Current Shipping Times and Customs Clearance

Lmovis on 03/09/2021 - 09:12

So I'm expecting a few parcels, most of which are international, coming from China. One in particular has been stuck with the "Arrived awaiting clearance (customs)" status on Auspost tracking for longer than I'm used to, and don't see any reason for it to have been seized by customs. From a bit of research it seems that there was an exposure site at customs and they've been closed temporarily to do deep cleaning (source: https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/australia-post/q-a… comment from auspost rep saying that in the reply to Martin).

Basically just wanted to post to see if anyone else is experiencing the same holdup at that stage of shipping in the past few days.

General Discussion

Comments

  • SF3 on 03/09/2021 - 09:24
    +2

    Even for austpost local shipping, still waiting for a parcel that should have taken 1 week from purchase, but the new estimate has extended to 2 weeks.

    • movis on 03/09/2021 - 09:59

      Yeah I've seen reports of a few express domestic shipments taking longer than usual but figured it was strange mine were stopped at customs specifically.

  • perhaps on 03/09/2021 - 09:32

    Mines been stuck like this for a week "Package arrived at international carrier Australia "

    • movis on 03/09/2021 - 09:57
      +1

      Is that one being shipped through UPS? I have one on stuck on the same status for a similar amount of time now.

      • perhaps on 03/09/2021 - 10:15

        Yep, should've arrived on the 27th. Did yours come from the U.S via Japan?

        • movis on 03/09/2021 - 10:23

          Mine entered Australia and cleared customs on the 27th, but I never got an estimated delivery date. Came straight from the US from what I can see in tracking.

          • perhaps on 03/09/2021 - 10:30

            @movis: All I can see is "package arrived at international carrier- Aus" as of now, no idea if that means its processed into Aus yet. Mine left the U.S on the 21st and showed up in Japan on the 29th.

            • perhaps on 03/09/2021 - 11:06

              @perhaps: "Our international gateway was closed temporarily recently so there may be a bit of a backlog, but until it scans into our network we're unable to provide time frames. The Sydney Gateway Facility was closed for precautionary measures around being a potential exposure site." - Reply from AP

              • movis on 03/09/2021 - 11:31

                @perhaps: Is Australia Post the one responsible for handling UPS shipments when they arrive in Australia? Or do UPS do that themselves? I see they have an Australian portion for their website so I didn't think AP is involved when it gets here. Just curious

                I only got an update when it cleared customs, not when it entered and was waiting clearance so I could see your package being in customs but not having cleared yet. Can't really know ig.

                • perhaps on 03/09/2021 - 12:11
                  +1

                  @movis: From what I was told (could be completely wrong, and applies for the mail innovations service), is that the parcels land in Aus via UPS, and then get handed to Auspost who process it into Aus with customs etc. And then through the Auspost domestic system who do the last mile delivery.

                  Got an update from support today saying that it hand landed and was most likely still waiting to be unloaded and put through processing, but the Sydney gateway is on reduced capacity so there is huge backlog.

  • popsiee on 03/09/2021 - 09:35
    +2

    It a bit too much foresight for AusPost to hire more casuals on standby predicting covid isolations .

    • RockyRaccoon on 03/09/2021 - 09:47
      +1

      Really and where do they find these "casuals" on standby. Are you volunteering?

      Maybe they can import them like the farmers do, or just pluck them out of covid lines at the vaccination centres.

      BTW I have no affection for AusPost.

      But some things are a lot easier to say than to do.

  • JiGaXD on 03/09/2021 - 09:42
    +1

    Auspost is currently overloaded so there is increased delay. There's also increased 'shipping' delays in the literal sense with boat shipping containers. Think we can all have some more empathy for the workers during this busy period - must be overly stressful.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-01/australia-post-pause-…
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-08-09/shipping-delays…

    • movis on 03/09/2021 - 10:06
      +2

      Yeah makes sense, and am definitely empathetic towards them. Not easy for most people at the moment. Cheers for the articles.

