Help with receiving FedEx packages from US to Montreal,to residency with no one there

[ValWangSmiles]

Despite the number of times I've visited Montreal, I realized I don't have very many "civilian" friends that I could turn to for regular help in Montreal. So I'm posting here (thanks in advance!).

So I'm trying to send a nice care package by FedEx to a "Special Person of interest"/special friend in Montreal who is really Francophone. She can't be there to sign for or take delivery in receiving the FedEx package at her residency when FedEx has already tried delivering in the morning (around 10 am) twice. Her doorbell is broken. I'm kinda surprised the FedEx delivery person him or herself didn't smart up to try to change the delivery time or try to leave a bigger doortag and note, or call her (I wrote a number down for FedEx to call), or make it more obvious and easier for her to come back home and fill out the tag or think of a place to put the package.

Also, I'm having a hard time translating English to French to explain to special friend how to leave a note or fill out the door tag (avis a la porte). Texting in English is not working out well.

Any advice? Also, full English to French translations of what I should type in text to instruct special friend in the most easiest, clearest, simplest way on how to leave a note, on explaining to her to write how to take delivery (pickup at FedEx location, or signed note leaving package somewhere, or with a neighbor or business next door if apartment staircase is locked for some reason) would help ALOT.

Thanks! Really appreciate the help since I don't want the FedEx package returned (having it get through customs through the FedEx distribution center in Ontario was already a pain in the ass...)

 

[westwoody]

Best solution is have your friend pick it up at a FedEx depot.

FedEx does their own customs clearance so you should not have had an issue.

I don't like having expensive packages left on doorsteps. UPS left a $2200 item on my step once, despite the shipper and me both asking them to hold it at their depot. Anyone could have grabbed it.

 

[Halloween Mike]

She should really just go pick it up at the depot as West says. Easiest solution than trying to coordonate something with the delivery guy if she is busy day time. I mean if you both can communicate you should be able to tell her to just let a big note on the door saying to hold the package at the fedex depot.

Personally i order a lot (a bit less these days but there was a time where it was multiple times a month) by internet and honestly i never liked those private deliveries compagnies. I only used them a certain number of times and had troubles most of them. Either i would miss the guy and then would have to wait the next day or i would have to go pick it up at the depot wich is at 30 mins of car... Also DHL once charged me an insane ammount of money upon receiving a package, wich was suposed to already have been paid for (it was ebay and i did pay shipping fees)

With post-canada the worst i had was a couple border fees for some packages, but mostly those where because the seller was an idiot. For instance once i ordered a collector figurine wich could literaly fit in a small bubble envelope and the guy used a big cardboard box 8 times too large for the item. So instead of going as a letter post it was a package. Most sellers also put "gift" on the package and there is never fees for that but some sellers do not. Lets say i never did business with them again.

But anyway with post-canada if they can't let the package at your door for x reasons, you just have to go to the local post office (10 mins of walk) and thats it, your package is there usually after 1 or 2 pm. Pretty simple.

 

[ValWangSmiles]

@westwoody @HalloweenMike Thanks for the replies, yeah I even asked my last AirBnB host as well (hehehe), and I'm finding out it must be a very USA-centric thing to be using FedEx or UPS for home-to-home deliveries. I'm gonna write in English first, but how would you say in (Quebec) French,

"Did you receive a doortag that the FedEx delivery person left? If yes, fill it out and you can say to pick it up at the nearest FedEx location or to leave it with a neighbor or a next door business. Make sure to sign it. If you did not see a door tag, then write a note, sign it, with instructions and tape in on the front door.

The FedEx delivery will try again on Monday morning, from 5:30 am. Be sure to leave a note or the doortag taped on the front door before!"

 

[Ricky bonds]

@westwoody @HalloweenMike Thanks for the replies, yeah I even asked my last AirBnB host as well (hehehe), and I'm finding out it must be a very USA-centric thing to be using FedEx or UPS for home-to-home deliveries. I'm gonna write in English first, but how would you say in (Quebec) French,

"Did you receive a doortag that the FedEx delivery person left? If yes, fill it out and you can say to pick it up at the nearest FedEx location or to leave it with a neighbor or a next door business. Make sure to sign it. If you did not see a door tag, then write a note, sign it, with instructions and tape in on the front door.

The FedEx delivery will try again on Monday morning, from 5:30 am. Be sure to leave a note or the doortag taped on the front door before!"

Avez-vous reçu une note de fed ex sur ta porte que la personne de FedEx a laissée? Si oui, remplissez-la et vous pouvez dire la prendre au lieu le plus proche de FedEx ou la laisser avec un voisin ou une entreprise à côté. Assurez-vous de la signer Si vous ne voyez pas une étiquette de porte, écrivez une note, inscrivez-la, avec des instructions et colle la sur la porte d'entrée.

And add... j'ai vraimais envie de te laissez ce petit cadeaux pour te remercier

 

[westwoody]

FedEX, UPS and DHL all make big profits off their customs brokerage.

I got some Rizoma billet parts from Italy once. They assured me they would mail it so I might not get hit with duty. They sent it FedEX, who charged me duty plus 20% of the value of the item for brokerage. $1200 parts turned into $2000 parts.

Canada Post meanwhile, hardly anything gets hit unless it is from the USA. And they only charge $5 to $8 for brokerage.

 

[ValWangSmiles]

@rickybonds thank you so much for the translation. Merci beaucoup!

 

[joelcairo]

Halloween Mike and Westwoody are right: much better to use Canada Post than FedEx, etc.

Only possible problem is that some (not all) Canada Post employees are lazy - hard to believe, I know (ha ha) - and leave the package at the door if there's no answer.

 

[westwoody]

The mailer can specify that signature confirmation of receipt is required.
There is a small fee but it is an extra measure of safety. If nobody is home to sign a card is left to pick up the parcel at a depot.

BTW I work at an airport...idiots are in every company.