Package held in US Customs

aking · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 03:48 PM

Does anybody know the precedure for getting packages out of US Customs? Do they hold them and eventually release them? Do I need to call to have it released? I have an item that was shipped and its been sitting in US customs for days. Thanks.

Burst · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 03:57 PM

They usually stay in customs for up to 48 hours before being released. Dont worry about them being held. They should come. What did you order btw?

aking · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 04:01 PM

48 hours huh, lol. It has been 2 weeks, tracking still says submitted to US customs. I ordered a pair of shoes as a gift for my wife.

imthatguy · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 04:32 PM

NOPE you wont be seeing that package..consider it a lost

**TheyGotMeToo** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 04:43 PM

It all depends on the country and several other factors.

I have checked the tracking on packages I have already received, and the tracking still said they were in customs even weeks after I had my package. Sometimes they Never update their tracking.

This is not to say the case with your package, but its still early.

aking · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 04:44 PM

yea i figured that. From now on I am not ordering anything internationally with no insurance.

aking · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheyGotMeToo

It all depends on the country and several other factors.

I have checked the tracking on packages I have already received, and the tracking still said they were in customs even weeks after I had my package. Sometimes they Never update their tracking.

This is not to say the case with your package, but its still early.

Yea but 2 weeks is a long time, even if they didnt update the tracking I would have gotten them a long time ago. Im just surprized that they dont tell you anything, mail you a letter, etc.

Burst · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 05:23 PM

Wow thats not good. At most mine have been in for two days. Try contacting them.

aking · #9 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 05:49 PM

yea, i will see if i can find a number to contact.

aking · #10 (**permalink**) 12-04-2008, 07:31 PM

This ridiculous, if its not one thing its another. Now every package I order internationally is getting held by customs. I think Im tapping out of the online selling game. :(

helpme1 · #11 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 01:42 AM

Yeah I have had packages held for weeks by customs and also sometimes it will still show up as held but it is sometimes on its way to you.

aking · #12 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helpme1

Yeah I have had packages held for weeks by customs and also sometimes it will still show up as held but it is sometimes on its way to you.

So did all your packages that were held eventually come? Do they send you any kind of information letting you know what is going on? I don't care if they have to hold them for awhile, just as long as I eventually get them. I am just confused as I have ordered stuff for awhile now and all of a sudden now 2 in a row are being held. All ordered from the same person coming from the same place. The first is going on 3 weeks now.

Usually it will always release from customs the next day and it will show in the tracking.

Maybe I need to change the shipping address??

**philly387** · #13 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 12:38 PM

Once you get one package held by customs, almost all of them will be. You have to have the packages shipped to someone else at a different address. I've been through this game before.

aking · #14 (**permalink**) 12-05-2008, 11:32 PM

Ok, well both of them were released today. Thank God. That was 2 grand worth of merchandise. Im happy now!!!

I will be shipping to a new address from now on.

tweety · #15 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 10:28 AM

I placed a oder of 1 carton of Djarum Blacks thru Clovecigaretteshop.com on Nov.20 2009. I just saw yesterday they had reach the US and it said held by customs. My question is what happens now? It's not over the limit of cigarettes that can b sent to the US,it's only 160 cigs. What 2 do now?????

ChargingRhino · #16 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Customs has been clamping down in the last week. I had 10 packages come in, 4 of them got "diverted". I am guessing gone forever. Why those 4 and not all 10??

jbuntz · #17 (**permalink**) 12-06-2009, 10:15 PM

Bulk shipments usually always get held up, how do I know? The last 2 boxes I ordered got held up for 2 weeks out of 50 single boxes that all went straight threw, go figure.

stealth · #18 (**permalink**) 12-06-2009, 10:53 PM

It's a random hold-up, but there's some logic to it. First of all is the quantity. If it is a whole lot of the same items there is a bigger chance for a hold. Secondly, if the address is in the Western US zone with the zip codes starting with 9, 8 and 7 it is a bigger chance to be held up than the Eastern and the Middle US zones. However, needless to say that even zip starting with let say 6 (Kansas City, MO) which is supposed to fly to the Chicago O'Hare customs hub may easily be loaded on the plane to SF. That will maximize the chance of hold up, which is often leads to the customs tariffs. The customs will levy every item in the package with an entry tariffs and instruct the USPS not to release the parcel to the addressee before collecting the tariffs amount. Very often it is a two weeks customs hold, which will come with the US Customs invoice to the USPS office. (Once I got lucky - the mailman forgot to collect the tariffs from me and handed me the parcel with the customs invoice! He never came back to ask for money, but this is like winning a lottery - extremely rare). If the parcel is held up for less than two weeks - even after one week hold - it is often released free of tariffs. It's is normally a random 10% probability of tariffs levied on international non-commercial merchandise items. Chicago and NY customs hubs almost never assess tariffs. It is not necesserily a rule that once your parcel got tariffs it will always be held up and levied. Of course, it is safer to use multiple addresses, but realistically speaking - if you import a lot of **** from abroad, especially China, how many valid addresses can you have to constantly be changing them? Not too many. Get a few and alternate them sparingly, if you can. Also, if you are in the West, change the first digit of your zip to Eastern or Central US zip code to minimize the chance of it going through the Western customs hub. The USPS will re-route your package to you overnight free of charge once it clears the customs in the safe harbor of Chicago or NY and they will figure out your correct destination. Do not order loads of ****.

