Bad Experience - Mail Boxes Etc

[Scott Fraser]

Be careful using Mail Boxes Etc to forward luggage to Santiago. I used them because the Post Office was closed. I was scheduled to arrive in Santiago on a Sunday and asked if getting my bag delivered in Santiago over a weekend would be a problem. I was assured it would be OK. "Just call us when you get to Santiago. We will bend the bag to your hotel."

Their brochure says: "We collect from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 22:00h". Key word here is "collect". I failed to notice that it does not say "deliver".

I arrived in Santiago late on a Friday. Called MBE for delivery. No answer. Same on Saturday and on Sunday. No answer. Finally got through on Monday morning.

If I had a flight out over the weekend I would have had to leave without my luggage.

 

[dougfitz]

I really don't see that this, unfortunate as it might be, justifies such a recommendation. Certainly letting others know that there is no delivery option and it appears the office is unattended on weekends is a good thing, but to suggest this justifies not using the company at all seems to me a step too far.

 

[grayland]

I would suggest that the most reliable method to forward luggage or a package to Santiago is to use Ivar's excellent service!

It not only the easiest and most reliable service...but it also helps keep this forum active.
http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/

The CASA IVAR link On the bottom of the page will also take you to the luggage storage site.

 

[C clearly]

It sounds like a mistake by the employee at the location where you deposited your bag. Very awkward and potentially a big problem for you, so it is certainly worth reporting to the company and even posting a warning/clarification about the wording here. I doubt that it was deliberate deception. So I agree that the heading "Bad Experience..." is a bit extreme and could create a worse experience for that employee and the company, which is probably a small one with good intentions.

 

[dougfitz]

MBE is a global franchise business. Certainly any individual outlet might be an SME, but it appears to an international operation.

 

[Jersey]

I would suggest that the most reliable method to forward luggage or a package to Santiago is to use Ivar's excellent service!

It not only the easiest and most reliable service...but it also helps keep this forum active.
http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/

The CASA IVAR link On the bottom of the page will also take you to the luggage storage site.

Will IVAR also accept items in Santiago & ship them to other points in Spain. In my case I would like to have some items shipped to Valencia.

 

[SYates]

Will IVAR also accept items in Santiago & ship them to other points in Spain. In my case I would like to have some items shipped to Valencia.

The easiest would be to ask @ivar himself, contact info here: http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/index.html

BC SY

 

[dougfitz]

Will IVAR also accept items in Santiago & ship them to other points in Spain. In my case I would like to have some items shipped to Valencia.

I used this service last year. At that time what was provided was a storage service. I used the Correos for shipping, but I presume that could be done by any shipping service. This is still how the service is described, ie Ivar is not providing a shipping service. @grayland's earlier description of it as a shipping service might not be entirely accurate.

 

[grayland]

I am not sure how my post would be interpreted as describing Ivar's storgage service as a shipping service ..but just in case ...Casa Ivar is a storage service in Santiago.

It would be a good idea to check out the links in the posts above to check on what services are offered. The website is very good and the information is clear.

 

[tjb1013]

The easiest would be to ask @ivar himself, contact info here: http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/index.html

BC SY

I don't know that I will avail myself of this, but what a wonderful service to provide.

 

[ivar]

Be careful using Mail Boxes Etc to forward luggage to Santiago. I used them because the Post Office was closed. I was scheduled to arrive in Santiago on a Sunday and asked if getting my bag delivered in Santiago over a weekend would be a problem. I was assured it would be OK. "Just call us when you get to Santiago. We will bend the bag to your hotel."

Their brochure says: "We collect from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 22:00h". Key word here is "collect". I failed to notice that it does not say "deliver".

I arrived in Santiago late on a Friday. Called MBE for delivery. No answer. Same on Saturday and on Sunday. No answer. Finally got through on Monday morning.

If I had a flight out over the weekend I would have had to leave without my luggage.

If you need help with shipping this home to you, let me know (ivar@casaivar.com). I am sorry this happened to you.

 

[dougfitz]

I am not sure how my post would be interpreted as describing Ivar's storgage service as a shipping service ..but just in case ...Casa Ivar is a storage service in Santiago.

I may have misinterpreted your intent when you suggested that

I would suggest that the most reliable method to forward luggage or a package to Santiago is to use Ivar's excellent service!

I am glad you have clarified the matter.

 

[Greg Petropoulos]

In Sept of last year I had shipped a box of clothing & misc items uneeded on the Camino, ahead to Ivar to hold until I arrived in Santiago. Unfortunately, I had to leave Spain several days from Santiago, on account of a family emergancy that has since been resolved. Ivar was kind enough to forward the package to my home. I prepaid Ivar the cost of shipping and this transaction went smoothly. I'm not sure if the forwarding of packages in his care is a normal part of his many great services, but in my case he was very accomodating.