Extreme delays for International packages?

[niidawg3]

Anyone else experiencing this? Apparently customs are holding quite a bunch of items, and things can take up to a month!!

 

[Achilles_]

Originally Posted by niidawg3

Anyone else experiencing this? Apparently customs are holding quite a bunch of items, and things can take up to a month!!
Dang, I just ordered some socks from Viccel too

 

[rebel222]

Sounds like they are researching the declared values and planning to hit you with a big bill.

 

[niidawg3]

Originally Posted by rebel222

Sounds like they are researching the declared values and planning to hit you with a big bill.

 

[mmhollis]

I experienced this over the Christmas holiday at points, however, it was very inconsistent. Some things took over a month to receive, other things about a week. There really doesn't appear to be a rhyme or reason to it.

 

[Cary Grant]

If not shipping by express, I've always counted it on being a month or so. Sometimes it's less.

 

[Fred49]

My stuff is taking 3 to 4 weeks. My Cuban cigars are in the hands of customs!!! Its an outrage!

 

[in stitches]

got a cap from ferrari online a few months back, went from italy to france to kentucky to my door in maryland in 25 hours

last month a suit took about 2-3 weeks from italy

go figure

 

[HEPennypacker]

Yes, pretty much for all of my packages from the UK. It's taking at least 2-3 weeks for those. I received some ties on Thursday from Charles Tyrwhitt that were postmarked December 10. They actually sent out a notice about it:

As you may already know, we are currently experiencing severe and unprecedented delays with a large number of orders shipped in the last few weeks to the US. I would like to apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly if your order is still yet to arrive or indeed if it was delayed past its intended date of arrival but has now reached you.

I would also like to clarify the reasons for the delay to your order. Certainly there have been some delays due to the weather. Freezing conditions and heavy snow in the UK meant that transporting orders for overseas shipping became near impossible and even once the situation had improved there were large backlogs that needed to be cleared. These delays were exacerbated when goods flown into the US via the East Coast then met the same problem upon arrival with severe weather disruptions across the Eastern Seaboard hindering the United States Postal Service in their efforts to deliver on time.

The major and overriding factor, however, was not the weather. Since November, the United States Department of Homeland Security has dramatically increased its security measures following the "toner" incident. In short, mail weighing at least 1 pound can no longer enter the US via passenger aircraft and instead must be transported via other means. It is now also a requirement that all parcels over one pound are individually scanned, which the vast majority of Airlines and Postal Authorities simply aren't equipped to deal with. We have also been informed that Homeland Security representatives are randomly intercepting consignments and holding them for an indefinite period.

These measures were implemented without prior notice and all involved parties have been doing their utmost to work around these issues. However despite our best endeavours these exceptional circumstances together with the increase in mail over the festive period simply meant that there were no other options left to explore and severe delays have been occurring.

I must stress that these severe issues with delivery are not restricted to ourselves and over this period the vast majority of airlines, carriers, businesses and of course customers have had to bear the brunt of these problems. You may have received another order from us or another company in this time without delay (certainly the amount of successful and timely deliveries we have completed far outweighs those that have been unsuccessful). Our major problem is that there has been no way to guarantee what will arrive and will not with any degree of certainty.

If your parcel has still not arrived then do please feel free to get back in touch with us and we will do whatever we can to assist you. We would recommend contacting our Customer Service department via telephone to discuss the specifics of your own situations but you can also email us if preferred.

 

[countcount]

Yes. A package from Japan took 3-4 weeks longer than normal. IIRC, it was more than 16 oz.

 

[Owen Meany]

Over the last 3 weeks, I received to separate orders from Herring Shoes in 4 days - UK to Los Angeles; on the other hand, I am still waiting for shirts ordered from H&K over 3 weeks go....

 

[Ianiceman]

+1 on the inconsistency. On Friday I got a Christmas card and a small package posted from England to Texas in mid December. Meanwhile I made and received an order from MT in China within two weeks.

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

Things seem to be clearing up now but people were experiencing delays all through Christmas and early > Mid Jan (a lot more than usual).

I was told by the Royal mail that this was down to unprecedented volume of post at Christmas, coupled with the bad weather here in the UK (snow meant the whole country was at a standstill for a week) and also the change in security protocols in the U.S due to the infamous toner cartridge incident...

 

[niidawg3]

i hope its just customs scanning stuff to make sure it is clear vs them trying to prepare a bill for me.

 

[RJE]

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