nobody999 · #19 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 10:52 AM

how much tariff are we tallking about here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealth

It's a random hold-up, but there's some logic to it. First of all is the quantity. If it is a whole lot of the same items there is a bigger chance for a hold. Secondly, if the address is in the Western US zone with the zip codes starting with 9, 8 and 7 it is a bigger chance to be held up than the Eastern and the Middle US zones. However, needless to say that even zip starting with let say 6 (Kansas City, MO) which is supposed to fly to the Chicago O'Hare customs hub may easily be loaded on the plane to SF. That will maximize the chance of hold up, which is often leads to the customs tariffs. The customs will levy every item in the package with an entry tariffs and instruct the USPS not to release the parcel to the addressee before collecting the tariffs amount. Very often it is a two weeks customs hold, which will come with the US Customs invoice to the USPS office. (Once I got lucky - the mailman forgot to collect the tariffs from me and handed me the parcel with the customs invoice! He never came back to ask for money, but this is like winning a lottery - extremely rare). If the parcel is held up for less than two weeks - even after one week hold - it is often released free of tariffs. It's is normally a random 10% probability of tariffs levied on international non-commercial merchandise items. Chicago and NY customs hubs almost never assess tariffs. It is not necesserily a rule that once your parcel got tariffs it will always be held up and levied. Of course, it is safer to use multiple addresses, but realistically speaking - if you import a lot of **** from abroad, especially China, how many valid addresses can you have to constantly be changing them? Not too many. Get a few and alternate them sparingly, if you can. Also, if you are in the West, change the first digit of your zip to Eastern or Central US zip code to minimize the chance of it going through the Western customs hub. The USPS will re-route your package to you overnight free of charge once it clears the customs in the safe harbor of Chicago or NY and they will figure out your correct destination. Do not order loads of ****.

aking · #20 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweety

I placed a oder of 1 carton of Djarum Blacks thru Clovecigaretteshop.com on Nov.20 2009. I just saw yesterday they had reach the US and it said held by customs. My question is what happens now? It's not over the limit of cigarettes that can b sent to the US,it's only 160 cigs. What 2 do now?????

haha, we used to smoke those all the time a few years black.

stealth · #21 (**permalink**) 12-10-2009, 01:36 AM

Over 30% of what they appraise the item at.

jabroney12 · #22 (**permalink**) 12-12-2009, 06:39 PM

I have the same thing with cutoms holding my packaging for over a week now, have you guys had any expeiernece using a customs broker and do they help expedite the process to get the package through without any trouble. I called around and a they charge about $150 for their service.
Any thoughs?

**GreenBean** · #23 (**permalink**) 12-12-2009, 06:44 PM

^^^A week is nothing at this time of the year. Define 'customs holding the packaging for a week'. Save your money to get an already landed parcel released. LOL. By that quoted price the brokers are not that interested.
Welcome to the forum as well

jabroney12 · #24 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009, 01:05 PM

The update that I have from my tracking is this

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment
Inbound Into Customs
Inbound International Arrival, December 06, 2009, 8:05 pm, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Foreign Acceptance, December 03, 2009, 4:25 pm

Which seems it went into customs and they are what everybody calls in a blackhole now until they seize or contact you. What's weird is it also says origin post is preparing shipment which confuses me or did the post office just reversed the scan or preparing to ship back to origin.

But doesent a customs broker facilitate goods through customs faster without it being just stuck there?

jbuntz · #25 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009, 01:36 PM

LA customs holds stuff up alot, I had mine held there for 2 weeks now I have my seller change the zip in order route it through NY customs and it goes straight through every time in about a day but I also only order 1 small box at a time.

imthatguy · #26 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aking

Ok, well both of them were released today. Thank God. That was 2 grand worth of merchandise. Im happy now!!!

I will be shipping to a new address from now on.

2grand huh. Selling counterfeits.
You just said 2 post above that you ordered a pair of shoes for you wife. Now its 2g's worth of stuff?
Package held in US Customs

jbuntz · #27 (**permalink**) 12-14-2009, 11:34 PM

No we don't sell counterfeits here, that would be too unusual.