The reason for the Paper Tape on the Registered Mail is so that the Post Office Round Date Stamp can be applied. This ensures that the seal is not broken between when you drop it off and it reaches it's final delivery. If the paper tape seal is broken ANYWHERE along the way the item is to be sent back to senders Post Office.
Some misconceptions that seem to be repeated a lot on these boards (by US and Canadian Members!).
1) There is no more security for Priority Mail over Regular Mail, and there is no guarantee by the US Post Office for ANY delivery times on any service except :
Global Express Guaranteed. The post office does not do anything but suggest the usual delivery times.
2) Registered Mail is kept under lock and key EVERY night along the way from drop off to delivery. This is one reason for the delivery delays - and the other is that Canada Customs seems to think that Registered US Mail is important - so they tend to gold onto it for days and days. Also the statement that Registered cannot be tracked is only partially true - it cannot be tracked online, but the Post Office can actually track the location of these packages.
The cost of Registered Mail to Canada is:
Value $0 - $10.60 + the actual cost of mailing based on weight.
Value $.01 - $100 - $11.50 + the actual cost of mailing based on weight.
Please not that the MAXIMUM insured value on Registered Mail from US to Canada is only about $36!
3) Global Express Mail - there are two classes of Express Mail.
Global Express Guaranteed is $35.50 to start and increases based on weight. Insurance is available for up to $2499 in value (some cases up to $5k!). HOWEVER the amount of insurance is PLAINLY marked on the envelope - and Customs will nail you!. This service averages 1-3 days and is not subject to delivery time guarantees if Canada Customs chooses to hold onto it longer. This is Customs fault and not the US Post Offices!!!!!!! I personally have found that Express Mail Guaranteed - marked as business documents and insured for $250 is almost never stopped or delayed.
Express Mail International is supposed to be 3-5 business days starting at $26.95, but I have found that it almost never gets there in less than 7-10 days and sits in Customs for 3-5 days. This like the above Express Mail can be tracked online - and it often shows where the package is on a day by day basis.
Those are the only 3 ways to actually get tracking on mail from US to Canada.
I know I will get grief on this, but ..............
Almost all of the delays that I see on mail going from the US to Canada involves border crossing and Canada Customs issues. I average about 5 Express Mail and 10-12 Registered Mail items per month - and I watch them closely. I also have a Postal Substation in my building, and we use them a lot both for work and my hobby. As such I get a lot of tracking through their terminal that normal people may not get without jumping through hoops.
If you ask most traders they will tell you that Michigan to Canada is one of the fastest delivery areas for moving mail across the border. The US Mail is by no means perfect - but they are rarely responsible for the delays I see. At the same time - there are ares in the US that seem to be the black hole of Calcutta as far as mail speed. My above statement does not apply to those areas .
Bruce
