The internet mail order business really took off last year.
More people than ever ordered gifts on line, but some of those presents never arrived.
They weren’t stolen but rather they weren’t allowed to be mailed into Canada.
Lesley Smith ordered a cologne and body wash gift set for her husband over the internet but when it arrived, the cologne was missing.
“The gift bag was actually opened and there was just one item in there. The body wash was there but no perfume.”
A letter from Canada Border Services was inside the parcel, explaining the mail item contained dangerous materials and was removed from the mail stream.
When she called, she was told perfume contains alcohol and since it’s flammable it can’t be sent through the regular mail system.
She ordered the cologne from FragranceNet.com but says there’s no warning on the site before you place an order.
“I called them and asked why don’t you have a warning on your web site for Canadian customers and she said I don’t know”, says Smith.
Global News contacted FragranceNet and in an email statement was told, “Our company is well aware of the shipping situation with Canadian post and we have rectified the problem. Our current packages are not being detained and are being delivered to our Canadian customers. For customers who have not received their merchandise. they should contact us for a full refund back on their credit card.”
However Canada Post and Canada Border Services say they don’t have any special arrangements with and U.S. mail order companies and the only way perfume can be legally shipped into Canada is by courier.
Canada Post says they have no control over companies in the United States.
“Our Postal Act says it’s the senders responsibility to make sure that anything they send can get through the mail stream”, says Sandra Sobko
She also says people buying on line should read up on what is allowed to be sent by mail in case the company sending it doesn’t know or doesn’t follow the rules.
Canada Border Services says the company shipping an illegal product by mail to Canada is also notified of the problem.
In 2005-2006, 1,723 pieces of international mail, (including U.S. mail) were stopped at the Canada Post Sorting Plant in Vancouver and pulled out of the mail stream.
Lesley Smith received half her money back for the missing perfume but she says that’s not the end of it.
She’s filing a complaint with Canada Post and Border Services.
She feels they should do more to warn people about the rules and stop the companies who aren’t follow them.
When FragranceNet sent the parcel by mail it didn’t list the contents as cologne.
The declaration form read, Gift, $30.00.
If you have questions about the Canada Post dangerous goods list you can call 1-800-267-1177.
Most postal outlets also have free Do Not Mail brochures.
Besides perfume and aftershave, you can’t mail alcoholic beverages, hair spray or hair dye and toys and computers with the batteries already installed in them.
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