Citibox Secure Mailboxes and International Courier

Imagine this problem. A lady from the United States of America has a certain shopping excess and suddenly finds herself unable to carry all her kuggage on the next stage of her European journey before heading back to her home country (European low-cost arlines give hardly any allowance). What could be more sensible than going down to your local Spanish courier office, in this case MRW in Barcelona, and asking for the extra package to be sent on to the UK which is her next stop in Europe?

As we all know, budget airlines luggage allowance within Europe is very mean, some charging for any suitcase taken on the aircraft, but full-fare international airlines allow 30kg or so. The lady wanted to have her package sent to Exeter in the UK so she could incorporate it in return luggage to the USA.

What then happened? Despite the fact that she had gone in to the local MRW office in Barcelona and paid in cash €100.30 (Citibox’s price is 25% lower) and left her package there it did not move. MRW wrote to the lady and demanded additional monies merely to send the box to the UK. As I have often said, there are only four international carriers of repute and there is not a single Spanish carrier among them. So this poor lady is being blackmailed, pony up even more money or we will not send your package for which we have already taken a large amount of money. What is more, they would not accept payment by credit card, they insisted on a wire transfer.

Clearly the customer got extremely worried by these bullying tactics (not to mention the high prices once she had found out how cheap the package could have been on the Citibox website). So what does a damsel in distress do then – well, in the absence of Superman, she has to resort to contacting Citibox. Citibox send in their excellent local agents in Barcelona (and Madrid) IndySpain who also have the franchise for the Spanish network ASM in Madrid.

Now, let’s not think anyone is stupid. We had asked the client for a copy of her passport, a copy of her receipt from MRW and an email saying that we could collect the box – come on we are Spain’s registered FedEx agent. On arrival, IndySpain’s Barcelona messenger had to leave empty handed – MRW did not have €100 in the till. On the third attempt, I am delighted to say, that the package has been collected and the money too. The box is tonight on its way to the USA via FedEx.

But let’s consider the case. The lady wanted the box in the UK (she left there long ago which is why it is going to the USA). She overpaid a Spanish Courier Company for a service they did not provide and then they tried to extract even more money out of her. She was completely helpless and sought Citibox’s aid (who clearly deliver, quite necessary in this industry). To our cousins and friends in the United States of America who need packages to the USA or parcels to the USA or luggage to the USA delivered from Spain I urge you please to use those great American companies either FedEx or UPS. You may go to them direct or you can save 50% or so by coming through Citibox, Spain’s only internet discount courier. But please don’t go to the man down the road, overpay, and then have to get us to sort the problem out (although we will always be here for you if you need us).

As a matter of record, Citibox made no charge whatsoever for the collection (at the third attempt) and the customer is paying only the price on our website (less the €100,30 that we recovered from MRW).