Online purchases - where to deliver while cruising?

[LongRange]

For those of you cruising in Greece in particular, how do you handle buying gear online? Where do you get it delivered as you are sailing from port to port?

Are marinas generally OK with receiving boxes for guest boats, and are they reliable? Or is it perhaps better to come to an arrangement with a shore-based local who is willing to be the destination address for your shipment?

Thanks!

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by LongRange

For those of you cruising in Greece in particular, how do you handle buying gear online? Where do you get it delivered as you are sailing from port to port?

Are marinas generally OK with receiving boxes for guest boats, and are they reliable? Or is it perhaps better to come to an arrangement with a shore-based local who is willing to be the destination address for your shipment?

Thanks!

Marina's are usually OK. But call them and explain what you want to receive, how big and when it should arrive en when you plan to pick it up.
Be aware that transport to the islands takes a lot longer and is more expensive than transport to the mainland. the smaller the island, the longer it will take.

[NornaBiron]

We usually speak to a shop or taverna that we have been using and they have always accepted deliveries for us. If you are in yacht dense areas you will often find a bar that offers this service, for example Vliho Yacht Club on Lefkada. Or have a delivery addressed to the local courier office and collect it.

Make sure to always have your telephone number clearly marked on the package so that you can be contacted.

[GordMay]

Does no-one use Poste Restante, any more?
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...mail-2237.html

[NornaBiron]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Does no-one use Poste Restante, any more?
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...mail-2237.html

Within Greece Poste Restante is only any good for letters and very small packages. The Post Offices will not accept deliveries from couriers and just lately Royal Mail parcels have been handled by ACS couriers.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Does no-one use Poste Restante, any more?
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...mail-2237.html

We do so here in Oz, Gordy, and it works well in both big downtown offices and the tiny ones in the woop-woop. Have done so in other countries, but not for some years now, so won't comment generally.

Jim

[Catapault]

Originally Posted by LongRange

For those of you cruising in Greece in particular, how do you handle buying gear online? Where do you get it delivered as you are sailing from port to port?

Are marinas generally OK with receiving boxes for guest boats, and are they reliable? Or is it perhaps better to come to an arrangement with a shore-based local who is willing to be the destination address for your shipment?

Thanks!

Had Amazon deliver a pile of stuff to our agent in Rhodes. She kept it and we picked up on arrival. Great Service. About to do it again.

Regards

Mark.

[mikedefieslife]

In Spain use Lista de Correos and pick up your items from a nominated post office. Other countries have similar services and it's usually free or very cheap.

Marinas are usually a no-go unless you know someone there. They aren't interested in acting as post rooms, or so I've found.

Again, local shops and taverns if you know someone otherwise, no chance. Of course when cruising you'll usually want to order your goods to be delivered somewhere so they are waiting for you. Unless you've been to a place before then it can be difficult to find somewhere. This is where having things sent to a post office works well, or even better making friends with people on the forums.

[rwidman]

I don't know about Greece but in the USA we've had deliveries made to marinas. Of course we've called the marinas ahead of time to make sure it's OK and these are marinas where we have made reservations to stay for a few days. We have also made sure the sender knows the whole situation ahead of time.

[SecondBase]

Amazon locker service has launched in the States. Should globalize shortly.

1. What are Amazon Lockers? Amazon Lockers are secure, self-service kiosks where customers can pick up Amazon.com packages at a time and place that is convenient for them.

2. How do I use a Locker? To use an Amazon Locker as your shipping destination, find a Locker and add it to your Amazon address book. Then, during checkout, select the Locker as your shipping address. Once your package has been delivered, we will email you a unique 6 digit code. Simply visit your selected Locker and enter the code on the Locker's touchscreen, then remove your package after the Locker's door opens. Learn more about picking up a package from an Amazon Locker here.

3. How much does using an Amazon Locker cost? Standard shipping rates apply or FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime is available. There is no additional cost to use an Amazon Locker.

4. How long do I have to pick up my package? You have 3 calendar days to pick up your package. If you're not able to collect your package within this timeframe, it will be returned to us for a refund.

[mikedefieslife]

You get Amazon lockers in the UK I don't know about the rest of Europe. The ones I've seen though you'd never fit a tender in there, a windlass, autopilot, head, or many of the other things I've ordered over the past few months.

[hellosailor]

I would expect (ha) that the major delivery services have the same policy that they have in the US. UPS, Fedex, others all will "HOLD AT TERMINAL" if the shipper marks the package that way. Then you go to the local distribution terminal (or UPS/Fedex Store), show your ID, and pick it up.

Typically, I think they will hold for 3 days before returning things. You'd need to check locally, and it is always best to confirm with the terminal you plan to use. For them, it is cheaper to hold things at a terminal, then to send them out on the last leg for delivery.

[mikedefieslife]

DHL Express will do this as I enquired only recently. Fedex too.

For others you'll struggle to find a terminal outside of major cities.

[SecondBase]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

DHL Express will do this as I enquired only recently. Fedex too.

For others you'll struggle to find a terminal outside of major cities.

UPS holds packages as well. You can also update delivery address during shipment.
All FedexOffice (linked) locations will hold a FedEx package for you.
Bring ID for pickup.

Mike - Thanks for the info on UK amazon lockers. Whole Foods will also soon have amazon delivery as well - this may be the answer for outsize items.

West Marine is extremely flexible on logistics - you get what you pay for. You order from or have delivery to any of their locations for their inventory PLUS special order like that one Teleflex part that needs to ship in from Canada.