to hell and back

**sailortats** · 28th January 14, 05:20 PM

At least that is what things feel like right now. Last July I ordered a new kilt from John at Keltoi. There were quite a few ahead of me in the lineup and so I wasn't expecting it much before Thanksgiving or the first of December. About a week before xmas I wrote John to ask how things were coming and was told it would be mailed out just before xmas. Right after xmas I heard from John that the weather was very bad and it was impossible for him to get to the post office but that he would as soon as he could. This was at the same time the midwest was having such bad weather also. Well long story even longer, it was finally put in the mail on January 13. It took from the 13th to the 21st to get from Kitchener to Chicago and there it sits, I guess. There has been no tracking info since it "passed through" Chicago ISC. on the 21st., and trying to get any assistance from the USPS is absolutely impossible. I just hope I live long enough to see and wear it at least once.
Now do not misunderstand me, I have no complaints at all about John's end of things but the postal services are a different matter entirely. Can I blame Customs maybe?

**SeumasA** · 28th January 14, 06:24 PM

Usually you'll see a scan saying that your package was inbound into the international service center (customs) and another scan when they release it to the Postal Service. If you want to pm me with the tracking number I can try looking things up at work tomorrow. Sometimes our internal tracking site will show more detail than the usps.com tracking. I'm a delivery supervisor for USPS, BTW.

**MacCathmhaoil** · 28th January 14, 08:48 PM

As a previous customer of John I can assure you it will be worth the wait! Small comfort I am sure, it is as if the "jonesing" isn't bad enough the gods must conspire to torment you further!

**thescot** · 28th January 14, 09:42 PM

Last thing I had coming from overseas produced a similar experience. It was "inbound" and then disappeared for a couple of weeks. The USPS site was of no help. (They are, afterall, federal employees.) Then it suddenly appeared at my door. And, just as suddenly, the USPS updated with all kinds of information.

Patience is not a virtue in my book, but that's all there is with bureaucrats.

**Glen** · 29th January 14, 08:10 AM

I have had nothing but great success with USPS and then seamless to Canada Post, going the other way; better than those others.

I'm thinking customs. We will expect photos once received.

Soldier on sailor...

**KenB** · 29th January 14, 09:15 AM

Well if the delay is weather related....this winter has been just nasty in southern Ontario, I'm not surprised. As recent as this morning there were white-outs, school bus cancellations, highway pile-ups, bloody freezing wind chills, blowing snow and I suspect many frozen cuss words hanging in the chilled air.

Please post pics when the kilt arrives.

**creagdhubh** · 29th January 14, 10:24 AM

Ugh, I feel for ya, mate. Hang in there. I'm sure it will arrive soon. You've been patient this long.

Cheers,

**Hopper250** · 29th January 14, 12:26 PM

Ordering a kilt last fall from Stillwater Kilts it took over a week for it to arrive. They shipped it the next business day. This week after ordering some hose and they arrived the day after shipping. I live in the same metro where Stillwater Kilts is located.

Its hard to say what will happen with a package.

**Kalok Sundancer** · 29th January 14, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by sailortats

At least that is what things feel like right now. Last July I ordered a new kilt from John at Keltoi. There were quite a few ahead of me in the lineup and so I wasn't expecting it much before Thanksgiving or the first of December. About a week before xmas I wrote John to ask how things were coming and was told it would be mailed out just before xmas. Right after xmas I heard from John that the weather was very bad and it was impossible for him to get to the post office but that he would as soon as he could. This was at the same time the midwest was having such bad weather also. Well long story even longer, it was finally put in the mail on January 13. It took from the 13th to the 21st to get from Kitchener to Chicago and there it sits, I guess. There has been no tracking info since it "passed through" Chicago ISC. on the 21st., and trying to get any assistance from the USPS is absolutely impossible. I just hope I live long enough to see and wear it at least once.
Now do not misunderstand me, I have no complaints at all about John's end of things but the postal services are a different matter entirely. Can I blame Customs maybe?

I refuse to deal with vendors that use the USPS as their primary shipper for packages. I had issues even getting stamps delivered. They went into a black hole somewhere in Chigago, just like your package did, and never arrived. It was an ordeal and a half to get them to re-do my order and ship me what I ordered without charging me extra for doing so.

**MacLowlife** · 29th January 14, 04:14 PM

You never know when you are being helpful. I just printed a USPS page showing my package arriving in NYC from England and then going nowhere for 19 days so far. Funny, it is one of two and the other one came straight through. But now I think I understand the drill: customs-security-sudden delivery. Having read this thread, I will wait a little longer before plaguing my delivery man.