TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Parcel Service

Has anyone used UPS or the like to send an envelope or small package to SXM?

I've used Fedex (might have been DHL Express?) letter pack and it did get there. But I did Int'l Priority and it still took 4-5 days when they promised two day delivery, and there was no weekend involved. Seems to me, it was quite expensive and it was only documents. I looked into shipping a package once and the cost was off the wall expensive. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

About five years ago, I was sent a package FedEx. It took two days and cost $45.

AS A RETIRED UPS EMPLOYEE FOR 35 YEARS, I AM TELLING YOU TO USE FDX OR DHL. THEIR FLIGHTS TO THE STATES ARE BETTER.

What ever you do...do not send it express US Postal Service the cost for a small package was over $25 and took over 20 days.

Bob

I sent a package with a washer part to my property manager once by using the postal service. After 3 weeks the person I sent it to starting going to the post office and asking for it. After 2 weeks of asking, they found the package at the postal office in Sxm. I found it cheaper and more reliable to buy myself an airline ticket put it in a suitcase and take things there. Shipping is crazy prices.

Agree with that. I have had several issues with items to SXM involving the US Postal service. It is probably the smartest thing possible to not involve the US postal service whenever possible.. domestic or international. We have had the best results with Fed Ex. Cheers

Once it leaves the US it is basically out of the hands of the USPS when it comes to SXM. Mailing a letter is probably ok but I would NOT mail a package with other than an air freight/package carrier.

Sorry, I didn't realize that the caps lock was on.

You would think that the USPS would send mail to the east coast, then direct to SXM. They can't do that. They have to follow Dutch rules and the routing is allover the place. It has been so long since it was explained to me that I can't remember except it takes forever because of the crazy routing.

Please explain to me what "Dutch rules" are when it come to the USPS.

I ship all the time through Four Star. All you have to do is sign up an account online, you ship it to Four Star in Miami if it arrives in Miami before Thursday you can pick it up in Point Blanche on Tuesday and the prices are reasonable. If you buy something say from Home Depot or Walmart they usually do free shipping to Miami and then all you pay is for the cargo freight. I've sent small things like ceiling fans and the long poles to yard furniture. If it's large they deliver for free. I think the min. Charge is about $20. and there reliable. They send you an email when they receive something in Miami.

ruralcarrier
By Dutch rules I meant the USPS has to put its mail to SXM using the entry point designated by the Dutch government. For example, and I am making this routing up, if the Netherlands wants to it can say that mail going to any place in the Kingdom must go through Amsterdam, then the USPS must send it there. From there the Dutch postal service can route to SXM in any way it sees fit.

I don't know if that is accurate or not but as I stated, once is leaves the US (bound for SXM) it is out of the hands of the USPS.

You are so right! I have sent gifts to the French side and my French friends explained that my package first went to France, then to Guadeloupe and finally to St. Martin. Go figure.

When I lived on SXM we always sent our mail from the French side because it was quicker and cost about a third of what it cost from the Dutch side.