Wallaceburg’s Kylie Flanagan is hoping to celebrate Halloween next week with her six-year-old son Cohen, who is excited to wear a brand new costume featuring his favourite Pokémon character. However, the Pikachu outfit set to be delivered to Blue Water Ferry (BWF) Parcels in Sombra has been caught up in the United States for almost three weeks.
Kylie Flanagan told the Sydenham Current the entire process has been frustrating.
“My parcel was delivered to Marine City on October 2,” Flanagan said.
“I personally went there three times (in Sombra) to get it… they kept saying it wasn’t there. They did not tell me anything about any issues, until the third time.”
For many years, BWF Parcels has been getting parcels shipped across the St. Clair River from Marine City to Sombra for customers. For a fee, the parcel is shipped from the Marine City ferry crossing across the Bluewater Ferry and stored in their secure warehouse on the Canadian side for pickup.
Flanagan said an employee at BWF Parcels told her his boss was going over to collect all the parcels and would send the customers an email.
“No email came,” she said. “I called the office. He then decided to tell me that I have to email my receipt to their email address. Never told me this the three times I went there in person. I have emailed them as well. Their response is that they are bringing parcels to Canada every day. They will email me next week with the address in the States as to where I can pick up my parcel.
Flanagan said BWF Parcels never told her they were having any problems.
“The company I ordered from is Costume Kingdom in California. “She called the Ferry. The employee said my package was there. She asked if I could go pick it up… he told her no, wait for an email.”
Flanagan said she’s hoping the issue gets fixed before Halloween.
“I’d really like to have it for him,” she said about her son’s costume. “I hope they send that email with a pin number so I can go pick it up.”
An e-mail from the Sydenham Current to BWF Parcels has yet to be returned.
The company did issue a statement on their website: “Parcels are now being cleared through the bluewater bridge. You will receive an email when its brought in, Thank you for your patience. If you have a parcel delivered or have one going to be delivered, please email all receipts to import@bwfparcels.com”
Multiple people in the area have expressed concern about the issue on social media.
If you would like to share your story, contact the Sydenham Current by emailing aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
We’ll provide more information when it becomes available.
I received an e-mail from BWF because I have been a customer for a long time. Strange enough, the last week I had a package delivered to my US address at Bay Brokerage in Port Huron. Received an e-mail today that it had arrived 3 days ahead if schedule ! Glad I didn’t use BWF this time but I hope they get their act together soon !
yup I have been waiting for 2 parcels since the first of October and have made 2 trips to sombra and still don’t have the parcels. I keep getting the run around that they will be there by the end of the week but still no parcels. They are very vague about what is going on. Maybe they should just leave the parcels on the U.S. Side in a warehouse and let us pick them up there and maybe they should have told people about this ahead of time and advise them not to ship till they had it all straightened out. Very frustrating.
Been waiting for my package since the first of October. These are things that I have needed but I keep getting told by BWP that it will a couple more days. Couple more days has turned into three weeks going on four. If I had of known that they weren’t going to have their ducks in a row then I would never have shipped then there. Needless to say this will be the last package for me getting shipped there!!
A parcel I had ordered from u.s.a. arrived at BWF parcels. Marine City on Oct. 8/15. The next day I went to pick it up and was told to email receipt to them, I had copy of invoice with me, not acceptable. I contacted my supplier to have invoice e-mailed to them which was done immediately. I called to make sure they received email but could not get a real person, just automated answering. I received an email from someone at BWF stating I could pick up parcel at their Marine City address with directions how to get there. We went there only to find it closed with no sign on door stating why. There were six of us standing around trying to figure out what was going on. The next day we received another email from BWF saying they were sorry for a mixup in emails and they said we would not have to pay the 5:00 fee but wait until they send email to come to pickup..I am still waiting as of Oct. 23/15. I have used BWF Parcels for past 4 years without problem but this is very frustrating to say the least. Bill Watson, Wallaceburg
We have been waiting for a parcel which arrived at Bluewater Parcels on October 5th. Two trips to Sombra, and both times we were unable to pick it up although we had emailed the receipt as requested. They simply told us to “wait for an email” Today that email arrived. They state “we aim to have all goods over for pick up Monday. We do not know the exact time Monday. When the goods are over we will notify you by emai/text and we will extend the hours of operation to allow you to pick them up. Again we are very sorry for the delay in receiving your goods we really appreciate your patience”
Same as all the above. I’ve had six parcels there since October 8. I received an email and text this Saturday morning saying that I should come and pick 2 of my parcels up so I drove 40 minutes to the ferry. The website said they were open until 2 PM so I arrived at 1:30 PM only to see a “CLOSED” sign on the door.
I have sent several emails and texted them over the last couple of weeks looking for my goods. No replies with any helpful information. I’ve used them several times in the past but never again. After I drove to the ferry but I went to SCC parcels in Port Huron to pick up four packages they advised me had arrived yesterday. I’ve used him several times as well and never any issues there. They’re easy to get to and are great & friendly people to work with.
