Customs Scoop on the packages arriving in United States & delayed from all of Europe

Anyone wondering where they're parcel is could write usps an email on their website. I found whenever I write them the problem is fixed immediatly...in such vase last yr they decided I moved and left no forewarding address when I hadn't moved at all. I emailed them and I started receiving my mail again. Then I wrote them an email reguarding my package staying in customs for a week...the next day I get an update. They wont email you back but at least you'll get something

 

Well, yesterday I got a letter from the USPS International Inquiry Center, telling me that Norway had started an inquiry and asking me if I'd gotten my package. (um, NO.) I checked the box that said I had not gotten my package, and faxed it back this morning, and mailed it back as well just to be sure. I also copied it to keep a copy for myself.

The worrying thing was that not only was my last name spelled wrong (starting with a P instead of a B) but my street address was off by one number (I'm at 208, not 209.) I'm hoping that those are just transcription errors and my package wasn't actually labeled wrong and sent to someone else. Our mailman is really awesome and he would never mis-deliver something with a little error like that, but the package delivery guys aren't as great. But I don't think it was delivered to the wrong address, because then it would show as delivered. Instead it still just says it's waiting to be sorted after clearing customs. :p Like it's said since Jan 14.

Oh well, at least this means some action is happening, even if it's not me actually getting my package. I'd be happy for a refund right now. At least the issue would be closed.

 

Tenshi I hear you. I hate having something in limbo...especially if its been there since jan. At least your post recognizes there was/ is an issue in delivery. I wouldn't worry about your name being misspelled to much. My fiance's cable company spells his last name with a c instead of a p and he consistantly gets his bill. I also have had items sent to my old last name instead of barr and I had a little difficulty with that awhile ago bit that's been dealt with Land get my mail(even with the wrong last name) the address issue may be the thing to worry about tho. Hope it gets fixed soon.

On the bright side customs finally let my kalix go and he's finally reached ohio, I think there is a good chance he'll make it home today

 

Kalix made it

 

Got my kalix today and an email from usps. They said its unclear why there was a delay in processing an express package whn there's flights or something like that...but he's here so im happy.

 

Congrats, lookame!! I'm happy to read another package made it home!

 

It still seems as if it is stuck in those *dratted* customs.
Good luck that they will find it for now that the International Inquiry Centre have started to help

 

I think I've managed to dodge all the bad with this. My seller shipped the package February 28th from Denmark and it got here March 7th, safe and unmolested by customs.

Sending continuing good wishes for all the other packages to arrive!

 

No word yet from my seller or USPS, but with my paperwork turned in I'm hoping this week brings some resolution.

 

I am so sorry, I really hoped that there would be good news this week ((hugs))

 

I've got a package coming from the UK that is starting to concern me. I had had a registered airmail box arrive from the UK within a week at the beginning of Feb with status updates online just fine.

This one was mailed March 2, and the only update it has had is "Your item, posted on 02/03/11 with reference RJ334950161GB has been passed to the overseas postal service for delivery in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. " on the Parcelforce website. The tracking does not register at all on USPS.

 

I am really sorry to hear this Kim as I had hoped that it was 'safe' to send parcels again from the UK.

But I am still hopeful here for you as even though the online tracking isn't working yet on the USPS tracking site, we do know that it made it into the USA

And also most of my parcels take an awful lot longer than this to reach their final destination in the USA.
*fingers crossed* that all will be well for you and it arrives very soon.

 

All of the registered packages I've gotten in the past (excluding packages from China which always just magically show up one day with nothing working with the tracking) I was able to trace through customs, which is why this time I'm bothered by the disappearance of my package. Once through that I always get things within two days because I live close enough to New York. And like I said, I had a registered package with a head inside get to me from England in a week at the beginning of February during the slow down.

I know registered can take llonger because it is supposed to be scan at each step of the journey which slows things down a lot, but this seems longer than usual with my experiences. If I don't have anything by next week, I'll have to start making calls.

 

AIIIIEEEEE.

Atlanta? Why is it in Atlanta? I'm in Maryland! And forwarded where? This was two days ago! Is it on its way to me? Is it here in town? Is it being sent back to Norway? WHAT DOES IT MEAAAAAAN

O_O

Sorry, it's been three months now since this was mailed. At this point I would only be surprised if it actually turned up and contained my doll and such all in one piece. If it was a live ostrich or something, I'd be like, "oh."

