opinions wanted...

9

91xlt

Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
558
so here is the deal, i purchase a knife, unknowingly it is coming from out of country.
i am forwarded an out of country tracking #.
told a time frame of when to expect deleivery...
after waiting past the time frame, i run the tracking #
says us customs is processing...

the seller who will remain unmentioned by name, has good feedback and i do not suspect foul play.

i go to the post office today and ask about this, they tell me since it's not "mine yet technically" due to not receiving or receving delivery, it's sellers responsability to do the leg work and track her down.

i send this info to seller, seller tells me my customs my problem.

anyone been thru this?
i have no clue how to handle it.
 
I don't think there's anything to do at this point besides be patient. Waiting for items to clear customs is a b*tch but it's the nature of cross border shipping.

I'm curious why you would try to track down your package at the post office if you know it's still waiting to clear customs? That doesn't really compute...




Edit: I should add that it really isn't the sellers' problem at this point. No point riding him for something that is quite literally out of his control.
 
How long has it been since the shipping date from the Seller?
 
thats how i found it was clearing customs, i plugged the tracking # into usps track system...
otherwise i would know absolutely nothing.
 
91xlt said:
thats how i found it was clearing customs, i plugged the tracking # into usps track system...
otherwise i would know absolutely nothing.
Click to expand...

You can do that from the USPS website, you don't have to visit the post office to track a package. The info that's presented on their website actually is the most up to date info. The post office employees don't have insider info.
 
I'd just have a little more patience. Customs isn't exactly the most efficient organization. I've only bought one thing from a seller in another country. It did take longer than I expected, but it did show eventually.
 
I would say wait and see. Sometimes it will take them longer to process the items.
You might also be able to call customs directly and inquire about your item.
 
Grimspoon said:
You can do that from the USPS website, you don't have to visit the post office to track a package. The info that's presented on their website actually is the most up to date info. The post office employees don't have insider info.
Click to expand...

understood, this was first step, done a few times...
so i go and personally ask
 
I sent out two knives (from Windsor, Ont. Canada) on the 17th. One went to Florida and arrived at it's destination 9 days later.

The other one is Alaska bound and looks like it might possibly still be held up at customs. A crappy situation, frustrating for both buyer and seller - but the only thing either of us can do is wait and be patient.

No point get worked up over it.
 
91xlt said:
shipped 2-3
told 4-10 business days,
usps updated 2-9 stsing inbound into customs
Click to expand...

As long as U.S. Customs has it, at least you know that it is in the States. I'd give it a few more days before trying to track it down. There should be no reason for them to deny entry for a knife. :thumbup:
 
I bought a blade from Canada. After a while found out it was in customs (so USPS tracking said). I finally called USPS and they said they had no record of it. Of course I shared my irritation of how could it say it was in customs by you yet you have no record of it. Well, a couple of days later (now that I think of it, it may have been the same day as the call) there was a knock on the door and there it was.

All in all it was about a month from the day of shipping to my receiving it. The seller had told me it would take a while, but I didn't expect it to take that long. Not his fault, just the international thing.

Hope you get it soon.
 
In Canada, when customs decides to inspect an item it gets a first look. If everything is in order including price, paperwork then it will usually take about 5 days to get back into the postal system. If, for some or any reason, it needs to go to secondary inspection then I was told that the processing is 3 weeks.

The postal service can't help. Try phoning customs.
 
My experience sending from Australia to the US in general does amount to 6-10 working days. Also did post to China, Russia and Singapore at more or less same time frame.

It can happen that a parcel gets stuck in Customs for no particular reason which can extend delivery, sometimes quite a bit, in my instance a couple of extra weeks.

Also had a parcel gotten stuck with Aussie Post for 15 days before it left Australia, again for no particular reason!

Since your tracking shows your parcel being processed I'd be positive as it has arrived in the US, also the dates you list seem still to hang within normal time.

Extended processing periods with Customs may also indicate an issue if the blade would be classed "illegal". Then you will get a Customs notification relating to that.

Hang back, looks o.k. again by the dates you mentioned.

Good luck
 
Sounds like you need a little more patience. If it was 2 weeks or more, then I'd start getting a little concerned.
 
All my knives have to come from the USA or Canada....at least so far...Canada has quite expensive postage airmail so I have often elected to use land shipping....that can take 6 to 8 weeks to get here in the UK but patience is the key.

If I ship to the USA/Canada I make it clear risk is with me until delivery....it is me who insures the package and the ability to claim is mine...not the buyer.

Some sellers say they will ship internationally but after it leaves their country it is not their problem....that is a bit unfair because a buyer has no control of the shipping etc except for the aspect of not picking the knife up and paying relevant duty if there is any.

If customs take a package and are assessing it for duty or whatever....neither party can control matters....I am with Grimspoon on this point....you have no option but to wait until they have done their thing.

However with recent developments we need to cherish the ability to ship "Internationally" on the B/F exchange and everyone needs to do their part to make things easy....E-bay now prohibits international shipping of knives so we need to make this ability "work" here.

Many who want a decent knife in the Armed Services of Allies to the USA need to be able to buy in the USA because here lies the best knives.

The best way to make international shipping work is to make it clear what you will do to advise of tracking info and say insurance risk lies with the seller....whichever way the knives are travelling.

I have had knives arrive quickly and slowly....but they have all arrived eventually.

If posts like this act to scare off international shipping it will be to everyones loss!

All that is needed is a bit of logical "standing up" for what responsibilities and remedies lie with each party....and a bit of common acceptance that customs reviewing is not the fault of any party:thumbup::cool:
 
Last edited:
Firstly,I am the seller in question here.

Secondly,sending paypal to a New Zealand email address should have given you some clue that maybe the package isn't being sent from inside the US,checking my feedback would have definitely given it away.You could also have asked.

Thirdly 91xlt,i said to you that when the post office opens on Monday i will do all i can to help track the item through them,i did not simply say your customs your problem.Once the package arrives on US soil i have absolutely no control over it which is why i state in the conditions of sale on my threads,"once the package leaves my hand you own it and i take no responsibility for it,i will do what i can to help track/trace the item but will in no way be accountable for it"
As has been mentioned there could be many reasons why the package has been held up,until i talk to my post office and you enquire deeper with your customs we wont know any more.As has also been said the good news is US customs has received it:).
 
Well, I bet Lots of people on the board have had successful transactions with Steelwhore. I have. He was patient with me too, when it took a couple extra days for me to get it to the Post Office.
 
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