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

Oh I don't see why you think that!
It was customs that held onto the parcels talked about in this thread, not the country of origin

 

Really? I've never had customs hold it for that long before when I've had packages shipped from England/Canada?

 

twylight: I know!
Neither have I!!!

Customs held my Christmas card and small gift for 2 months!!!!!

I have sent cards and gifts to the USA from the UK numerous times and this was the first time this has ever happened. I have no idea why customs held the parcels so long.

But it was Customs who held them, not the country of origin

 

Hello everyone! I tried looking this up first before posting on here, so I hope no one is upset if it has been answered or is in another thread. I've been reading everyone's sad stories about there dolls being held ransom & going into "limbo". I'm glad to see that many of them are home now, even if there were a delay. For those still waiting, my heart goes out to you. I know my doll has not been in the "limbo" for as long as everyone else, but this is my first time buying a doll international from a private seller instead of like soom or iple, & was hoping someone would know if this is normal or not (especially with the delays going on. I don't know if delays are still happening or if it was more a few months back?). My Breccia was shipped from Austria (she is insured). She was forwarded abroad from EMS on the 28th in the morning, & then the next day it showed on the USPS tracking site as "Origin Post is Preparing Shipment" w/ "We have received notice that the originating post is preparing to dispatch this mail piece." . It is now April 1st (about 4 and half, five-ish days?) & still reads the same thing. Is this pretty normal? I think this means it is either stuck in customs (?) or they just havn't bothered to update it. I called my local post office & they looked the number up & stated that it should change soon or they just havn't gotten around to updating yet. I'm not really nervous yet since it hasn't been too long, but I was hoping those with experience with this could let me know what most likely going on. I am hoping she will come in time for the upcoming doll meet, but I am afraid there will be horrible delays like everyone else
Thanks everyone for reading.
This is what I copy & pasted:
Origin Post is Preparing Shipment Foreign International Dispatch, March 28, 2011, 9:13 am, WIEN IPZ 1005, AUSTRIA Foreign Acceptance, March 25, 2011, 4:37 pm, AUSTRIA

 

This is all totally normal at the moment, I would not worry at all yet

 

RavenLunaloo, it's what Jane said. Sadly, delays are still on going. I have a package in this situation, a package I shipped to the US in the end of February. It can't understand why USPS doesn't fix this, it's been too long already. I'm tired T_T

 

Shin & Jane, thank you very much for replying to my worries. Jane, I'm sorry about your package >.< I really hope that it comes soon for you! *keeps my fingers crossed for you*

 

Hmm... I'm curious if this would relate to my situation in any way:

I've recently sent two packages internationally and each time I send them, my post office refuses to give me a tracking number. :/
This has never happened before, usually I get a tracking number no problem but lately they just... won't?
It's very irritating and nerve-wracking not being able to track a package, especially when it's a whole doll! Also it makes me look like a bad seller... :C

Would this have anything to do with it? (On top of which I'm also expecting a packing from overseas/EU, and its tracking number hasn't updated. Instead says "posted before deadline, may be delayed" I have no clue what that means x__o).

 

So I guess the long wait begins! My seller contacted EMS which said she arrived in the US and USPS says she hasn't been sent yet and to start an inquiry on ems end. I think she is in the limbo of customs, which at this point has been about 10 days of being held :-( I went on the customs website they said they will notify in 30 days if they still have it. I know this must be old news to everyone here so sorry for the repeat. I wish I could just go to wherever my poor kid is in customs and just be like "I'm here do whatever you need to open it and get it over with, I want my doll!!!" lol
On a side note, I'm kinda sad because I was so excited to show her off at the upcoming doll meet and I went out and got her all this pretty fabric for her to wear as a dress for her big day but I guess that probably won't happen now :-( the meets Saturday. I just hope she gets here in one piece now.

 

I had another doll come to me from the UK. (registered airmail)
It was shipped sometime the week before last and arrived yesterday.
It was a smaller doll (large Tiny) but over a pound with all the packaging.

Seems like between the UK and the US things might be going OK? or I've just gotten lucky.

