Forum

Shipping from China to US via EMS has definitely got slower lately. It used to be 7-8 days on average from door to door and it is now has increased to 11-15 days. Something is going on in China as well as in US. Sometimes the USPS tracking system (not EMS) would show that the item had left China and it would not turn up in the US for as long as 7-8 days. Also the US customs now taking longer, it could be 3-4 days, whereas before 24 hrs would be pretty normal processing time. I wonder if it has something to do with the current voulume of shipped goods being increased? Also, if anyone here knows of any US Customs processing hubs (airports) other than the SF, NY and Chicago and what zip codes these hubs are servicing?

So I decided to try and test out a few suppliers and 2 packages (out of the 5 I ordered) got returned to them...this is just frustrating. Not only are there delays, but EMS is really cracking down on everything. But just out of curiosity, has anyone else's package gotten returned?

yeah, confiscated some cd/dvds, received a letter from customs.

Beijing to Sydney EMS 36 hours.... dvds as well ;)

Yes, I too receive many shipments from China to Sydney with no problems at all. All I know is that problems arise from the supplier filling out customs forms in a way that attracts the attention of customs; such as underdeclaring shipment values, unusual package content descriptions, or not specifying the correct quantity of items in the package. Sometimes a supplier is used to doing this for you out of good faith (in order to avoid customs charges), but it sometimes backfires as well. Just my experience :D

My shipment just arrived yesterday from China. 6 days total. Bout the same as usual.

inleague2003:...i had similar problem...try finding a different supplier i had suppliers sending my package threw los angeles and some how it skips customs

my stuff was confiscated in LA

Informed by Ebay,recently 40% possible to be returned back for the item shipped out from Shanghai via EMS.

So I know that there's a major Chinese Holiday from the 1st to the 8th but none of my stuff that I've ordered from any of my suppliers is showing online (ordered it 3-4 days ago). My main supplier told me that shipping's really bad right now but is everyone else having the same issues?

I had also ordered half of my items from my main supplier about a week ago and none of that stuff is on the ems website either. Seems like its going to be a rough few weeks...

There should be some delays nut i ordered two items on Sat 26th and they were shipped Sun 27th. From what my suppllier told me today (mon 26th) is the last day i could order before the Chinese hols.

In reference to shipping, if you ordered pretty much over a week ago, live data should definately be available on the shipping sites ...

EMS is horrible right now.

It's a combination of some "crack down", that supposed cocaine rumor as well as the big Holiday coming up.

If you're shipping legitimate items, in large weight & quantiity, I highly recommend asking your suppliers to ship DHL as it is not that expensive and I receive packages in 3-4 business days door to door.

Sounds like a black list to me. Shipments have been slow this past week. It could be the shipper delaying and not EMS for one seller. But not too long ago, from China to USA delivered in 2 days. Ridiculous how well new addresses will work.

Also, there is a holiday coming up for some days.

demand DHL.

Interesting- one of my other suppliers shipped DHL and its not even online- I guess its all getting slow for a few days. I knew about the holiday which is why I tried to get in before but I guess everyone did that- oh well...after the chinese holiday, orders should start picking up. hope everyone is getting ready!

My supplier told me there is a national holiday in China. I ordered days ago and my package was supposed to be shipped dhl. It did not pass through customs and is now being sent ems with two free items for inconvenience. I still cannot track and its been a few days.

If its not up by now, it'll probably be october 5th before its up. The most we can do is wait now

Well,the actually problem coms from China custom,not for the post office or express company.They were checking each package more carefully in order to getting everything organized for National day.Not sure about now.But the situation should will get through soon.

There is a holiday in China, so EMS will be delayed for about 5 days. However, I have it on good authority that EMS is having issues in general, and shipments are much slower, and shipping costs has doubled. Shipping from China to any US ZIP starting with 7,8, or 9 is high risk, and will probably be confiscated by customs. My suppliers does some kind of incorrect address trick for those zip codes, and I have not had 1 single problem with customs. However, I did have 1 package marked as undeliverable, and it had to be re-shipped. Better that, than losing my shirt on a raw customs deal.

my packages are fine,no delays

With all due respect, please,. I've been drop shipping with companies from China for over 6 years, and there have always been frequent delays, and problems with customs coming into those zip codes, especially LA! So, I'm not making anything up pal. I've been through it, and had to suffer the losses! Only this year did I discover these areas were a problem when I was told by CHINA SUPPLIER!!! Some supplies wont even ship to these areas now, because of customs. I personally don't give a damn what you had delivered. I never said everyone would have this problem, but I have and continue to use several sources in China, and they all have problems with certain zip codes!

the holiday season = confusion

my supplier hasnt even been using ems due to delays and crackdowns. only dhl and it has been faster delivery too.

