The Journal

Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Opinion and Editorial

In a place filled with gun shots, bomb blasts and death, a letter or a care package from loved ones is a highlight for any solider stationed overseas. And while sending mail overseas seems like an easy task, unforeseen problems occur resulting in undelivered items.

My boyfriend, a Grenadier Guard in the British military, is currently fighting in Afghanistan alongside American troops. Because I only get to talk to him via phone for 30 minutes a week, sending letters and care packages seemed to be the most efficient way for correspondence. Little did I know, if I don't spend an egregious amount of money, I'm playing roulette by sending any parcel at all.

There are two options to send an international package through the U.S. Postal Service. For a flat rate of 90 cents per ounce, a package can be sent with no guarantee of a specific arrival date. A customer service representative for the post office said there isn't any way to track the package or know if the package even arrived at its destination.

However, for an additional $16.25 for every 8 ounces, a package can be tracked and guaranteed to Afghanistan in five to 10 days. This is known as Global Express. To send a package with cookies, Twinkies and a magazine by Global Express, it would cost $135 - making that one expensive Twinkie. Knowing how outrageous the cost was, I decided to send the package by regular priority mail, which cost me $33.

The package was mailed the first week in August, and my boyfriend has yet to receive it. When asked what was taking so long, the post office manager said she had no way of knowing where my package was, but it should have arrived within six to 10 business days. She also said it is possible the package would never make it to Afghanistan - information they left out when describing the mailing options. It's a catch-22. I either spend a great deal on sending a package, or I risk the chance of it ever arriving at the front lines. There needs to be some sort of middle ground.

However, high prices aren't just found at the post office. To send the same package through UPS, it would cost $108. While they offer tracking on the package, it is still expensive. I also inquired about the possibility the package would take longer because it was going to a British military base instead of an American one. The post office employee said the nationality of the base should not hinder the delivery whatsoever; they were still unable to account for the month travel time.

Continued...

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