 

Lovely... I might be in the same boat as you, RavenLunaloo.
My package is stuck on "Foreign International Dispatch" for longer than any international package I've ever had sent... :/ Anyone have any experience with packages being stuck like this? ;__;
(Also I paid through the nose for shipping; for all intent purposes it should have been delivered next day on a silver platter )

 

Ahm hmm... I'm wording this so badly xD;
Anyone have experience with the "Foreign International Dispatch" when the package is arriving from EU? I'm wondering how long/much of a difference it makes... the waiting/not knowing what is going with my package is unbearabllllee~~ DX;

 

I've been off DoA for a few days but I'm back now.

I wanted to let you know that all the packages I'm sending now to the US, although they take longer than before, they reach there in a month. USPS tracking never works until they're delivering ¬¬U

 

Thanks for the info, shaDrouet
Seems my package is still in limbo :/
Four days for them to put it on a boat, four days for that boat to get to the US, and it seems it'll take another four days to get out of customs, if I'm lucky.
Ffff, I hate the post office right now, $65+ to wait two weeks is not worth the money. :C

 

Bumping this- is there ANYTHING I can do? It's been turning from worrisome, slightly irritating, increasingly frustrating, and as it closes in on the 8th day in customs and the 15th day in transit, I'm turning into plain pissed off when in this time frame I've received two other packages that were also International.

 

What would the claim be called? EG, when going to make the claim, what would you say it'd be fore? OTL (Ugghh, wracked my brain trying to explain that correctly did not work, just very frustrated and want my package all ready XAX).
I'll probably contact Customs ISC on Monday while at the same time going to my post office and maybe break a few necks over the woman who nonchalantly dismissed me the last time. >___<;;;

I've also checked the service updates link from the first page, and the origin country my package is coming from isn't even LISTED, which only makes me angrier as to why they've seemingly LOST my package. >__<;;;

 

There is an update on the Australia Post website (when you use the service to estimate shipping charges) which says all packages over 500grams (and ALL EMS and Express parcels) going to USA are being hit with an additional AU$9 per package for the new customs processing system. It also says that this processing may cause a delay of up to two days in transit time. Australia Post is passing the charges onto their customers, and I dare say Australian sellers will be passing these charges onto US buyers. Not sure if other coutries are being slugged with this fee and whether or not they are eating it or passing it on. As if it wasn't expensive enough to ship things from Australia to the US already

 

I sent a parcel from Spain to the US (12th April) by registered mail and it only took 10 days!
I'm really happy and surprised. I hope the situation has turn to normal again and we don't have more delays.

 

I'm waiting for a doll from spain who left madrid the 11th and hasen't updated since.

It was part of a trade, my partner originally shipped her on the 7th, USPS finally started recognizing the tracking on the 11th, which is the day it says she left madrid. but i have herd NOTHING since.

Transit day 16, customs day 13 ><

 

I am waiting on my group order from Bambi that entered customs from Korea on the 10 of this month and have never changed status. I am hoping it is just a delay. I have already filed an inquiry but nothing yet. So irritated.

 

Ahh, Gothland, that makes me hopeful! I have a package on the way from Spain by registered airmail right now, and it shipped on April 18th. It has been showing "foreign international dispatch" on the Spanish site and "we have received notice from the originating post that they are preparing to dispatch this mail piece" on the US site since 04/19, which was making me a bit anxious, considering all of the delays that have been happening the last few months.

 

spanish post as confirmed that my package reached US customs and may take up to a month from the original post date (eta being may 7th then ><) to reach me.

 

Anyone having problems with shipping from the UK to the US lately? I bought a Mio skirt on eBay and it shipped from the UK on the 12th of this month and its still not here. I think it was shipped by just standard international mail. Stuff from the UK usually gets here really fast, so I am a bit worried.

 

I spoke with my PO today again. Now they are telling me it is in customs but until customs releases my package it is still property of Korea. Although, it has been taken into customs in the US. What the hell does that mean? So I said, "Does that mean it will eventually be released?" And she said, she couldnt say for sure but my inquiry I filed was worthless and that I need to have the sender file an inquiry since techically it still belongs to them. I have never had this happen and I order from overseas a lot. My package was sent EMS. So disappointing because this is a group order. Does anyone have any advice?

