Is anyone going to USA next week?

[PeckhamRose]

My Californian cousin's in hospital in LA - and I want to send her a gift but what with the mail problems here AND postage - if anyone is going over there I would be so grateful if you could post my parcel to my cousin when you get there.

I'd pay you in dollars if you prefer!

[????]

mmmmmmmmmm......

[red devil]

mmmmmmmmmmm...

[woofmarkthedog]

Peruvian or Bolivian ?

[PeckhamRose]

I'm serious. She's having a double mastectomy and I don't have a lot of money to send her a gift, but I will if I have to. American dollars of course. Thanks.

[Ted Max]

Can you Amazon something direct to her address, using the US (.com) site? It might seem a bit impersonal but you could explain the situation.

[PeckhamRose]

A kind and thoughtful suggestion - I already have the parcel... it was just a thought if anyone's going.

Thanks again x

[????]

PeckhamR - we're not being suspicious of you personally but you are asked "Has anyone given you any package to deliver etc" by security as a matter of cousre.

[annaj]

PeckhamRose, I'm sure you're entirely sincere and I'm sorry that your cousin is unwell, but what I think Quids and Red Devil are implying with their "Mmmmmmmmmm"s is that no-one in their right mind would carry a wrapped parcel across the US border for a stranger from an internet forum.

You know that part at check-in where they ask if you packed your bag yourself and if you're carrying anything for anyone else? Well the point of that is that it's, well, kind of against the rules to carry stuff for other people.

I think your only options are to trust the post or, as TedMax suggested, order something for direct delivery online.

[annaj]

Great minds, Quids.

[HAL9000]

I'm sure PeckhamRose wouldn't mind opening the parcel under the circumstances.

However, there are several parcel courier services that offer low-cost door-to-door delivery to the US of A.

[PeckhamRose]

I am so naive and forgetful.

I apologise profusely.

I would, of course, be happy to show the courier all the contents of my cousin's gift.

My stress for her is not making me think clearly.

Maybe I should ask to have the thread deleted. I am sorry.

[bigbadwolf]

PR.

I've always found the U.S postal service to be very reliable. During the summer I ordered roughly 5000 paintballs from a vendor in Massachusetts and they nearly all arrived in perfect, splattable condition. I think other forum members would be a bit reluctant to shoulder the responsibility of taking such a sentimental gift to your kin who is ill. What if it got damaged?

I also fully sympathise with those who've expressed concern over transporting a package they haven't wrapped through U.S customs. If for example Quids was carrying a package for me through U.S border control I for one would be incredibly hard pressed not to phone ahead to let the A.T.F know that a middle-aged West Ham fan was about to go through customs at L.A X with a brick of 100% pure Afghani heroin even if it was an innocent package such as a bag of winegums.

The thought that Quids was about to suffer a full cavity intrusion on behalf of large, tobacco chewing federal agent with a pair of rubber gloves and a feather duster whilst licking his lips would be too much to pass over.

[PeckhamRose]

I am going to ask this thread be deleted. I am sorry everyone. It's just that this country has unreliable postal service at the moment and my cousin is going through hell and I wanted someone to take a parcel to USA and send it to her from there. How daft of me. Sorry.

[woofmarkthedog]

PR. Mrs W**F runs a mail order b.ness.she send stuff all over the world, she could help I'm sure.

PM me

W**F

[annaj]

PR, don't get upest, no-one is suggesting that you need to apologies or have the thread deleted. I was just trying to point out why you were receiving such a luke warm response as it was clear that it hadn't occured to you, but there have also been plenty of helpful suggestions, including Woof's above, so I don't think you need to feel criticised or that the thread was a waste of time.

As I said, I'm sorry your cousin is unwell and I can well imagine the stress it must be causing you.

[RosieH]

Also PR, do think about ordering something online - doesn't have to be Amazon - there are lots of internet shopping sites based in the US. If you want something a bit more personal, consider sites like Etsy that sell handmade stuff and might have something quite girly and make a lovely thoughtful gift...

[bigbadwolf]

PR.

Instead of sending an expensive gift or piece of handmade tat, send your poorly cousin this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg0FT-1YcmA

She'll be indebted to you for life.