| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 11:50:13 AM | I'm SO upset...
I sent a package to CA on the 17th of January via Canada post. I paid extra for it to be delievered within 4-7 business days. Tracking online says it arrived in the desitination country on the 19th...but he still hasn't received it! It says expected service delivery was the 23rd. :(
So I talked to Canadapost today and she says it's with customs.
So...does anyone know what I can expect here?? How long will customs have it? Why do they have it? Do they do random checks? Will they open everything? Customs has had it since last Thursday..A WEEK! There's nothing bad in it (thank GOD I left out the nekkid pics..lol - KIDDING) but I mean...it's been an entire week that they have had it.
USPS (United States Postal Service ) doesn't have any record of the package so it's definitely hung up at customs.
Oh this makes me sad inside. WHY did they pick this package to hold behind! | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 12:59:13 PM | It is a random exercise by customs which items items they open. I have shipped a number of things to the USA using tracking through Canada Post. Unfortunately the USPS does not have a compable system for tracking. So for instance the package will show up online as being in a specific spot at a specific time, ie Edmonton at 26 Jan @12:50, then maybe Calgary on 27 Jan @07:30 then it will indicate that on the 28th it arrives in Los Angeles with no time, and afterwards will have no indication where it went, until your friend salls you up to say they got it.
I have also noticed that USPS will ship much slower with a complete disregard for timing regardless of what type of service you paid have for (ie 4-7 business days -- expect 10). | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 1:01:29 PM | I wish I had some answers for you Hon!
I just hope that it reaches it's destination soon.. it must be horribly frustrating!
Shells
PS.. Sorry about my name.. not sure why it's funky! | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 1:26:35 PM | There's nothing bad in there. :( I don't understand why they are holding it. I'm just super worried he'll never get it.
Thanks Seymour and you're right - once customs clears it I won't really be able to track it anymore because it then falls under USPS. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 1:31:59 PM | Blame Frank McKenna for pissing off the Americans....
that's what I'd do  | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 2:25:13 PM | | What was it that you sent? Maybe it appears to be something else. Then put them through those x-ray machines maybe it looked uncertain... either that or they are just lazy. hehehe | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 2:31:59 PM | Exactly what was on the customs slip. lol
DVD's, a book, a shirt and a ring. Heh....maybe they thought the book was porn.
I think they are lazy and stupid - just me though and I'm rather biased in this particular instance. lol | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 2:38:32 PM | | I would say the DVD's are causing the hold up. US Customs can be very strict on material because of copyright laws. They will hold it until they decide to release it. Not much you can do, unfortunately. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 2:55:09 PM | Nah...I don't think it's the DVD'S. I've sent probably 10 to the same address in the last year...and he's sent me several as well with never a problem. In fact, in the parcel I got from him which was sent on the same day as I sent this one...there was one in there as well.
I'm quite positive it's just a random check they do. I just wish they'd hurry the hell up with it already. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 3:41:11 PM | | a work colleague had ordered a satelite radio system for his wife off Ebay. It was shipped from the US on the 18th December and didnt arrive here until 23rd Jan. Customs held it for a little over two weeks, and the holidays played havoc too. But yah, if you dont use a courier, you just have to be patient. Not sure why they just hold stuff, as his parcel hadnt been opened, they just let it sit in their warehouse. Trying to encourage us to not use their services?? | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 3:53:43 PM | Wow...well that's discouraging. lol That just makes me believe even more it's random - which sucks. Pick on someone else for pete sakes! -grunts-
It's weird because of all the things I've shipped to this VERY address, this is the first time I've had a problem. I think from now on, UPS will have my business. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 3:59:12 PM | Bleh. I am not sure what UPS is like to ship to the states, but when shipping FROM the states to Canada, there almost always is high courier costs involved with UPS (brokerage fees).
I won't buy anything from the states if their sole courier is UPS. I always get dinged with around an extra $20 when receiving a package from the US. Brokerage fees my butt.
Sorry, correct that, my big, hairy, ape @$$. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 4:37:33 PM | ^^^ Agree's with that..about UPS.
