International shipment fun

[Striker1423]

I ordered something from Yambits and in the past they shipped FedEx and I'd see stuff in 2 or 3 days from the UK. Couldn't beat it.

Well they sent stuff USPS this time. Oh brother. Royal mail showed it left the UK, USPS shows the carrier is awaiting shipment. It's been that way for 9 days. So, unless they sent it on a slow boat, I think it's in limbo or gone lol. Curses. In the Dead Zone if you will. Where no one is liable and I'm out money lol.

Anyone else have shipper issues recently?

[scully]

A lot of the postal mail and shipments were moved via the airlines. They are essentially shut down and international travel is a no no for a while. It'll get there eventually.

[m in sc]

ordered a full cdi for the t500, oem. came usps took about 3 1/2 weeks. wasnt in a hurry so no problems, but tracking showed it in customs sitting for a while

[Hawaii-Mike]

"Boat" maybe literal.  And you can expect a long wait.  Shipping from the US mainland to Hawaii by boat (USPS Select) often times takes 3-4 weeks.  Priority takes a few days, costs more and travels by plane.

[rodneya]

Ive had that before with stuff from the UK.
USPS will only show tracking after the package has made it all the way the the US and they have entered it in heir system.

[Dvsrd]

Well, I recently ordered a high ratio (overdrive) primary gear set for my XS650 from Ivan Hoey in Australia. Tracking shows it left some terminal in Sydney on March 17th. No update since then, so I just wait.....

[rodneya]

A lot of the postal mail and shipments were moved via the airlines. They are essentially shut down and international travel is a no no for a while. It'll get there eventually.

Only passenger planes are shut down. cargo is still flying.
I have got stuff from China delivered to my door in less than two weeks.

UPS on the other hand has no idea what they are doing at the moment and are just stockpiling packages and making stupid excuses.

[AAAltered]

On 21 Mar I ordered from them,   It took 3 days Fedex to the US...

[Striker1423]

On 21 Mar I ordered from them,   It took 3 days Fedex to the US...

Don't tell me that lol. 

[RattlecanResto]

Waiting for something off eBay from GB. Been two weeks. Looks like it left customs 2 days ago. Maybe tomorrow.......

[IR8D8R]

  Most small-parcel international shipments move via commercial passenger flights. Baggage for the passengers is only about 25% cargo capacity. The carriers just use their cargo-only planes for larger items and classifications that preclude passenger flights. The shipping companies fill airfreight containers with small packages and postal mail for transit to the airport and air shipment.

The problem right now is customs and local delivery. Local is often by truck or train and not all airports are used for a high freight volume. Big airports like LAX or Atlanta get all the international shipments for a pretty big region and then it goes by road or rail. Freight companies have air hubs just like airlines.

If something is late it is probably because it was put in the wrong place at a freight depot. Like lost luggage. It is waiting for someone to go get it and send it where it belongs. Sometimes that never happens. That part is more complicated than if it is routed correctly and moves as intended. I had a bag lost at CDG airport in Paris and couldn't get it routed right even though I was at the airport at the same time as the bag and they knew where it was. It went by the scenic route and I got it back 3 months later.

I have a friend has been a Freight Conductor with CSX railroad for 15 years in Louisville KY. He has been furloughed for 2 months. He usually works 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week and makes serious $$$ . Stuff isn't moving normally.

I ship a lot of stuff internationaly.

IR8D8R