9,8,7-starting zipcodes are a danger to be customs-tariffed. Because the West Coast customs hubs are out of control. Have your Chinese suppliers start you zip with a lower digit and it will fly over the cuckoo's nest to safe harbour in Chicago, NY, etc. hub, clear the customs smoothly and be promptly redirected by US mail to your Western address free of charge. :amen:

thats interesting that those particular zip codes would be high risk.

I have a few retailers in Cali, and I have my suppliers dropship to them all the time. I do have to pay a slight higher price, but all the packages are delivered to the correct address, on time.

Right after the holiday a week or so ago, there was a slight delay with a package or two, but not too much outside of the expected delay.

Recently, the EMS tracking website seems delayed also. I received a package yesterday, that had NOT been updated on the website. EMS website said it was still in China, but USPS website said it was delivered.

Maybe there's a problem with their servers updating timely as well.

I think all of the discussed variables may be causing the problem as a whole, rather then just one particular scenario.

Sevn

yea EMS needs to work on updating there server or system in general. There seems to be a lag in there system and it doesnt update. I have had that happen before. The tracking says its still in China, then all of a sudden its a my door with no updates on the EMS website. I usually just make sure it posts then I dont even look at it again for 5 days.

yeah that happens to me sometimes toooo

I thought I would touch back on this thread, since I'm experiencing some issues this week. I had 8 packages coming in this week, and EMS website hasn't updated since 10/12 7:46AM. I've receive 4 of the 8, and all 4 are still in China according to EMS site, and the other 4 are not even posted.

These last 4 have me questioning my supplier, and I've been doing business with him for 3 years. Anyone think I should be concerned about my products?

Sevn

Sevnsins, what # does your shipping zip code start with?

I wouldnt worry, speaking from experience, sometimes when suppliers send out multiple packages to the same address, they like to make sure the first half get cleared through customs before they ship the second half. That has been my experience at least. Once the first ones clear, I notify my supplier and he ships the second half. If its only been a few days, I wouldnt worry.

I dont mind it, it actually helps me keep my inventory down.

In most cases, you are right.

Although; all the packages that arrived were from a different supplier. The supplier in question hasn't responded to my emails, and I'm growing concerned. My wife keeps telling me to calm down, but she doesn't know how much money is out there. Otherwise, she may not be so calm about the situation.

I've done a ton of business with this guy, and we talk outside of business (family, etc.) He has disappeared before, and later told me that he was quarintined due to a virus he caught. I didn't have a pending order with him when that happened, so I wasn't so worried about his disappearance at the time.

Hopefully we comes back around soon, my customers are getting impatient.

:confused:

I have a fairly safe Zip code, since I live in the Midwest. Most packages come through NY & Chicago, but I get them through SF too. All depends on the items I'm buying at the time.

Sevn

Yea, I dont know how much you have a stake, but I would be patient. I'm sure he'll come thru. Focus on moving the items that arrived and get back to the ones that you are waiting on.

You should maybe ask your supplier for a backup contact in case he is away. Someone should be able to handle your orders if he's away.

sevn, that same thing happened to me earlier this month- supplier supposedly shipped out mid september...never showed up online and then magically one day, all of my packages started rolling in without ever updating on the EMS website- apparently, his shipping agent had changed the tracking number without telling me but I'm sure you'll get them soon enough- no worries since the chinese suppliers know how important a good relationship is for their business. Especially a 3 year relationship

same here ordered by ems over 2 weeks ago and it still says on tracking only collected from customer and left origin country, nothing else.....

wonder what that could mean......

If doesnt show up and supplier wont re-ship and if paid by paypal, how would pp view this in terms of refund??

Info about my resent overseas package information....

I am expecting 5 packages from overseas.
On ALL 5 of them there was a 5-6 day delay between
the time the tracking info said that the package left the international country until it arrived at Chicago O'Hare Customs.

So it looks like, to me, that international package transit time is a little high right now.
Somewhere from 2 weeks to 3 weeks for arrival at its US based destination.

My 2 cents.......

it takes me about 2 weeks to receive my goods

its not the delay, Im used to that 2 weeks isnt unusual, its the fact it hasnt left the country, still there 18 days on........

whats the best way to play it with regards to getting refund thru paypal - they only look at tracking...

Hi I have a package shipped ems from thailand. I have never really had any issues before but this time it was shipped out on oct 21st and says it left thailand on the 22nd but it is still not tracking on the usps tracking. Usally it is here by now and I'm getting a little worried. Any ideas?

Check with the supplier first. His answer will likely give you answers :peace: