Receiving packages from SerPost
Posted on | September 15, 2010 | 4 Comments
- Image by Smithsonian Institution via Flickr
Serpost is the Peruvian postal service – and it seems every one has different experiences with them. Some people claim that they have dozens of packages that never arrive, while other say the service is exemplary.
I’ve always been in the group that has received great service – even receiving a $20 in the mail without problem.
Typically, packages larger than a shoe box have required that I go to the post office to pick them up. Other than being a hassle, it wasn’t that big a deal. I had recently been informed, however that SerPost was no longer allowing pick up at most locations, and that pick up would require a trip to Callao – which is a REAL hassle. Because it’s far away. And we all work and stuff.
So just picking up a package would turn into a truly all day thing.
And that matters, because my mom sent me a crock pot. I didn’t know she was going to do it – but I was really excited about it. And I was getting worried, because she sent it a couple weeks ago, and I hadn’t received a notice yet that I needed to go pick it up.
I also wasn’t relishing the idea of spending a day in Callao.
But I was REALLY worried – after nearly 3 weeks – that the crock pot had ‘disappeared’. (Into some customs official kitchen, no doubt)
I was starting to think that after all this time, SerPost was letting me down. Breaking my trust. Stabbing me in the back after all those times I’d stood up for them.
Well, lo and behold, today there was a ring of the doorbell – and there stood a SerPost agent with my big giant package of crock pot!
Not only had they already inspected it and were actually delivering it to my door, I didn’t have to pay any additional fees – a miracle in itself in this palm-greasing society. (sorry Peru, I love ya, but I call ‘em as I see ‘em)
On top of all that – my mom had addressed it to Kelly Borda – which is my married name, but is NOT the name on any of my documents. Last time, this was a big hassle because they wouldn’t let us have the package until we went and got legalized copies of our marriage certificate (Acto de Matrimonio) to prove thatI was Kelly Borda, too. But this time, the guy said- “Oh, no problem, you’re Kelly, this is the right address, that’s good enough for me”.
Holy crap – somebody that DIDN’T want to hassle us about every little i dot and t cross. I wanted to kiss him.
I guess I can go on standing up for SerPost when other people run them down.
So now I have my crock pot. Now…. where’d I put that transformer???
BTW, if you need more info on sending/receiving from SerPost, this article is really helpful – Postal and Courier Service in Peru
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I got tired of life happening while I made other plans, so I quit my job and came to Peru. I live here with my Peruvian husband, two sons, three dogs and various other family members, depending on the weather.
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September 15th, 2010 @ 18:42
Yea!!!!!! I was also getting worried. When everything is looking pretty crappy, something special happens.
Make sure it is the right size transformer.
September 15th, 2010 @ 18:59
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November 26th, 2011 @ 13:20
Oh, this is good to know. I was just thinking this morning abotu Christmas. My mom has wanted to send me a care package for a few months now but I’ve been hesitant about it because I don’t have the money to pay for customs fees. I was thinking maybe DHL was the better choice. But maybe, just maybe, SerPost will work out in the end. I hope so! Yay for you getting the crockpot, I know how awesome those things are!!! A gift that keeps on giving.
Jackie´s last [type] ..Stressing out and Christmas in summer
November 26th, 2011 @ 15:12
Oh, whatever you do, do NOT go DHL! They have a history of holding packages hostage, asking for all kinds of extra fees to release it. Ship via USPS – it will arrive via SerPost here.
If the box is small enough, they’ll usually bring it right to your home. If it’s bigger, you’ll need to go pick it up. I just went to pick up a box a couple weeks ago (in Lince) and they seem to have streamlined the procedure a bit – it went much quicker even though there were more people waiting.