accepted at USPS Origin Facility, HOUSTON, TX 77067
Apr 30, 2020, 9:27am, Tracking number provided

So depend if Cusotms Office sniffs the letter and keeps it for collecting tax or releases it for delivery, i will get it in 2-7 days...
Do you know what the lines I have highlighted mean?

Honestly, no idea..., it is all in USA..., i can imagine however that is a DHL / USPS exchange office or something like that...

chrisclifford · Post by **chrisclifford** » 14 May 2020 20:39

Two eBay winnings arrived today (Buckinghamshire UK) both from the same seller. One postmarked 23.APR Kingsville West Victoria, and the other -4.May Kingsville West Victoria. So one was slow the other about right.

David Benson · Post by **David Benson** » 14 May 2020 22:06

Australia Post has got it's act together since all flights were cancelled in mid March. Mail is arriving overseas within a reasonable time. There is a notice at my local Post Office stating that international mail has delays. I presume it is still going by sea but at a regular basis instead of the delays that occurred in mid to late March as sea containers were disorganised until arrangements could be made,

David B.

FairyFoot · Post by **FairyFoot** » 14 May 2020 23:44

Today:

Kookaburra maxicard 21st April 2020 from Australia
England, 2nd class, postmark 12th May

erich · Post by **erich** » 18 May 2020 07:26

International service to/from the US appears to be deteriorating. It was fairly normal in March/early April, but now I have waited a few weeks to both receive some items and also hear that something I sent was delivered.