Express Mail US-Thai Tracking

[Saraburi121]

Searched the forum for the latest info to no avail on subject.  

 

I downloaded the app for Thai Post on my phone to track an express mail from the United States Postal Service to Thailand.  I read on TV to look at ThaiPost for tracking after entering Thailand which was correct.  First thing I noticed about the TP app it was not updating after you entered your tracking number the first time then refreshing for status.   After deleting the entry to TP app and entering again it updated.  The TP app is all over the place with status, says 'unsuccessful delivery" for said date and we were here all day in a small village with one road in and out. USPS Tracking is about 8+ hours behind on tracking status with little details. We are a bit off the beaten path but my snail mail form the US gets here eventually and 100% sure the address is correct. 

 

First question is what is the most reliable way to get an express mail (letter size) without regard to expense to a small changwat from the US to to Thailand? Second question is how reliable is Thai Track & Trace status for most folks not living in major cities e.g. Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai etc?  

[cmarshall]

Most reliable way to send an envelope from US to Thailand if money is no object is by DHL, which has a greater market penetration in Thailand than Fedex.

[Sheryl]

Actually DHL is not a good option in some rural areas. In the cities they are fine but they do not service where I live, for example. They end up palming it off on other carriers to deliver whose knowledge of the local area is zilch and ability to follow directions or use GPS pretty near zilch as well.

 

I have had the best luck with simple USPS EMS.

[NE1]

On 11/7/2019 at 12:50 AM, Saraburi121 said:

says 'unsuccessful delivery" for said date and we were here all day in a small village with one road in and out.

They use this as an excuse to cover a late delivery. It looks good on the official company computer and it makes the delivery agent look good. Where in reality ( it has happened to me on a few occasions ) Sheryl's post is exactly what happens. When the main agent palms it off , he officially declares it delivered or attempted delivery . then you have to wait 2 or 3 days for it to arrive.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

They end up palming it off on other carriers to deliver whose knowledge of the local area is zilch

Never seen a DHL courier in the villages around.

 

Track&Trace with Thai Post (EMS to Europe) always worked fine.

I would also recommend using postal service as EMS or registered airmail.

We are lucky with the postman as he always finds our house.

Easy, about a handful of foreigners in his area

If tracking indicates that the letter is at the local post office one can always go there with his ID and ask.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, NE1 said:

They use this as an excuse to cover a late delivery. It looks good on the official company computer and it makes the delivery agent look good. Where in reality ( it has happened to me on a few occasions ) Sheryl's post is exactly what happens. When the main agent palms it off , he officially declares it delivered or attempted delivery . then you have to wait 2 or 3 days for it to arrive.

 

....or much, much ,  longer if it was palmed off on an el-cheapo discount "Clueless-R-We"  company.

 

DHL not only does not deliver to many parts of the country themselves (contrary to what they tell the customers at the shipping end) but when they hand it off they try to do it on the cheap rather than, for example, using reputable agents with an established presence in the province.

 

Kerry services my area, has a large  presence, handles all the Lazada deliveries here, and does a fine job,  But every time it is DHL it gets delivered by a new, different  fly-by-night company which does not know the area, one I have never heard of or seen before, and never seeagain either. 

 

Forget finding my house (and I give very clear directions plus GPS coordinates) , some of these did not even know where the province was or remotely how to get to it. And were too keen to find out. I've had deliveries take weeks because of this. Meanwhile getting the  "attempted delivery, delivery failed" nonsense showing when no such thing occurred.

[Saraburi121]

Thanks all for your input!  All posts were very helpful.  Guess it is just part of living out in the boonies.  Cheers!

[NE1]

I do remember the DHL delivery woman ringing my wife up on a Saturday morning , she said that she was very busy and she had a party to go to that night , and cos' we lived out in the sticks would it be okay if she delivered it on Monday. The wife said no problem as she felt sorry for her.

On the tracking system for Saturday , it stated , " customer telephoned and requested package to be delivered Monday as not available to take delivery Saturday " That was the last time we helped her out.