Forum

problem with DHL & possibily customs?
 

Excuse me if this is in the wrong section, I couldn't find another place for it. It does pertain to eBay somewhat considering I was planning to sell the merchandise on eBay.

I ordered a 12pc product from DHGate. Approximately 21 kg. Everything went smoothly until I got a phone call today from DHL stating that the shipment in question might be contraband and that I need to get a "letter of authority" from the company in order to receive the goods.

The thing is this is my 3rd time importing goods from China so I have no idea what to do. I contacted my supplier about 3 minutes ago, waiting for a response now. The guy I talked to from DHL said the contents of the box were labeled as "computer drivers" and that is not what I ordered...Obviously something fishy was going on so I basically just went along with it. At this point I asked the guy a few questions and he said if I was unable to provide this information that I'll be able to "destroy the shipment" with no further issues.

A few questions..I know many people on here import from China have any of you experienced this problem? Is my address now flagged for shady activity? How do you guys safely import goods from China? What can or should I do from this point?

Good point, jamblix. Must ask aspkin if he might consider a subforum for this type of topic. Think there could be a lot of benefit,yes?

As a first comment, you should have paperwork for the order. You could if you need to show a copy to DHL. I'd not be doing anything until the supplier replies. If you can get proof of a mis-labelled package, there should not be a problem. Any items I import always come thro' agents. Delivery address is absolutely different from residential address.

You are lucky that you have DHL acting for you B4 the item is processed, They are a buffer for any customs action.

Nice post GreenBean. Query if I may: what do you mean you import through agents? I now will import only through DHL as 5 of my last 7 shipments through EMS have been seized. All went to 3 different addresses. If going through agents is better/safer than through DHL I'm all for it. Is it expensive?

That's funny, my last 2 successful shipments came through with EMS. First time using DHL and this happens, just my luck. I've been reading that DHL is much more reliable too, in past discussions about importing from China.

I have a creeping sense that my supplier is clueless to what can be done...:help:!!

I only use DHL for all of my shipments. My supplier says that DHL is excellent but it does depend in what part of the country you live in. He says that he won't ship by DHL to certain areas of the US as packages get seized more often. I get multiple shipments every week with no issues

my supplier wont ship dhl to me anymore..too many problems on 7,8,9..so i had a big parcel come in through EMS no issues,there are ways to get yer package ems,i dont even consider dhl cuz they wont do it anymore,

Let me tell you from experience. . .there are some sellers on dhgate who know how to "send" and some who think they know but really have no idea. I've been using dhgate for about 3 years, since Sept 2007, and I have seen the good, bad and the ugly.

It will take some time to find the right supplier, but trust me when you find someone who actually knows how to ship, knows how to avoid custom's duties, how to route packages through different parts of the country to ensure a better success rate, you will know the difference.

The products I sell on ebay, I know I could get them cheaper, but with less headaches are worth a couple bucks extra.

I would switch sellers, sounds like they don't know the game good enough.

Stay away of DHL !!

If you are going to post something like telling people to stay away from DHL you should state the reason behind the statement that you made. If you have had a bad experience then share it so other people can learn from it. Otherwise there is no need for posts like that

You need to shipping the goods from hong kong,not china mainland.And the risk of being seized by us customer will be less.Also you need to use your family address to receive the goods,not is business address.Because the value you wrote is lowest on the bill ,so if it is for business address,the usa custom will thinking it is unreasonable.

also if you are in the middle of USA,do not use EMS,you will very easy to get seized .Take care

I just had my first package come DHL and it was a monster, about 70lbs and a huge huge box, I could barely carry it. I had no problems at all, from the time posting on DHL tracking it was here at my door 3 days later.

I plan on going DHL for every order here on out, unless I run into your problem of course.


Of all my EMS orders (roughly between 30-40 orders) I have only had 2 seized. Those both came through Chicago, I go through New York always now and they come through like butter, most times new even enter customs.