(though after three months in a box, I don't think a live ostrich is really likely, either.)

 

Oh, tenshi, at least you have news but... that's so wierd T_T

It seems some packages are getting horrible delays again. I shipped 3 packages to the USA, back in the middle of February. One of them reached its destination without problems. Another one left Spain on the 14th, so it's been now a month. Finally, the last package hasn't even left Spain and I'm going to claim it tomorrow. Frankly, why on earth it doesn't get fixed yet? It's very frustrating and it's taking just too long T_____T

 

Yeah, it's very sad. It's hurting a lot buying and selling. I now sell a lot less than usual because most of my buyers are from the USA T^T

 

I suspect it's because Atlanta is a major postal hub. As far as I know, the process has probably gone like this:
* my seller put in a claim
* Norway post contacted USPS about the claim
* USPS asked me if I got the package
* I informed USPS that I had not gotten it
* USPS searched out my package, possibly in a lost or misplaced package area of customs, and it was sent to be reprocessed along with any other lost packages in a large batch to an international hub (that's probably why it's in Atlanta.)
* USPS reprocessed my package as Express Mail (it no longer says carry on cash) and sent it on to my local PO, where I hope it will arrive soon.

My dad did consulting work for FedEx's sorting plant in Atlanta, and he tells me their process goes in a similar fashion. Hopefully the upgrade to express mail will get it here soon! And if it doesn't, I'm faxing a lengthy letter to the international claims center.

Trying not to get my hopes up but still!

 

I hope this all means that it is one step nearer to you too ((hugs))

 

Thanks so much guys! I feel like I've been the thread downer all this time! But I'm really glad you guys have been here.

 

Oh no you haven't ((hugs)) when I was so depressed you told me to hang in there-thank you

I am just so sorry that you are still waiting ((more hugs))

 

Your not alone, tenshi, we're all still here to support each others ò__ó

 

oh LORD the saga continues!

So, I was worried because Atlanta is not just a mail hub, it's where lost packages go to die. Or at least to be AUCTIONED IN WHOLESALE LOTS TO THE PUBLIC. O___O That was enough to get me on the phone. NOBODY IS GOING TO BUY MY BOY'S BODY BUT ME.

So I called my local post office, and they said, yep, it's probably got a damaged or incorrect () address on it, but the bar code still scans, so it's scanned into the recovery center. Go online and fill out form Ps3760!

I go to do that.

FORM PS3760 DOES NOT EXIST.

So I googled for the Atlanta Package Claim center, and after getting two new phone numbers to call, and calling the last one THREE TMES (one busy, one auto-hang up), I finally got a hold of a live person at the USPS Mail Recovery Center.

IF YOU NEED TO CLAIM A LOST PACKAGE THAT HAS MYSTERIOUSLY GONE TO ATLANTA, CALL THIS NUMBER.
404-344-162

I got a very nice and helpful lady who printed out my tracking number and information, got my correct address and phone, and said they would get the package on its way to me. The next dud package auction isn't until April 6, and the last one was March 9, so I hope it has dodged that bullet.

So MAYBE, MAYBE this means my package will actually find me, and after all this fuss the post office did jack zip to find it, I had to do all the calling and investigating myself.

And after all this if it turns out my package was addressed wrong, or if it was damaged... well.

I'm going to be very annoyed, we'll say that.

(my claim letter had the wrong address on it, so I'm really starting to wonder if that was the problem all along.)

oh god I need a cup of coffee.


(PS: Thanks guys!! I didn't see your posts till just now. ^_^ )

 

That is extremely worrying, as I assumed that parcels not delivered were returned to sender

 

Auctioning packages? But why on earth do they do that? The packages aren't theirs! Maybe it's why when I send a big package to the USA my postal service ask me if I want the package to be returned if it's not delivered @__@

And it's so frustrating that nobody help in USPS, never. In these cases, they must at least help people searching what's going on! At least, tenshi, you now have more news and it seems your body will arrive soon. I'm starting to think that your big problem was the wrong address. It's weird you are still waiting T_T

 

Yes, USPS auctions packages that are lost or unclaimed. I guess they can't keep it all, and maybe it's better than throwing it away, but it bothers me that they make a profit off their own incompetence. Maybe they didn't return it because of a problem with the address label? What kind of state is the box in, then? Or maybe because there's a claim going on it? But if they could find it for that, they could find it and send it to me!

