Shipping!!

[ed4copies]

We are getting many requests for shipping information on packages, especially internationals. The most recent one had far more information than most, so I thought I would post it here:

Product & Tracking Information

Postal Product:

• Priority Mail International Parcels

Features:

• • International Parcels

Date & Time
Status of Item
Location
October 21, 2014 , 5:30 am
Customs clearance processing complete
UNITED KINGDOM

Your item cleared customs in UNITED KINGDOM at 5:30 am on October 21, 2014.

October 13, 2014 , 11:49 am
Customs Clearance
UNITED KINGDOM
October 13, 2014 , 11:48 am
Customs Clearance
UNITED KINGDOM
October 13, 2014 , 11:39 am
Processed Through Sort Facility
UNITED KINGDOM
October 10, 2014 , 11:45 am
Processed Through Sort Facility
ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
October 10, 2014 , 10:10 am
Arrived at Sort Facility
ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
October 10, 2014 , 3:38 am
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
CHICAGO, IL 60666
October 9, 2014 , 10:43 pm
Departed USPS Facility
OAK CREEK, WI 53154
October 9, 2014 , 9:46 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
OAK CREEK, WI 53154
October 9, 2014 , 8:31 pm
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
RACINE, WI 53403
October 9, 2014 , 10:38 am
Available for Pickup
RACINE, WI 53406


As you can see, it left O'Hare in the morning of the tenth. Today, the 21st, it has cleared UK customs. That is pretty normal!~!

When we order from Asia, the same thing happens--it gets to Chicago in 2-3 days, then takes two weeks to clear Customs. Usually, I am on the phone with them a couple times in that time frame, but there is absolutely nothing you can do to "speed it up". AND, I KNOW the people in Asia don't understand Chicago as well as I do---so I would not expect THEM to communicate with US Customs. Well, Exotics doesn't communicate with the Customs in other countries, either.

PLAN!!!! International is LIKELY to take a month!! As we get closer to Christmas the volume will rise--so there will be an inverse relationship to speed-----the more the volume goes up, the more delivery speed will go DOWN!!! PACKAGES ARE GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME!!! NOONE can do anything to speed them up. The USPostal Service will not allow us to claim a package as lost until 30 days have passed and then they have 21 days to find it---in total TWO MONTHS!!

If you "have to have" something, we are willing to ship DHL or FedEx or UPS! HOWEVER, these services START at about $80 for international and OFTEN they charge the receiving party another $25 for "clearing customs".

We continue to attempt to answer email rapidly-----we have no control over delivery, so our response is really of no value to you.

(By the way, so far Canada deliveries seem to be fine)

Thanks for reading and planning!!!

Ed

 

[Smitty37]

Ditto

Ed is exactly right here...international can take a long time. I have sent kits to China due to changing supplers they left the USA in 3 days and arrived at their destination in about 5 weeks.

 

[mredburn]

I had to explain to a client that It took 3 days to go from me to the Miami Customs where his package sat for a couple of days before being passed through. I live less than 3 hours from Miami. And yet the next couple of packages breezed right on through.

 

[Chuck Key]

Sometimes the USPS information leaves a little to be desired. The tracking information says International Letter it was actually an International Package. The tracking also stops at Chicago arrival but in transit. I got a message from the recipient today that indicating the package has arrived in Great Britain.

Product & Tracking Information
Postal Product:
First-Class Package International Service

Features:
International Letter

DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
October 22, 2014 , 1:45 pm
Arrived at USPS Facility
CHICAGO, IL 60666
Your item arrived at our USPS facility in CHICAGO, IL 60666 on October 22, 2014 at 1:45 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

October 20, 2014 , 9:46 pm
Departed USPS Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 7:10 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 4:44 pm
Departed Post Office
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

October 20, 2014 , 12:16 pm
Acceptance
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

 

[Smitty37]

Sometimes the USPS information leaves a little to be desired. The tracking information says International Letter it was actually an International Package. The tracking also stops at Chicago arrival but in transit. I got a message from the recipient today that indicating the package has arrived in Great Britain.

Product & Tracking Information
Postal Product:
First-Class Package International Service

Features:
International Letter

DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
October 22, 2014 , 1:45 pm
Arrived at USPS Facility
CHICAGO, IL 60666
Your item arrived at our USPS facility in CHICAGO, IL 60666 on October 22, 2014 at 1:45 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

October 20, 2014 , 9:46 pm
Departed USPS Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 7:10 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 4:44 pm
Departed Post Office
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

October 20, 2014 , 12:16 pm
Acceptance
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

USPS Tracking on many international packages is only available until it departs the USA. It depends then on what kind of package it is and what kind of customes label you put on it and where it is going.

