Case One:

A parcel posted on 2 June in London had not arrived by 26 June. Enquiries with the foreign company were made. On 6 July, the package turned up again in London with a stamped “incorrect address” on it. Maybe it ended up in Malawi who knows? The goods in question were received around 14 July, six weeks after being dispatched.

Case Two:

A parcel was posted in London on 28 June and arrived on Wednesday, 27 July, almost a month later. This time it did not make a round trip, but does it take four weeks for parcels to arrive from the United Kingdom when they used to take a maximum of two weeks just a few months ago?

Case Three:

A parcel was posted in Germany on 22 June. However, the order originated in the United States so there is a granted time lag for communication and dispatch of goods across the Atlantic. This turned up in Malta on 15 July, just over three weeks later. On the other hand, a package sent by the same company from London on 7 July arrived on the same day! Local customers experience with Germany has always been one of the highest standards, so this situation is quite worrying.

Case Four:

Two parcels were posted from Germany on 24 June, although the orders were placed in the United States. One of the parcels made it to Malta on 23 July, again almost a month later. The other parcel is lurking around somewhere in limbo as it has still not arrived, according to the angry customer, who can see the books ordered from the foreign company for sale in local bookstores. The waiting seems to go for ever.

The situation has gone from bad to worse ever since 1 May, when this country joined the European Union. One cannot but be mystified at this strange turn of events but the sad realisation that we are in Malta may have something to do with it... yet again.

Case One:

A parcel posted on 2 June in London had not arrived by 26 June. Enquiries with the foreign company were made. On 6 July, the package turned up again in London with a stamped “incorrect address” on it. Maybe it ended up in Malawi who knows? The goods in question were received around 14 July, six weeks after being dispatched.

Case Two:

A parcel was posted in London on 28 June and arrived on Wednesday, 27 July, almost a month later. This time it did not make a round trip, but does it take four weeks for parcels to arrive from the United Kingdom when they used to take a maximum of two weeks just a few months ago?

Case Three:

A parcel was posted in Germany on 22 June. However, the order originated in the United States so there is a granted time lag for communication and dispatch of goods across the Atlantic. This turned up in Malta on 15 July, just over three weeks later. On the other hand, a package sent by the same company from London on 7 July arrived on the same day! Local customers experience with Germany has always been one of the highest standards, so this situation is quite worrying.

Case Four:

Two parcels were posted from Germany on 24 June, although the orders were placed in the United States. One of the parcels made it to Malta on 23 July, again almost a month later. The other parcel is lurking around somewhere in limbo as it has still not arrived, according to the angry customer, who can see the books ordered from the foreign company for sale in local bookstores. The waiting seems to go for ever.

The situation has gone from bad to worse ever since 1 May, when this country joined the European Union. One cannot but be mystified at this strange turn of events but the sad realisation that we are in Malta may have