Here's the USPS website about auctions:
http://www.usps.com/auctions/

And also a general auction website, which is where I got the first number to call in my search after my local PO became a dead end: http://www.auctionzip.com/GA-Auctioneers/1510.html

It's the same as the TSA auctioning lots of confiscated items, and making a profit from it. So you can see why I got so furious when I found out that's where the package went. After three months of their own uselessness, and refusal to help me, they were going to sell off my boy's body and make money off of it? NO WAY. Also, it says on the site that the items sold include "items on which a claim has been paid." I would think that was just damaged things, but my package has not had its claim paid yet. And to be honest, I want my money back for all my trouble, even if by some miracle the package does actually arrive. And if he has so much as a scratch on him I will be taking my complaint as far as I can go. I don't care if I have to resurrect to ghost of Ben Franklin to tell him how crappy his postal service has become.

But in brighter news, two dear friends of mine have purchased a replacement body for me as a present and are sending it today. I got them into dolls in the first place and they know how upset this whole thing has made me. So no matter the outcome of this ordeal, my boy will at last have his body. ;_;

And also, we're going to make the last payment on our Infinitidoll kitties! So they'll be arriving soon, and I hope the post is kinder to them than they have been in this. I'm glad that if this had to happen, it was just with a doll body that's readily available. If this box contained a whole doll with a character and everything all ready for it, I don't think I could stand it.

Thanks everyone for sticking with me through this mess!

 

Holy crap, tenshi - I'm soooo sorry! I'd never heard about packages being auctioned off, but having worked for the government in the past I'm not surprised. They will ALWAYS expedite a process in which they'll make money. And they will always drag their feet if it looks like they'll take a loss. Grr.

 

Wow. This thread is scary. Has anyone gotten packages from Spain lately? I had intended on buying a head from a seller in Spain, but her PO said that they weren't shipping to the States. I believe her, but to hear if others are starting to get through would spark a little hope. ^_^

 

My missing UK package showed up. On the same day that a package from Italy that had been shipped almost 2 weeks later also arrived. I was amazed.

 

For how long was your UK package missing? O_O

 

Yeah, they sure seem to be dragging their feet about redirecting my box to me. There's been no change in the tracking, it still says arrival at unit in Atlanta.

There was some trouble with Spanish post getting through earlier, but I don't know how it's going now. So the PO there is saying they won't ship to the States at all? That's pretty harsh!

I'm glad your package got there at last! Though arriving at the same time as a package from Italy shipped two weeks later... isn't Italy supposed to have a really SLOW post? ^_^;

 

I bought a doll body from a member in Spain about 8 weeks ago. It took 6 weeks to arrive, but it did get here safely! It never showed up properly on the USPS tracking, but it was apparently showing up on the Spanish mail tracking. I've heard that the restrictions have been lifted, but I imagine there's a backlog...

Raven

 

tenshi: Not as harsh as what you've been going through. But, what she said was that the post office got a notice "advising" to not shipping things to the US. So I guess it's a "at your own risk" thing. T_T

raven: So, it was slow, but you had no problems other than that? Maybe, slowly, they are getting things together. *sigh*

 

I'm going to try to make some calls this afternoon, to see if there's been any motion on my rerouted package. Don't worry! I'm going to keep the heat on! I'm still out $200 and I'm not about to let that slide.

Also, I know this isn't a photo thread, but I wanted to share this one:


The replacement body for Junon arrived yesterday! Thanks to some friends, who bought it without telling me and had the seller ship directly to my house as a surprise present. So even though this mess is still dragging on, at least Junon has a proper body at last. It's brand-new white, so his head (being older) is slightly more creamy, but a bit of blushing will fix that. I'm just so glad to have him in one piece I don't even care. I'll have to take some proper pictures this weekend.

Yay!

 

So I've read two rather inactive threads about shipping from Spain
x x

And I just... don't know. I was in a split and the leader (located in Spain) sent my body to me on Feb. 24th. So far I've heard nothing. Cerreo's tracking just says that as of Feb 24 it was in transit. USPS Tracking shows no record of the item.

Bless her soul, my leader has been super awesome and keeping up on it's arrival. She said that she'd put in a claim on the 24th since it's been a month and we haven't heard anything.

From what I see long delays in shipping from Spain seem normal, should I wait or let her file? Does anyone know how claims work exactly? I am at a loss... will I ever get the body?