The last two parcels that's been sent to me...I've had to pay $35-40 for duty fee's. Or so they tell me. The last time though, I did get a cheque in the mail from UPS reimbursing me for that. Not sure about this time as it was just the other day.
Ok...I'm beginning to think the only sensible thing to do is just start hand delivering these parcels in person.  | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 5:10:12 PM | ^^^^^^ naaaaa don't listen to chuncky.....fly down there! and customs will hold you for a coupla days tops, that 's how long it takes for them to tag you (cuz americans are not that bright,  )....... and they will put a safety label on you so you do not have MAD COW, then they will feed you a lot of BULL and send you by express post. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 6:17:17 PM | ^^^ LOL - I was just there. The worst thing they did was at the SFO airport they made me remove my shoes at security. Guess I look like the terrorist type.
Good lord...his birthday is in 3 weeks. I'd best send it off now! -sighs- | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 6:20:43 PM | | The companies I have deal with exporting and importing quite a bit. If you have to send a package, you are better to send it FedEx or UPS and put details about what the parcel contains. If you do this, it is unlikely that it will be held up at customs. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 7:24:45 PM |
naaaaa don't listen to chuncky
What's this "don't listen to chunky" crap?
8( | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 7:31:48 PM | I've always had problems with the US customs when I send packages to the States, unless I send it courier (well, FedEx is the least hassle and they seem to have an expedited Customs queue).
Don't fret, every single parcel I used to send to my late husband was slashed open, torn out of the carton, thoroughly examined and stuffed back into the parcel and taped with stylish and colourful "US CUSTOMS" tape.
I swear they had me "tagged" or whatever because I also got hassled by the US Customs and/or the INS, even with a visa. Yikes!
Good luck with that! | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 7:35:16 PM | I sent a couple of packages return to a comic vendor in the states. Both times I had my packaged returned to me in complete shambles, the comic inside completely wrecked. They said it was improperly packaged. My big fat hairy primate butt.
I just love customs. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 1/26/2006 8:15:35 PM | Dreamer, like some people have suggested, going with a courier is your best option.
I used to work for a cargo company that dealt with customs and whatnot at the Calgary Airport and I've seen people's packages have been held in customs for up to a month. It's not laziness, it's lack of manpower. These people are on the front lines of protecting all of us from undesirable stuff, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them to go around. Sucks, but that's the way it is.
Now, when it comes to using a courier company, they have their own customs brokers right in the company. When you go to the station/warehouse/store to drop your stuff off, the people who are accepting it have specialized training for safety reasons and it should make the pick up on the other end go smoother.
Another thing about couriers is that you can usually pay by the package (as in: pay one price for this envelope/box and stuff as much crap in as you can). On pick up, the other person only needs to sign for it cuz you'll have paid the whole cost. My only warning though, is that you don't wrap any gifts (I've opened way too many holiday gifts cuz of this) until they have been seen by the person accepting and make sure the person accepting can see everything you are sending.
Couriers may be a bit more costly, but you're paying not only for the speedier time, but less hastle with customs and everyone else.
Best of luck next time!
Prinnie
On edit: I forgot to mention that when you drop your package off you'll probably have to sign a sheet that says there's nothing illegal in it. Just an FYI. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 5/21/2009 7:59:12 AM | | I can just imagine the volume of mail and packages that the Americans get from around the world everyday. Even if a package wasn't opened and inspected, it still would take time for it to get throught the system. | |
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| Customs crap
Posted: 5/21/2009 11:01:26 AM | Well, it's been three years since you sent that package. Chances are your recipient will never get it.
Things that piss me off: When I see a new thread up in the forums, take the time to read the OP (fully expected to read at the end... "it's been 5 months now and customs still has the package"), only to realize it's a thread that has been dead for over three years, and the OP is no longer even a member of the site.
The mods should kill any threads that have sat idle for more than 90 days ... especially when 90% of the people who have written responses to said thread have since canceled their memberships. | |
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