package forwarding service

Your Questions About Shipping Pt. 1

We recently sat down with our OPAS Warehouse Manager, Steve. He is in charge of your orders from the moment they come through our doors until they are consolidated and securely packaged and ready to be sent to you. Steve shared with us some of the common questions that our customers ask about receiving and shipping.

What happens from the time my package arrives to when it leaves?

Steve: First, each item that comes in is registered into our system. Where it came from, the tracking number and the weight are recorded and it is labeled with a unique number. All the packages are stored together by the member’s ID number until we get a shipping request to send them out. The ID numbers of the items to be shipped together are printed out on what we call a “pick ticket”. The items are then consolidated, usually into a single package. Then we measure and weigh it to calculate the shipping charges. When customers want a shipping estimate or are paying by PayPal, we wait to get payment approval, and finally we print out the shipping label and send it on its way.

I can’t find some of my items in my OPAS account. Were are they?

S: First of all, the tracking numbers of all packages are scanned and marked as “delivered” by most delivery services (like UPS and FedEx) when they arrive at our warehouse. However, packages delivered by the US Postal Service are scanned and marked as “delivered” before they are loaded onto the Post Office delivery trucks. The actual time we receive the packages from the post office may be several hours after it shows up as “delivered” in the system. In other words, you may track it as being delivered hours before it even arrives at OPAS. Recently we have had issues where some packages are marked “delivered” to us actually days before they reach OPAS. This is a serious issue and we are in contact with our local post office to resolve this issue. Please feel free to contact us if you are seeing a USPS package tracked as delivered, but not appearing in our system. But chances are this is what has happened and hopefully we won’t be seeing this anymore soon.

We get a lot of inquires asking about packages that should have arrived on Saturday. We are not open on the weekends, so we wouldn’t have seen them yet. Our carriers know when this and bring us all the weekend deliveries on Monday. Also, Amazon contracts out many of their deliveries to private contractors who promise to make deliveries on the weekend. Our customers sometimes get an email telling them that a delivery attempt was made, but that no one was there to accept the package. In this case there is nothing the OPAS customer needs to do. We will receive your package the following Monday. So make sure you don’t pay extra for weekend delivery!

We receive deliveries from the post office and every other shipping company until the early afternoon every weekday. Any one of these deliveries can be hundreds of packages, which have to be registered one by one. So it may be a few hours between the time we receive a delivery to the time it is input into our system. Please be a little patient!

Shouldn’t scanning each package go faster than that?

S: Electronic scanners are fast, but they can’t do everything. They can’t check for any damage a package has received in transit. When a package is damaged in delivery we need to contact the customer and the shipper as quickly as possible to get it resolved. There really isn’t any way make the process go quicker. We also have to deal with misdeliveries and mistaken orders, and it helps us speed things up when we know those things are coming. This is also true with hazardous materials. We inspect each package, input its measurements, and finish by putting a registration label on it.

What if I’d like to check on a package that OPAS has already received?

S: If you’d like to see a picture of what is inside your package, please select “Scan Request” on your received package. If you would like to make sure that the items you received were correct (i.e. size, color, model, quantity, etc…) please select the inspection option when you are ready to ship.

Where do you store my packages? Can you send out my order quickly?

S: After being registered, your packages are sorted and stored together based on your customer number inside the OPAS warehouse. When you make a shipping request it generates one of the pick tickets I mentioned earlier. Everything on the pick ticket is then collected. We double check to make sure all items are there and accounted for. It is our policy to process every request within 24 hours after receiving it, but special situations and delayed payments can cause it to take more time. Customers who pay for express delivery will get preferential treatment. At especially busy periods there are times when packages have to be pushed back to the next day. If you are in a real hurry to get your items, the best thing to do is let us know this in advance. For example, if you are waiting for certain items to arrive before placing your shipping request, declare or “add” the items you are expecting in your account, and then make a shipping request with the items that are already at OPAS. In the “special requests” section let us know you want to include the items you are waiting for. Then we can get your order processed without you having to wait until you get delivery confirmation to OPAS. This is also a good way to speed up your order processing without having to pay extra express delivery fees.

