Import delays from US

[Camelot1971]

I ordered something from the US which was posted on 23rd March. It was tracked to Heathrow and is now showing as "Your item departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM on April 6, 2020 at 10:16 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination."

It looks like this is code for "stuck in customs" but even with Covid, I would have expected it to have gotten to me by now (it's just some chocolate so nothing very exciting).

Anyone else experiencing long custom delays or should I assume its lost?

[FurtiveFreddy]

I'd give it another week the way things are ATM.

[ReverendCounter]

I had it the other way around, ordered from the US, asked for a lower cost shipping option, was told priority international air was the only option, so paid for that - only to have the delivery sit in the US for two weeks before it moved. I mean, it was put into the system by the seller on the next day after ordering but then barely moved.

Supposedly it's somewhere between the US and UK at this point, but I'm expected to wait up until the end of the month for it to turn up. Priority schmiority.

And don't get me started on eBay sellers that claim they're in the UK, when in fact they're GNW (god-knows-where).Still haven't had delivery of an item that should have been here 3rd April but I did get a refund from eBay.

Yours sincerely

Ranty McDaniels

Edited by ReverendCounter on Monday 20th April 16:02

[SlimJim16v]

Same here. 10 days to get to US the airport, still showing as there 4 days later.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Monday 20th April 17:58

[Dilligaf10]

I’m still waiting for a guaranteed next day delivery due last Thursday from a UK supplier so I don’t hold out much hope for your delivery!

[jamoor]

Everything is delayed in the postal system.

We have stopped using the postal system for international mail and only use couriers.

[Camelot1971]

Thanks. Happy to be patient, makes me wonder how big the pile of parcels must be!

[19Dogger87]

Camelot1971 said:

I ordered something from the US which was posted on 23rd March. It was tracked to Heathrow and is now showing as "Your item departed a transfer airport in HEATHROW, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM on April 6, 2020 at 10:16 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination."

It looks like this is code for "stuck in customs" but even with Covid, I would have expected it to have gotten to me by now (it's just some chocolate so nothing very exciting).

Anyone else experiencing long custom delays or should I assume its lost?

I have experienced quite the opposite. PO placed on Thursday and items delivered this morning.

[Camelot1971]

I had a RM 24 delivery today that was sent from Wales to Essex yesterday, so I think some areas are working ok. It seems to be the international hub that has the problem. UPS etc deliveries have all been fine too.

[K50 DEL]

I had a delivery yesterday of a small parcel that left the US more than a month ago.

Tracking never indicated it was lost, it just took a long time to leave the US and then even longer when it got here.

Customs still managed to charge me £20 for the return of my own item though!

[V8covin]

I had a parcel showing arrived at Heathrow and the tracking wasn't updated until it arrived at my address 4 days later.
DHL was the courier

[Camelot1971]

Looks like my parcel is now at the Parcelforce delivery hub! That's 30 days for USPS Priority International! Hate to see what their slow service is like

[Cold]

Ordered something from New York on the 3rd of March.

Still waiting.

[Camelot1971]

Arrived today. Delivery guy said they were 30% busier than Christmas.

[ReverendCounter]

Camelot1971 said:

Arrived today. Delivery guy said they were 30% busier than Christmas.

Have you thought about asking for a partial refund? Depending on the delivery cost, that it - might not be worth your time.

[Camelot1971]

ReverendCounter said:

Camelot1971 said:

Arrived today. Delivery guy said they were 30% busier than Christmas.

Have you thought about asking for a partial refund? Depending on the delivery cost, that it - might not be worth your time.

I wouldn't ask - it was sent from a small business in the town where I used to live in the US and USPS offer no service guarantees. It's not the shops fault and the owner was actually prepared to refund the entire cost if it hadn't have arrived by today.

[ReverendCounter]

Camelot1971 said:

I wouldn't ask ... It's not the shops fault and the owner was actually prepared to refund the entire cost ..

Ah, I see - very decent of them to offer but I can see why you wouldn't take them up. My seller, a large US eBay outfit, charged top dollar for a small and low volume package. I pointed out the same delivery would have cost a third less from Royal Mail > US, but they didn't budge. Still hasn't arrived!