 

This fee has existed since the US announced changes last year. They'd been sticking signs up in post offices, but AusPost were very slow in updating their site about it.

 

I bought a head from the UK, and I think it was shipped on the 14th. Still hasn't gotten it here, but I have gotten a wig that I ordered from China several days after that. The thing is, I knew that there had been delays, but on Royal Mail's website, I swear I saw something to the effect of "the delays are over now, everything's back to normal" which I'm beginning to think wasn't exactly true...

My package was shipped regular airmail. I wish I had a tracking number, but it would have cost way too much T_T

 

Gah! Well, I just had a "when did that get here?" moment...I looked up, and my package from the UK was sitting on top of a pile of mail that my mother must have brought in earlier! Um, so, I guess I'm not having a problem here. Package from the UK recieved, in about 10 days, so taking the weekends in account, it really wasn't even late. Hopefully you'll get your package too in the next couple of days, Anya'sMom.

 

Just finally did this, 28 days in limbo, they transfered me to another line and he took my info and said he would try and find her and call me back....*crossess fingers* I know after the 30 day mark they have to send you a notification saying it is being retained there. I don't know if they include weekends in that but I am only a few days off >.< I don't even know if she went to the NY port but I'm assuming she did because I am in CT and our states are touching.

 

Congrats on it arriving!! =o) Maybe the delays are over! My package isn't here yet, tho. I just hope it dosn't get lost in the mail.

 

Just read this on the Royal Mail website:

 

The package that I have coming via Registered Airmail from Spain (mailed 04/18/11) is still showing as "the originating post is preparing to dispatch this piece." It has been showing as this since 04/19/11. I'm not sure if I should hope it's held up in US customs, or that it's held up on the Spanish side of things - neither option is great. Amusingly, a package that was mailed to me on 04/19/11 by Registered Airmail from Korea is already in the US, and has been for almost a week.

However, I'm a bit concerned about the one from Korea, too, as it is apparently cleared customs on 04/23/11, and "was processed through and left our Santa Clarita, California facility" on 04/24/11. It hasn't updated since then. Does anyone know what the in-US transit times for international Registered Airmail packages usually are, and if I should be worried? Usually packages from California reach me here in Washington within 2-3 days at most, even when they're sent First Class, which is pretty slow.

 

I've found registered airmail usually takes about 3 weeks or more. It has to be signed for every step of the way, which makes it slow. But I've never had one lost yet.

 

I am so sorry that the delays are still in operation ((hugs))

Obviously the security measures put in place by Customs or the Government in your country have meant that the customs depots have been swamped by all the extra work.
They need to recruit
I firmly believe that your parcels are delayed and not lost...hang in there ((more hugs))

I would not dare to send anything to the USA now that could not be tracked and traced....even though the sites are not updated at least the parcels can eventually be located that way.

 

That's reassuring, CathyM. I'm not really worried about the package from Spain, as I expected it to be delayed. I'm just a little bit concerned about the package from Korea because of how long it has already been in the US, and the fact that it hasn't reached me here in Washington.

 

Kiyakotari, don't worry, the package will arrive!! ò__ó Just that the tracking number won't update until it's nearly delivered... or won't update at all.

 

package from spain has yet to update, been in customs since the 11th and this saturday marks one month since the original mailing date ><

 

Dont feel bad ive been waiting on a package to arrive from the Netherlands since mid march. My trade partner should be getting back to me for info. So crossing my fingers that its being held hostage and not lost.

 

I finally got my doll's skirt the other day! Wow, that took a long time. >< Now I wish Fairyland would ship my girl so she can get here and wear it! ^_~

 

So delays are still there. Why is USPS taking so long to fix this? Here in Spain it's now not possible to ship EMS to the USA anymore too T__T

 

My dolls have been sitting in customs for a full month now, its not amusing having so much money hanging in the balance, if i need to go through with an insurance claim it could take upwards of 3 months. ><