We will continue our conversation with Steve next month…

Package Forwarding, The International And National Benefits

The International, And National,

The International, And National,Whether you are shopping for Nike’s in the US from Australia or trying to get your hands on a niche Japanese beauty product, online shopping is your friend. You have become super savvy in finding the best deals on the items you crave but sometimes you run into a problem when it comes to shipping your items to your location. For international consumers, shipping addresses may become problematic, especially when vendors only deliver to limited regions. This is where package forwarding comes in.

The solution of package forwarding is one way to overcome this.

At OPAS, we offer a valid US based address where goods can be delivered by the retailer, and then we forward these order to the consumer.  This also lets shoppers reduce their shipping costs, since we can consolidate orders from a number of vendors and send them all to the consumer at once.

However, package forwarding plays a large part with national shoppers as well.  This can frequently become the case for people in rural and even metropolitan areas, where a PO Box is the mailing address.  A variety of retailers do require a physical destination for a package delivery, and this possibility can become limiting for sales.

National customers can also utilize package forwarding to overcome this problem.  In the same manner that international customers are given a distinct delivery address, national clients will also gain a delivery destination that works for them and for the vendor.  This includes processing benefits such as:

  • Lowered overall shipping fees
  • Package consolidation
  • Careful handling and great customer service

Another positive consequence that both national and international customers can make use of is the fact that OPAS package forwarding addresses are based out of Oregon.  Since there is no sales tax for the state, there is also a further savings that can be gained on these purchases.  We guarantee you will pay no US sales tax, this can mean a saving of up to 10%. 

While many consumers just take sales tax as a given, this does not have to be the case.  Larger purchases such as electronics can result in hundreds of dollars in tax, but with OPAS package forwarding, this can all become a savings that may be used for further items that are bought.  As a result, national and international shoppers are all finding that great purchase power really is in their control.

Regardless of where you live, OPAS package forwarding can facilitate your online shopping experience.  By getting a US/Oregon based delivery address set up today, you will be able to take advantage of any sale or new release, while knowing that you are getting what you want, at the deal that you demand.

What Makes A Good Package Forwarding Service?

No matter where you are around the world, a package forwarding service can be your best friend if you love to shop. At OPAS, we strive to make the best U.S.-based brands available to people no matter where they come from. Needless to say, there are many international package forwarding companies out there, and we believe ours is the best.

We want you to make an informed decision, so let’s discuss some of the ways you can tell if you are dealing with a good package forwarding service.

What makes a good package forwarding service?

1) A Reliable Package Forwarding Service Has Been Around For A Long Time

The number of global package forwarding services is expanding. However, you shouldn’t trust your packages to just anyone. The longer a package has to travel, the more likely it is to be damaged, so care is needed. OPAS has been serving customers since 1990!

2) A Good Package Forwarder Will Provide Fast Service

One of the major issues in the package forwarding industry has to do with speed. Of course, our customers understand that distance traveled is beyond our control. Unlike some other companies, though, we forward your packages right away if you choose that option, and never delay your shipments unless the law requires it.

3) A Good Package Forwarder Has An Excellent Reputation

At OPAS, we have worked hard to ensure that virtually all of our packages arrive just as expected. We do everything possible to ensure that your packages get to you unscathed. Likewise, we service dozens of countries around the world — far more than our competitors.

4) A Good Package Forwarding Service Isn’t Just A Package Forwarding Service

In 2012, our company purchased Ship2Me.com, another major firm in the global forwarding space. This has helped us expand our catalogue of brands and ensure that you get great service each and every time. Unlike others, we also have a personal shopping service.

If you use a less established package forwarding service, these issues can arise:

  • Damaged or lost packages due to misrouting of shipments on the forwarder’s side.
  • Unexpected charges and fees, such as U.S. sales tax, that OPAS never passes on to you. (in fact, we offer the 0% Sales Tax Guarantee: If you have to pay US Sales Tax, OPAS will refund your shipping cost.)
  • Poor customer service, making it difficult for you to follow up on your issues.

When it comes to getting the best brands at the best price anywhere on the planet, OPAS is the clear choice! To find out more about us or get started, please email us at any time. Our international shipping experts are waiting to hear from you.

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