Edit: I just checked tracking on Correos again and it says "Information about your shipment is not available. Check if correct." Which is freaking me out a bit. So I am going to have her go ahead with the claim. How long do they usually take and does anyone know what to expect?

 

If the leader (in Spain) files does it still stand a chance to get to me? Or if they find it will they pull it back?

And thank you for a swift reply

 

I can say that shipping from Spain to the US never has been that horrible. I have been sending packages there and it usually arrived within a week. That was before the end of November, when all this mess started. I have to say that it's all USPS fault and it's now a clear fact T_T The packages are not lost, just with horrible delays so they reach their destinations, that for sure.

On another note, I sent a package the same day, February 24th, and it isn't trackable on USPS web site and on Correos it says "in transit". So I went to my post and they told me it left Spain correctly. Claiming isn't a solution anymore because USPS delivers the packages when they feel like doing so ¬¬U

 

Just got off the phone with the package claims office in Atlanta. (Work was too hectic this week for me to call before.) Even though last week the lady there said she would forward the package to me, there had been no change in the tracking. Well, this time the woman I spoke to got my info, put me on hold, and then went and picked up the box herself and brought it over while she was talking to me. (IT EXISTS! I was beginning to wonder.) She said the reason it hadn't gone anywhere is because there was no label on it. (I guess it fell off, or something? Maybe after it was inspected in customs?)

I don't know why the person I spoke to last week just dropped the ball on the thing. :p But! The lady today said she was putting a new label on it right then and it would go out on its way to me TODAY. (I could tell she was writing my info right on the label.) She told me I can continue to track it using the same number, as she's just putting a new address label on it, not a new tracking label. She also said that tonight my tracking info should read "forwaded from Atlanta" and the tracking center is the new return address on the box.

Will next week see me with my box in hand at last? STAY TUNED FOR MORE EXCITING ADVENTURES. :p

Seriously, check out the dates on the tracking list:
Package has arrived at terminal and has been forwarded 2011-03-15 09:02
Package has cleared customs and has been transferred to sorting 2011-01-14 03:37
Package is in customs clearance 2011-01-14 03:36
Package has arrived in destination country 2011-01-14 03:35
Package has been sent from origin country 2010-12-23 08:36 0024 OSLO
Package has been sorted and forwarded 2010-12-23 08:07 0024 OSLO
Package has been handed in at terminal and forwarded 2010-12-22 21:05 6410 MOLDE

THREE MONTHS IN TRANSIT.
Seriously. WTH.

 

I hope you do, I really hope you do ((hugs))

 

Oh, Tenshi, I hope you have your package there soon, it's been insane the waiting Y_Y

 

Okay, my tracking did not update all weekend (:p) and it still had not this morning, so it was time to call Atlanta again. The lady got my info and put me on hold forever while she went to look for the box, but it turns out it had already been sent on, just not scanned. (Typical.) At least she admitted it should have been scanned on the way out! But she said it will be scanned when it arrives at the post office here, and the only reason it isn't here yet is because they don't ship priority when they forward things like that.

arglebargle.

Lol shaDrouet, I'm looking for a head for the other body. Obviously Junon wants a friend bad enough that he's gone through all this trouble to make sure I wind up with a spare. (Though with Junon, it's more likely to be an accomplice rather than a friend!) He was in his first photostory this weekend, though he only shows up in the last picture with his face hidden. I took a couple of extra shots of him, though. ^_^

http://www.childofglass.org/stories/newarrivals17.JPG & http://www.childofglass.org/stories/newarrivals18.jpg

 

HE IS HERE. HE ISN'T BROKEN. OMG.

 

OH WOW
I almost don't believe it............actually I am absolutely delighted for you ((hugs))

Brilliant news to wake up to!

 

This all sounds really bad.
I am waiting since 03.16.2011 to new information on my package.
My doll was on 10 March sent.
It now hangs somewhere in New York in a post office.
Well, I'm also still on a little letter with clothing.
But to my doll, I'm afraid.
I hope I get positive news soon.
I wish all others in this way all the best.
Sorry, my english is not the best

 

Hi, shipping is EMS. And insured.
Unfortunately, I have no new messages.
I continue to wait it out hopefully.
Thanks for your post.

 

Tenshi that's awesome!

Turns out my worrying was for naught, walked into the Post Office Yesterday and was given a notice that a foreign package was waiting for me! She arrived safe and sound. Still thinking I'm going to shy away from shipping from Spain in the future though.