 

[PR_Princess]

Sometimes the USPS information leaves a little to be desired. The tracking information says International Letter it was actually an International Package. The tracking also stops at Chicago arrival but in transit. I got a message from the recipient today that indicating the package has arrived in Great Britain.

Product & Tracking Information
Postal Product:
First-Class Package International Service

Features:
International Letter

DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
October 22, 2014 , 1:45 pm
Arrived at USPS Facility
CHICAGO, IL 60666
Your item arrived at our USPS facility in CHICAGO, IL 60666 on October 22, 2014 at 1:45 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

October 20, 2014 , 9:46 pm
Departed USPS Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 7:10 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 4:44 pm
Departed Post Office
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

October 20, 2014 , 12:16 pm
Acceptance
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

Yep, I agree with Smitty about the on-line tracking for International.

But in looking at Chuck's tracking, I was somewhat amazed that a package from VA was sent all the way to Chicago for International departure. :airplane:
I would have assumed (obviously incorrectly) that there was a closer USPS center. (Like maybe in DC, Philly...New York?)

Does anyone know why his package was routed this way?? Is this normal?? Inquiring minds and all..

 

[mredburn]

Here is an example, now I live 2 hours from Miami
4 days to get there from here. Sometimes it goes to New York through Tampa. I have no idea why, some days I will have multiple international shipments and some go to Miami and some to New York. I just figure its routing logistics but I still cant figure out why it takes 4 days to go to Miami from here. It must take the long way around.

Label Number: LZ318370852US

Service Type: International Letter

Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility MIAMI, FL 33112 October 31, 2014 6:40 am
Departed Post Office FORT MYERS, FL 33967 October 27, 2014 6:34 pm
Picked Up FORT MYERS, FL 33967 October 27, 2014 12:18 pm

 

[Smitty37]

Just for kicks I checked the tracking on your package. I notice that it is first class parcel....that could be related to the reason for different times and routing. Are some of your packages 1st class and others Priority Mail? They might well be handled differently enroute to the departure airport.

Here is an example, now I live 2 hours from Miami
4 days to get there from here. Sometimes it goes to New York through Tampa. I have no idea why, some days I will have multiple international shipments and some go to Miami and some to New York. I just figure its routing logistics but I still cant figure out why it takes 4 days to go to Miami from here. It must take the long way around.

Label Number: LZ318370852US

Service Type: International Letter

Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility MIAMI, FL 33112 October 31, 2014 6:40 am
Departed Post Office FORT MYERS, FL 33967 October 27, 2014 6:34 pm
Picked Up FORT MYERS, FL 33967 October 27, 2014 12:18 pm

 

[Smitty37]

Sometimes the USPS information leaves a little to be desired. The tracking information says International Letter it was actually an International Package. The tracking also stops at Chicago arrival but in transit. I got a message from the recipient today that indicating the package has arrived in Great Britain.

Product & Tracking Information
Postal Product:
First-Class Package International Service

Features:
International Letter

DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
October 22, 2014 , 1:45 pm
Arrived at USPS Facility
CHICAGO, IL 60666
Your item arrived at our USPS facility in CHICAGO, IL 60666 on October 22, 2014 at 1:45 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

October 20, 2014 , 9:46 pm
Departed USPS Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 7:10 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
SANDSTON, VA 23150

October 20, 2014 , 4:44 pm
Departed Post Office
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

October 20, 2014 , 12:16 pm
Acceptance
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113

Yep, I agree with Smitty about the on-line tracking for International.

But in looking at Chuck's tracking, I was somewhat amazed that a package from VA was sent all the way to Chicago for International departure. :airplane:
I would have assumed (obviously incorrectly) that there was a closer USPS center. (Like maybe in DC, Philly...New York?)

Does anyone know why his package was routed this way?? Is this normal?? Inquiring minds and all..

I am 135 miles from Philadelphia and some of my packages go to Chicago for departure. I believe it depends somewhat on where it's going.

 

[mredburn]

Almost all of mine go first class parcel.

 

[MesquiteMan]

USPS Tracking on many international packages is only available until it departs the USA. It depends then on what kind of package it is and what kind of customes label you put on it and where it is going.

Once it leaves the US, it is out of the US Postal System. It gets accepted at the destination by the postal service of that country and not all of them reliably talk back to the US system to provide updates. In many cases, especially Canada, the package can be tracked further by using the tracking number in their postal service system. In other words, you can track a US mailed package going to Canada via CanadaPost.

 

[Smitty37]

Almost all of mine go first class parcel.

That explains, in part at least, why you see the variation in routing.