      • popsiee on 03/09/2021 - 10:13

        No empathy from me they had the warning of increased parcel demand for over 18 mths now .
        Its not difficult the solutions except for poor management .

        • movis on 03/09/2021 - 10:22
          +2

          Didn't necessarily mean empathy towards auspost as a company, but more so their employees.

          • KaTst3R on 03/09/2021 - 12:21
            +5

            @movis: Definitely empathise with the front line workers but not their Execs.

        • JiGaXD on 03/09/2021 - 15:07
          +4

          I don't think you're understanding the nature of what's happening at the moment.

          There's a global shipping issue as well as unprecedented impacts from the Delta variant. Not defending whether AusPost has performed well or not, but it's extremely difficult for them to predict… "The organisation also has 500 staff in self-isolation as a result of the COVID-19 outbreaks in the three states". Plus facilities are also temporarily closed - what can they do if there's been an outbreak?

          May be an unpopular opinion, but I think they're taking the right approach in prioritising staff health… "The temporary pause is designed to ease stress on the system to a "safe and manageable level". Just imagine what morale would have been like to force AusPost to have to take an action like this.

  • IceCreamBandit on 03/09/2021 - 12:28
    +2

    My recent experience with a parcel being delayed was apparently caused by the lack of flights coming to Australia.

    Item despatched from UK on 14/8.

    Awaiting international departure 16/8

    Sydney arrival, awaiting clearance 31/8

    Delivered 1/9

    I contacted AusPost about this on 26/8 as the expected delivery date was 25/8 and wanted to see if the parcel had actually left the UK.

    The live chat guy said current restrictions meant flights into Australia were at <5% of pre Covid levels, hence the delay in departure.

    Note that my parcel was sent using 'International Express', but I doubt that affects customs clearance times as per OP's concern.

  • azonki on 04/09/2021 - 08:33
    +2

    I ordered two items on 24/08/2021, both for delivery by Australia Post.
    One from China (Singapore).
    The other from Sydney.
    I got the box from Sydney Thursday 2/09. It sat in the sorting warehouse for 5 days before getting moving.
    The parcel from China arrived a day earlier.
    I think it's hit & miss??

  • Series4Episode10 on 04/09/2021 - 11:04
    +1

    All deliveries are taking longer, and for different reasons, local deliveries have problems due to Aus Post experience problems with staff being in forced isolation due to exposure to the current virus, international deliveries are in backlog, the amount of international; sales has increased many fold due to people being home and buying goods, the cost of shipping has increased many fold as well.

    https://www.freightos.com/freight-resources/coronavirus-upda…

  • OzHunterNSW on 04/09/2021 - 11:57
    +3

    Yes, all seems to run smoothly - until - they reach the dreaded short of Australia, where they run the gauntlet of being bashed and battered about, only to be either jammed into your letter box, hanging out, bent, or eventually stolen from your door step.

    China seems to be ok… typically about 5, 6 week wait.

    America is ok till it his our shore. Have parcel waiting at Sydney for two weeks, just sitting there.

  • lew380 on 04/09/2021 - 12:37

    Welcome to the new world, those not inboard with the vaccination narrative are getting fired or will be protesting. The media has been silent on it, as the truckers have been holding everything up, good on them.

  • xtremehell on 08/09/2021 - 19:49

    My purchase from AliExpress ($300+) was made in May and has yet to arrive, 5 and a half months later.

    The last updates I got on its tracking were in June:
    Arrival at Destination Postal Admin (From SG/SIN to AU)
    Arrival at Processing Center

  • USER DC on 28/02/2023 - 10:25

    How long did it take for you mate?

    I might be stuck in a similar situation. Bought from Aliexpress about $300 ish, and took ages for singapore post to deliver to Australia firstly, (china to singapore very quick). Now probably stuck at customs for Absolutely no bloody reason.

    Sellers really should stop advertising so wrong EST delivery dates (and encouraging customers to buy with the Singaporean route). I would avoid singapore post importations in future.

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