I love how I get my EMS packages to New York in exactly 4 days! But that's just for 1 item at a time.
I'm not sure If I'll have problems when I order in a larger quantity. Either way must be a blessing living in New York!

My last 3 EMS packages went through San Francisco and ALL 3 were seized.
Since then my seller is shipping to me by DHL.
No problems so far.
My packages land at the Ohio DHL Unit.
The last 5 have made it just fine since I got them to use DHL.

All very interesting, seems like there is a trend going from all these import threads I'm reading. It looks like the majority of problems occur in San Francisco and New York is the more reliable. Is there a way a seller can navigate packages to make them hit safer destinations?

This is the response I got from my supplier,
"hi,dear friend

I am sorry for this trouble.

please call DHL ,DHL need you how to do?

I will do the best.

best regards"

I don't think he has any idea what's going on after I tried explaining. I am glad he contacted me though and trying to figure out what's going on. I'm 90% sure I'm going to have to dispose of the shipment. If that package was not sent according to DHGate escrow the release of your money only happens when you receive the goods from what I read. If that's the case and I tell DHL to dispose of the package because my supplier cannot provide a letter of authenticity. Does this mean that I will get my money back from DHGate or will I be burned and have to settle something with the seller? Anyone have a similar experience with this at DHGate?

i want too know too

You need to get a letter from DHL stating that they have seized your shipment.
You can then scan it and send it to your seller.
They SHOULD re-ship the order to you.
I had to do this a few times.

It looks like you need to find a new seller on dhGate.

This is definetely a seller who does not know the game. Get your refund, I wouldn't even bother with a re-shipment and look for another seller.

Also rent a ups box to receive the package now, I wouldn't keep sending to the same address.

You are correct.....
Get a new seller
Get a new address, the old one is now in the Customs Database
Get a UPS box.
Have the new seller ship by DHL.
The package will arrive in the USA via DHL.
Then it will be turned over to the USPS for delivery to your UPS box.

Works for ME

DHl is def the way to go,but if you have 7,8,9 zip code..its not a good idea to use dhl,and you cant re route a dhl package,they can reroute EMS to make it go through NY,and you should get your problems..thats bottom line and a fact

at least my supplier wont ship dhl now cuz of alot of problems lately on the 7,8,9

Just because you have a package seized doesn't mean your address is marked. I have had 2 of maybe 30 packages seized, all the rest keep clearing customs just fine.

Are you sure DHL can't be re-routed by a third party shipping company?

We also had problems with packages going to 7,8,9 through UPS. The shipping company devised a new way to route the packages to KY then to CA instead of directly to CA as was the old way. So far it has been sucessful.

I'm telling you, there are vendors out there who really know the business well. You have not found the right vendor.

That is correct, but do you really feel comfortable with numerous seizures to one address? Maybe there is a point to where US Customs would investigate if you had too many? How can we know for sure? Me personally I would never want to be on the radar. One seizure and it's worth the money to open a box.

trust me,i buy from the same person alot of others buy from..believe me,dhl cant be rerouted,im not going to say how they reroute ems,but im sure alot of you know,it cant be done for dhl,maybe ups..but def not dhl..doesnt mean every package is going to get held up on the 7,8,9..but they wont ship there,doesnt matter to me anyway i got my big packages by ems no problem through NY,i have patience..5 days is fine instead of 3

you guys are paranoid,its impossible for them to trace every package to the same address for this stuff..for drugs and stuff and very large shipments..maybe..but if yer package is 10kg or whatever..its nothing,i had 2 packages held last month same week..but one passed same week..since than ive received 3 21kg to my house..just use a different name..sure its better to use new addresses,but i dont trust a po box,i dont like people knowing my business,i still use mine and 2 friends..keep being paranoid people..customs has better things than to worry about than yer small potatoes package regardless if it got held up b4 or not

Can anyone give some examples of the right questions to ask a supplier to find out if they are reliable shippers?

Other than feedback scores, I have no way of identifying a sucessful seller from an inexperienced one. The supplier I bought from had an excellent feedback score, but this fiasco still happened.