Every business has troubles but only losers hide instead of keeping their customers informed of what’s really happening. They now have a warehouse full of goods that we’ve all paid for, in my case approximately $800 USD that was sent to them by expedited shipping since I needed the items for a trip from which I have already returned. BWF has seen my last dollar. Business issues I can tolerate, being icompletely ignored I cannot. I doubt they will survive this anyway. They have a glut of backlog parcels to process and obviously no one else is shipping to them therefore they will not have the revenue to dig themselves out of this issue. Personally I think they dug their own grave and I have the same sympathy for them as they had for me when I was looking for answers.
Does anyone have a telephone number for these clowns?
Rick
I guess thats the way it goes when a spoiled brat can’t get his act together. This kid thinks he above everyone when in fact his family should strip him of his responsibilities when it comes to the company. Blue Water Ferry has always been fair and provided a good service. This kid is ruining their name. I feel bad for all involved.
So just like everyone else I received the email on the weekend stating that by Monday it would be straightened around and all parcels would be available for pick up. Not to my surprise but I still have not received and email stating that my parcels we available. Obviously they still do not have their act together!! This is beyond frustrating when you pay expedited shipping for a parcel only to be a month later and still not have it. At this point I will be surprised if I even see the packages but it will definitely be the last time I use them regardless!!
I also ordered a package express shipping and only to find out nobody is there to pick it up. I have made two trips from Chatham and with no success. I have a broke down truck waiting for parts to put back on the road. What kind of business are these idiots running. I have tried calling and emailing several times with no success. This is totally fraudulent. Can’t the law or someone do something about this?
I’ve had 3 parcels there since the start of October. I’ve received nothing but lies and put offs. I received the ‘monday’ email that many have received.
The only thing more baffling than the fact that they keep choosing to not communicate or outright lie is the fact that they are still advertising and still receiving new parcels?
The phone number for BWF Parcels (which is actually Blue Water Ferry) has changed their voicemail message, they say that BWF Parcels no longer operates from their location. The fact that they are trying to distance themselves from BWF Parcels (which I am willing to bet is not setup as a separate entity to Blue Water Ferry) is somewhat concerning.
If anyone from BWF Parcels is reading this here is some advice: Please consider offering your customers the option to pickup their goods in the US and remove the shipping address from your website until you get your importing process straightened out. If you keep receiving packages and not meeting your service obligations you will continue to damage the Blue Water Ferry brand. You are also opening yourself up to civil lawsuits against Blue Water Ferry because the businesses are so tightly integrated (ie. BWF Parcels is part of the main menu on Blue Water Ferry’s website). Also, timely and accurate communications to your affected customers is key, from the sounds of these comments it appears you have not been doing this.
This is getting out of hand ; No emails, no phone calls – No Information. I would welcome interested parties to band together – There has to be accountability here and litigation can be an option. It’s ridiculous.
Why they are being allowed to operate is beyond me. I will be contacting the BBB today.
Mr. Dalgety ; Act quickly before your son (Apologies if he isn’t yours) destroys your good family name any further.
I have a package there since last week. Had I known that there were issues I just would have paid the extra duty at this point to get our stuff. My sons halloween costume is part of it and he is very disappointed. Emailed them multiple times, sent the invoice twice, and no reply. I agree with others that this is no way to run a business. Does anyone have a number to call? The website number belongs to the ferry and all they said to me was that they are no longer operating out of their building………so where the heck are they?? And their website states “It won’t be long”, that was Monday…….last time I use them.
Finally was able to pick this up Dec 3. A full six weeks after it arrived. The louse of an owner did nothing to keep my business. I am glad to say I will NEVER use them again. I hope he has lost enough business to consider a new career.
Had a parcel delivered over a week ago and no luck either… Very strange why they have to close the office until all the packages are across??? Guess to avoid all the people who have spent money and not gotten our parcels
Two weeks ago I went to their office, after a few failed attempts and told them I wasn’t leaving until they got my packages. We had very expensive camera equipment that we needed for a shoot.
So I sat in the office from 11am-5pm until “the boss” found my packages and dropped them off at Fisher Baker in Marine City, and I took the ferry over and got them myself. They were great people and we will be shipping to them for now on.
They really should just drop everyone’s packages off at Fisher Baker and throw in the towel.
I agree with others who mentioned that BWF parcel should just give us the option to pick-up our parcels in Marine City.
If its brokerage problems; then problem solved. If they have bankruptcy issues; then our paid for purchases cannot be considered their assets.
Fisher Baker in Marine City is the best to ship to, very friendly people and no hassles. I know this doesn’t help the people already affected.
I had $250 worth of car parts delivered 3 weeks ago now on Oct 13th and have called and emailed several times and kept getting told to “wait for an email”. This is getting ridiculous. I have 3 vehicles that need fixing and can’t do anything. Sent another email today. Gonna go out there tomorrow if no response.
