posted on February 14, 2007 03:53:08 PM new
I have the number, customer in the UK, says they did not receive package mailed on January 18. What do I do? They want me to try tracing the number, I do not see on the USPS website where to do this.
Help!
posted on February 14, 2007 05:36:16 PM new
Most likely it's been detained by UK Customs for a) inspection or b) revenue collection from the buyer. If the item was low value they probably won't have to pay much but high value items tend to be hardest hit by VAT plus duty.
posted on February 14, 2007 06:12:25 PM new
Hello! I only have a customs form #, which is 13 digits but the royal mail link won't accept it, I do not have a tracking #. Is there any way to trace a customs form #, outside of the US?
posted on February 14, 2007 07:51:46 PM new
You may be SOL for other reasons, but we've been able to track using US Customs # using the UK site - as well as the Canada Post site.
Can you find when it left the US? You can do that by using the Customs form # on the USPS site.
posted on February 14, 2007 11:47:37 PM new
I had one that took 49 days to arrive, tracking never took me past the US. I refunded the payment and asked that they repay when it arrived. It worked out as my customer was honest and he was appreciative of my prompt emails and help and offer to refund his payment 2 days before the 45 day limit I believe there was on filing for PP dispute. I sent his package Air letter post and it still took that long even with it marked on all sides, we don't know what happened to it but it did arrive, probably went slow boat to china first certainly didn't go air mail.
************** I married my wife for her looks, but Not the one she gives me lately!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Check it out
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posted on February 15, 2007 06:12:07 AM new
I tracked the # on the USPS website and it said it was accepted (the day I mailed it), I scanned the receipt and sent it to the buyer, and told him he probably needed to do some checking on his end. Hopefully, he will find it or it will arrive.
This kindof makes me want to stop selling outside of the US. I mailed the package air mail letter and if Irked said a package took 45 days once, I am surprised we don't get more chargebacks. I have never had one yet, so I know my time is coming. Of course, the buyer would be upset after 30 days, why is it taking so long when they say 6 days at the PO. Clearly, it doesn't matter what they say, because it is different than what the actions say.
posted on February 15, 2007 06:59:43 AM new
Deichen, Don't shoot yourself in the foot. International customers are great. It is cheap international post that is the problem.
I only use Global Priority unless shipping to customers who I have an established relationship with.
The small difference in postage price is not worth the hassle of wondering where your package may be or the risk of charge back.
posted on February 15, 2007 07:27:07 AM new
On the other hand, check this out nightmare. This order was drop-shipped from my supplier in Utah and is going to Puerto Rico. My supplier uses Parcel Post for non-continental shipments.
What a night mare! 15 days and it STILL has not made it out of the US yet.
Enroute, February 11, 2007, 8:44 pm, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32099
Enroute, February 07, 2007, 1:28 pm, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07097
Enroute, January 31, 2007, 8:40 pm, DENVER, CO 80217
Electronic Shipping Info Received, January 29, 2007
Shipment Accepted, January 29, 2007, 4:09 pm, PROVO, UT 84605
This is the future of things to come. If you choose USPS ground shipping for ANYTHING, be ready for long delays.
posted on February 15, 2007 10:22:38 AM new
Yep my airmail letter post to UK took 49 days to arrive, with no further scans on the tracking nunber past my post office. I checked with my post office and my customer checked with his post office and customs. ( at time I didn't know about the being able to check on Royal mail etc. The only thing that could have happened with that package was it got on a boat instead of being airmail like it was SUPPOSED to be. Then guess it got hung in customs maybe? It was a small box 10" long 5" wide and 3" deep. My customer said when it arrived it was very much intact not opened and still glued shut(I glue flaps on my boxes to help strengthen them)...So if customs held it they didn't open it, unlike some packages they inspect sometimes. All we can figure is it got put on a boat sent surface instead of air mail. I tried to get him to pay the $2.00 difference for global priority but he didn't want that so even though they are marked air mail they can still get lost in shuffle and wind up surface.
I in my entire shipping to overseas over past 8 years have had 5 packages take up to 8 weeks to arrive because someone somewhere goofed and my airmail has gone surface and not like what was paid for---real bummer, THAT is reason I try very hard to send all things Global Priority, but do leave it to customer to decide on certain items(cheap ones, or really heavy ones). I always tell them that in past even airmail has been delayed in my experience. bla bla bla
I find most international buyers are honest and understanding especially when you try to be helpful on your end with emails. They really appreciate the emails I think, along with courtesy and quickness....
************** I married my wife for her looks, but Not the one she gives me lately!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Check it out
And Feebay stuff at This link
posted on February 15, 2007 12:46:47 PM new
Is Global Priority trackable, or do you have to purchase a #? I have mailed several items in the flat rate Global Priority Mail envelope but I have never bought insurance or a tracking #.
If I stopped accepting international buyers my sales would drop by at least 30%. I just hate the hassel though.
posted on February 16, 2007 04:55:44 AM new
Several years ago I had a batch of auctions for photographs and post cards that all went to international buyers; Canada, Italy, Holland, someplace in Scandinavia. I mailed them the same day and when a couple of weeks later I got emails from ALL the buyers saying they never came I though I was in deep trouble. I went to the branch where I mailed them and was told I could fill out a report but it was not likely they would ever be found. Now what are the chances that four packages mailed at the same time would all go missing unless it happened before they left this country? Within a few days the emails started to come in. Every package was delivered. I am convinced that the packages were all at the branch or a nearby sorting station.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
"As far as Daddy & I can tell, the ONLY USPS international service that includes TRUE TRACKING is:
GLOBAL EXPRESS MAIL,
which is mucho expensivio, ntm very limited in the number of countries served...
Another alternative is to use sumptin like AIRLAIL LETTER POST with the ADDITION of: REGISTERED MAIL -- costs $7.90 more and ya can ONLY use PAPER TAPE (NO regular tape like cellophane, etc, allowed) and ALL seams MUST be SEALED...
GLOBAL PRIORITY MAIL (as far as we can tell) does NOT provide TRACKING...
The CUSTOMS FORM tracking has yet to work fur us...
posted on February 19, 2007 07:46:07 AM new
I only use global priority on the shipping no matter what. Things seem to go thru very well. A few countries do not accept it Italy for example. That is the only time I use airmail etc.to Italy which is slower than most countries.
International customers never complain about the global priority and you get some insurance. You have to decide if your going to sell internationally, are you willing to take an occasional loss?
I even cross refernce customers to the USPS web site so they can see the progress of their item. They are usually very happy with that.
Never go the cheap route it always comes back and bites you.
posted on February 19, 2007 07:47:31 AM new
This is what I get:
We are currently unable to confirm that status of your parcel. Please check the number and try again. Please note that items sent over 4 months ago cannot be tracked online. If you are tracking a parcel sent from outside of the UK, we may not have received it yet. Please try again or use the help button below.
I married my wife for her looks, but Not the one she gives me lately! 
