Customs Clearance From USA

Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 07:08
Last edited 23/09/2020 - 11:08

Hey folks,
Wondering if anyone's ordered from the USA recently?
I'm waiting on delivery of a couple of books, and shipping info shows it's been in Sydney since the 9th of August… Anyone know how long it will take to clear customs, or who I can ring to chase up? The sender & Australia Post haven't been able to supply much info for me.

*Update: thanks for all the responses… Went back into Australia Post this afternoon (just then), and spoke to a different person… They said it wasn't THAT unusual at this time for goods out of USA, but they opened a dispute for me, taking down the details etc and said if I didn't have the package within ten working days I should hear back… It's not so much the value, it's just that the books were signed by the author, so I'd rather have them for my Nerd Cupboard in my library… So I'll just keep my fingers crossed for now.

*Second update:. Books arrived today! 😊

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Ocker on 21/09/2020 - 07:56
    +1

    Good Luck!
    We (in Victoria) had a package sent from USA back in early August. Tracking shows it went to Sydney and then a several days later the next tracking event is in Mexico City, where it still remains.

  • foxmulder on 21/09/2020 - 08:10

    What's the carrier they use?

    • Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 17:07

      UPS… Tracking info shows on Australia Post, so they've confirmed it's in Sydney.

  • coblos on 21/09/2020 - 08:11
    +2

    Yes, arrived in Sydney on the 11th of September, cleared 18th September. Still don't have it, but can see it's progressed on the tracking.

    Something is definitely up with yours.

  • holdenmg on 21/09/2020 - 08:23
    +6

    Maybe Customs are reading your Books before they clear them.

    • Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 17:07

      And that's actually totally fine, but if they could read a little quicker, that'd be great.

  • AngusD on 21/09/2020 - 08:23
    +5

    Can we ask what was in the package? If it was 10kg of pure cocaine hidden inside books then it may take a while to get through customs. I suspect that would probably be worth enough that you'll get hit for the GST on it, too.

    • Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 17:01

      Just two books, any coke would've been a complete surprise, and I'm sure as $hit sticking to that story.

  • Pootie Tang on 21/09/2020 - 09:04
    +1

    I had some pins arrive from Amsterdam via sticker mule that supposdly cleared customs on September the 8th and I am yet to see anything. Possible huge backlog.

  • perhaps on 21/09/2020 - 09:21
    +1

    DHL order from the US cleared quickly within 2 hours although there were hick-ups in the "Customs status" or something, which was before the parcel arrived to customs.

    • perhaps on 21/09/2020 - 09:29

      Weirdly my AP Global order is still flying around in the sky or something for 2 weeks

  • mskeggs on 21/09/2020 - 09:25

    My recent USPS/auspost orders took an age to get out of the USA and now much longer than usual to clear customs, but a week or two, not a month!
    Definitely something amiss I think.

    • Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 17:09

      Getting out of the US wasn't too bad, time from LA-NZ-HK-Sydney was 3 weeks according to tracking.

  • roonie on 21/09/2020 - 09:26
    +1

    I just got a package (thick letter). Took two months (from Florida - to melbourne)

    • Adz81 on 21/09/2020 - 17:10

      Right, this may be indicative. Thanks.

      • roonie on 26/09/2020 - 14:31

        We’ve also had letters/small parcels take 3 weeks within melbourne

  • Ocker on 21/09/2020 - 09:56

    The AusPost and USPS tracking service frequently provide differing tracking events. For one of our parcels, AusPost has last tracking as still in USA on 24 August, USPS shows :

    09/07/2020 2:50 P.M. Australia Package departed international carrier facility
    09/01/2020 11:55 P.M. Hong Kong Package processed by international carrier
    09/01/2020 2:08 A.M. Australia Package departed international carrier facility
    08/31/2020 6:19 A.M. Australia Package departed international carrier facility
    08/30/2020 9:32 P.M. United States Package arrived at international carrier
    08/30/2020 5:00 P.M. United States Package departed international carrier facility
    08/24/2020 4:27 A.M. United States Package arrived at international carrier
    08/24/2020 4:27 A.M. United States Package arrived at international carrier
    08/24/2020 4:27 A.M. United States Package processed by international carrier

    No idea why he package seemingly arrived in Australia on 31 August but was then sent to HKG on 1 September

    Strange times indeed

    • Marty-69 on 21/09/2020 - 10:06

      My LA-HK-LA parcel is also USPS. According to Australia Post, it has never been in HK.

  • Marty-69 on 21/09/2020 - 09:57

    It's very busy and a mess everywhere. Just give it more time. I also noticed tracking systems are not aways correct or updated regulary.
    My parcel went from LA to Hong Kong, back to LA and now "in transit". Hopefully to Australia this time.

  • Ocker on 21/09/2020 - 10:35

    AusPost have told me in the past the USPS sometimes use "predictive tracking". Not an actual tracking event that has taken place, rather where the package is "predicted" to be based on the last USPS scanning event.
    The USPS approach really invalidates the whole concept and rationale of tracking.

    • Rescue 26 on 21/09/2020 - 11:23

      I was waiting on an item posted from the US via USPS and Australia Post. USPS tracking showed that the item had cleared customs in Perth 3 weeks prior, so naturally I assumed Australia Post had it somewhere (I am in regional NSW). After several days of back and forth enquiring with Australia Post, they came up with the story about "predictive tracking" and assured me that the real tracking showed that the item was still in the USA. It was delivered the next day. Obviously Australia Post had the item for several days if not weeks. The "predictive tracking" line seems like another way of saying "it's lost in our system somewhere but we'll blame USPS and
      their bogus predictive tracking".

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