Job Discussion Forums

svatopluk · Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 81

Anybody got a fastest delivery time to Saudi and a slowest?

I've posted a book from the UK and am wondering how long it is likely to take. The authorities are sure to have a look at the package too, I guess.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Friend of mine in Qassim has never received about half of his packages over the years. I received mine from the States in very reasonable time, about 10-12 days.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

UK to Dhahran 10-14 days. Germany-Dhahran 5 days

Go figure.

Lots of books, DVD's and CD's. Nothing lost yet.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject:

I have also found Saudi post to be (surprisingly) reliable. Whenever I've ordered from Amazon (UK) the package has always arrived intact within 2 weeks from the day of placing my order. On one or two occasions I have had something go astray, but that has been very much the exception over the years.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject:

My worst experiences was a full month from the arrival stamp Dhahran to delivery date in Riyadh for a letter (it WAS Ramadan, tho...) and catching the slob at the post office in the DQ slip my letter into the circular file when I had the audacity to ask for my change from a SR10 bill for a SR3 charge for postage.

Lousy bum! I don't mind Grand Theft...I despise pettiness...

NCTBA

svatopluk · Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 81

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If ordering from Amazon, you will find amazon.de cheaper AND faster than amazon.co.uk or amazon.com !!!

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

I can't imagine any European prices cheaper than US prices, not for most items. Unless you save a bundle on shipping.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Books are cheaper. Shipping costs from our German cousins are also much more reasonable. They have a charge for the order - regardless of how many books.

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Oh goodness, books out of Amazon.uk are far more expensive than the US one.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Come and colonise us !

nodster · Joined: 13 Jan 2007 Posts: 8

I must have just had bad luck. I had a book sent from England in February and it finally arrived in October.

So the next parcel I had sent by EMS (that was from Japan). It arrived within a week (good) but according to the Saudi EMS it was still in Japan AFTER they'd delivered it. They didn't update the tracking information until the next day.

I think I know why that is, because the next parcel disappeared off the tracking system as soon as it left Japan never to be seen again. All inquiries at the EMS office were met with the answer that it hadn't left Japan. But it was in the Saudi system so the Japanese must have sent it. No matter - it wasn't in the computer so it didn't exist.

I expect it's still under a pile of undelivered parcels in Dammam if it hasn't been nicked. I calculated that it probably arrived over the weekend - and as the EMS service in Saudi is proudly 100% Saudi staffed (and not with the 'dissident' sect either if you know what I mean) - weekend arrivals probably sit outside the office in a bag until someone strolls into work mid-morning Satuday.

Personally, I wouldn't send anything of value through the Saudi postal service. If you can afford to shrug your shoulders if it goes missing - well give it a go. But if it's something of value - I really wouldn't risk it. Better to use UPS or Fedex, or send it to Bahrain and go and collect it yourself.