Do you guys interview your potential suppliers or just try the luck of the draw?

Yeah, there are major problems shipping EMS and going through customs. With 5 of my 7 orders seized going though San Fransisco, I now use DHL. I will only use EMS if shipper reroute my orders through NY as I have had no problems that way.

Funny though as I just check update of orders shipped through NY and I have an out for delivery at an address in Pittsburgh...but I live in Vegas. Its getting rerouted to Nevada.

Now you also will get problem by DHL to shipping if you wrote too lowest value on the bill

^
 

I had a 50 lb box that I recieved dhl, I paid about $600 but the value was marked as $75. Do you think that's to low or should I ask the seller to raise it next time?

The shipment that got seized from me by DHL was 21 kg or roughly 46 lbs. The merch cost around $400, but I never received the package :rant: so...I don't know how much this supplier marked the shipment as.

If your Merchant have not any ⊗⊗⊗⊗ goods and if its only the labeling mistake you can call to DHL and let them know that its labeling mistake and send the goods either back to supplier or give you option to submit the extra paper work.

If it contains Brand copy goods then the law says they cn hold your goods (Not DHL but custom) for 30 days and they will report to brand owner if brand owner is not willing to file the case in court against you (which in your case offcourse he will not as only 400$) then custom should relase your goods to you.

This thing happened to me with my shipment 500 pcs of wii remote and nunchuk controller. All were stuck and DHL said the custom hold it as they are brand items with "LOGO Wii" I call to custom and they said they will destory it but on the internet I read that the law is not to destroy the goods until brand owner case the file and win the case. So in my case I got my all goods after 2 month but one box they hold it forever out of 8 boxes. they said they have lost it.

So now new law says release the goods until brand owner have no objection on his goods. Specially brands which are international and have no offices in your country will not take any action.

Hey guys. I had a package seized yesterday. A DHL guy called and said I need to show I am authorized to import this product or a statement that I didn't know any better. Then if I have another one seized they will put my name on the banned to import list he said. Should I even give a statement that I didn't know any better? He said if not it will just get destroyed. My seller just gave me a silly invoice that says educational material and to ask for a broker. That isn't even worth trying in my opinion because the one on the box probably says something different and it has to be opened then I just look like an idiot. Is it worth giving a statement because if I do that and get seized again, I already said something in a previous statement as to that oops now I know. What should I do? Ignore it. Wait for them to destroy it without hearing from me? Do you guys bother calling back DHL when this happens?

Fax the invoice what do you got to lose?

My shipment ended up getting destroyed. No other choice especially if your supplier is clueless. I'd recommend opening a dispute on DHGate as soon as possible to get a refund faster. They make you communicate with your supplier for a week and propose solutions that will just get refused and ignored by your seller. Than you can finally submit the dispute to DHGate which takes another 2 weeks. It's pointless and frustrating.

Yeah but it's the last box out of 4 shipped. So I got three. This seller is cool. I actually think it's neato that he sent me the invoice and asked if I would at least try. I just think no communication is best with customs. They will destroy what they find anyway, the DHL guy already said the statement would be that I didn't know it was wrong to import. I hope my seller sends another box, but if he don't I've heard he'll give a partial refund in his feedback. Cool! I'll just order more ****. Ooh they'll ban my name, better come up with a new one. They see me on all those Safe Auto commercials anyway...

Actually, I only deal in the best of the best, real deal, legit, authentic, and totally cool stuff. Customs should put me on the green light list... "Hey, it's for him. Don't touch or even think about looking in that package!" Like they don't know any package they pick up is like mine. It's in the quota, just another number. They gotta show they are doing something, like quality control in the factory.

But for real. Who would call and give a statement like he asked. How can I show I am authorized? I think that's where the seller says "educational material" should work. I've called the number the DHL guy left and put in his extension with no answer. I kinda don't wanna talk to him anyway and play dumb, but the invoice isn't what he's asking for. I'm sure my seller has handled this before and maybe it works sometimes. It's a crap shoot.