Some mail not arriving - anyone else experience this?

[MPenguin]

So I've been living in Taiwan for 5 years now. No problems - I have a pretty great job, I like where I live, and I know enough Chinese to make my way around. I regularly order books and other things from Amazon or have care packages sent from my parents/family. All these packages arrive with no problems whatsoever. However, I have noticed that some packages from certain companies never arrive.

Case 1: About 2 years ago, I ordered a shirt from shirt.woot.com (a different shirt every day - I like the designs). They offer international shipping, so I tried it. The shirt never arrived. Woot was very courteous and gave me a refund. Since then, I've had the shirts shipped to my sister, who forwards them to me in care packages. Not a big deal, but why didn't it arrive?

Case 2: On two occasions now, I've ordered magazines from Skeptic.com - I like the magazines. The first time, I had a 1-year sub (4 issues). The first three issues arrived with no problems, but the 4th issue never arrived. I contacted them, and they said they'd send out another issue. It, also, never arrived. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I ordered some back issues about 3 weeks ago. Haven't seen them yet, although that's certainly enough time.

Case 3: Wells Fargo. My wife and I still have American checking accounts with Wells Fargo. Normally, we had our stuff mailed to my family and then sent over (there was not usually anything important). However, my wife decided to have the address changed to our Taiwan address because they offer international shipping. Since then, we haven't received a single statement, etc. What if I need a new card? I might never receive it.

In all three cases, I gave them the exact same address that my family and Amazon uses. The latter packages always make it through, but the aforementioned ones didn't. What gives? Is it certain companies that are being "blocked"? For what reason?

Is there anyone at the Zhonghua Post that I should contact concerning this issue? If anyone has had similar experiences with these or different companies or has any information about who I should contact to find out what's happening to my packages, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

[bigduke6]

Do they all have your correct English address?

Sometimes there are variations in the English spelling of a street.

I had this problem before, but the parcel had my wife's no so they called her.

I also had a parcel where there was no telephone number on, but the postman told me they knew who I was, even with the misspelling of the name. Not too many foreigners in my area.

Everything has always arrived eventually. The postal service here is generally pretty good I find.

[Dragonbones]

I've been having things shipped here for 18 years, and very rarely have a problem with something just disappearing; maybe it has happened once or twice in all that time. Yesterday I had a box arrive after 5 weeks (!), marked "mis-shipped to Ghana".

[MPenguin]

Do they all have your correct English address?

Sometimes there are variations in the English spelling of a street.

I had this problem before, but the parcel had my wife's no so they called her.

I also had a parcel where there was no telephone number on, but the postman told me they knew who I was, even with the misspelling of the name. Not too many foreigners in my area.

Everything has always arrived eventually. The postal service here is generally pretty good I find.

Yes, everything (family, Amazon, and the other places) have all used the same address, which is the correct format.

My Name
####, Street Name
City, County
#ZIP# Taiwan

Some packages (family, Amazon) always arrive. Some packages have never arrived. Our town is pretty small, so I'm pretty sure they know me by now. If it was getting to my city, I think I would get it. I'm beginning to think it's getting stopped at customs. Perhaps I should call the Taiwan customs office and see if they could be of any help, eh?

[tommy525]

many packages require you to pick up at the post office. Go to your local post office and enquire. Often its there.

[MPenguin]

many packages require you to pick up at the post office. Go to your local post office and enquire. Often its there.

This is a good idea. I'll head there later.

However, with the magazine subscription, I received the first 3 issues without problem, and then the fourth and the subsequent backorders never arrived. It doesn't seem to make sense.

[Icon]

I've always had problems with magazines suscriptions, even through local services, and even delivered to my PO Box instead of home or office. Don't know where the problem is. But delivery is spotty.

No problem with Amazon or PetSmart. Ebay OK... until last time. I am waiting for a poster shipped from HK, month and a half and stil waiting. Bought a magazine at the same time from UK, they sent it on a a slow ship, still arrived in a week and a half. Next time, I'll buy from UK.

[Taiwan Luthiers]

Sometimes a mailman will attempt a delivery but when you're not there they don't leave something to indicate that they tried to deliver something. I don't know if its because the slip costs a million dollars or something.

They don't always call your phone number because they have to pay out of pocket to make any calls.

[lostinasia]

I've had similar issues. Amazon shipments have always arrived without any problems, and usually in about two weeks, rather than the 5-6 weeks projected. The Economist always arrives, and around 4 days earlier than it would in Canada! However, an issue of the Atlantic seems to go missing 1-2 times a year - they're always good about sending me a new one or extending my subscription, but it's still annoying. The Economist uses a Chinese address; Amazon and The Atlantic use an identical English address. I live in a big apartment complex that should be pretty easy for the post office to figure out.

So basically I'm no use to you except to say you're not alone.

[MPenguin]

Sometimes a mailman will attempt a delivery but when you're not there they don't leave something to indicate that they tried to deliver something. I don't know if its because the slip costs a million dollars or something.

They don't always call your phone number because they have to pay out of pocket to make any calls.

Not really a problem here. There's a central mailroom at my school (I live on campus) where everything is sent; we pick it up from there. Since I'm the only foreigner at the school and - I'm pretty sure - the only one who gets packages in English - I'm pretty sure they've got me figured out by now.