I’ll be using my account with Kinek from now on. Only reason I didn’t this time was that I didn’t have time to cross the border.
Just like everyone else my packages have been there since the beginning of October. They were all items for orders that customers had placed on our online store. I have lost business and over $1000.00 us in wholesale products. I have tried to call, sent emails and last Saturday we drove for two hours and went to Marine city to find the warehouse in hopes of picking up our packages, they were closed. When we came back to Sombra we saw the owner and we were told all packages would be brought over by Monday. So far no emails…
I called the OPP and they told me that there is nothing they can do! Why is it that this company is getting away with it.
I also had a parcel shipped to BWF. I also tried to call and email them but with no success. After 3 attempts I took matters in my own hands,. I personally crossed the ferry and made a surprise visit. I walked in and found my parcel (with some altercations) and then left with much more heated conversation and then guess what? I left with my package. It took a little time for Josh to see things my way but he did and let me leave with my parcel. They are in a little room with the door on St. Clair street right behind the old antique shop.(Same building). I think it is 115 St. Clair. The first door at the side. (blue push door).. Be ready for some confrontation! These guys are a disgrace to anyone who owns a business. The Delgety family should feel disgrace for this low life attitude to make innocent people wait like this. How do they expect to keep a business with this selfish way of doing business. I GOT MY PARCEL! how about you? Good luck everyone; I sure hope you have the same persuasion I had.
I ordered children’s close for my children the first week of October 2015. These items were delivered to the ferry Oct 12,2015 by signature. It is now November 18th. I still have not received an email and I have stopped twice at the ferry warehouse with no luck. The last response I got is “We are shutting down on Saturday to get all parcels across” that was last Friday. I still have not received any parcel notification. Has anyone received any notifications of parcel pickups yet. I will never have anything shipped like this again.
I had parcels delivered October 08 and I still haven’t got a solid response from them. If you happen to get a response it is all lies anyhow, I was told 4 weeks ago that my parcels would be ready for pickup by the Friday. I don’t think we will have to worry about dealing with them in the future, this should be the end of this business if it isn’t already. Nice way to handle yourself in a small town.
Today is Nov. 19th .I finally received my parcel today which was shipped Oct. 2nd .After several emails and phone calls and in person visits I finally received my package today. I have been told several times over the past seven weeks that my parcel would be in by the weekend. I was told this five times . I signed up for parcel delivery for five dollars a parcel. Customs policy in Sombra has always been if your parcel is under one hundred dollars in value they do not charge you duty or Hst. Today instead of five dollars I had to pay THIRTY dollars to get my parcel. My parcel was only seventy dollars and by the time customs in Sarnia converted it to U.S. funds I had to pay an extra Thirteen dollars HST. and Twelve dollars Brokerage fees and the five dollars package charge from BWF. What a rip off. If I would have known this , I would have ordered it thru SCC, in Port Huron . It would have cost me Five dollars Instead of Thirty . Needless to say I won’t be dealing with BWF Parcels in the future.
I’ve been waiting since October 23rd for 3 parcels and have not received one yet as of November 21st. I have a small business and needed the parts to create items to sell in some Christmas sales. One of the sales has already taken place and the other 2 are happening next week. This has not only been frustrating but has caused me to lose revenue for my business. I won’t risk sending anything through BWF Parcels in the future.
What a joke of a company, avoid at all costs.
Add one more dissatisfied customer to the list. I had a $1500 commercial shipment arrive on Oct. 14. It’s now the 24th of November. I have tried to contact them by email & phone. sometimes I get a vague answer but mostly I get ignored and of course no delivery. The Ferry is trying to distance themselves from the parcels but everyone know it’s their family and the damage is done. When I do get an answer it’s usually a request to sent the invoice, which I did on Oct. 14, or to verify my business number, which I did Oct. 14. I have gone there twice, one I was told it would arrive the next day – it did not. Instead of giving their customers the option of picking up their parcels in Michigan they continue the lying and promising it will be soon. I have used Blue Water Ferry to get shipments for over 10 years without a problem until now. I can understand a delay of a day or two while they sort things out but we are now measuring the delay in the process in months not days. They do now seem to take anything seriously. The last time I was there they acted like a six week delay to process something that everyone else does in hours was normal. It’s time to shut this playpen down – but only after everyone gets their stuff.
I have had a package arrive in Marine City at BWF on Oct.5th and have gone to pick it up 3 times, gone over on the ferry to pick it up and they said they could”t give it to me because they are not a business….so why are they accepting peoples parcels and holding them hostage. Was told it would arrive on Friday nights shipment so went on the Saturday to pick it up….again not there. People that have had parcels shipped there later than mine are receiving emails to pick their parcel up. If I don’t get my parcel by next weekend these people will have had my parcel for 2 months. I also hear they are charging a ridiculous amount to get your parcel. I call it ransom at this point. This business needs to be red flagged and stop deliveries of parcels to them. All I ask is that they give me MY parcel. I have paid for it and it is mine. Is this not theft???