DHL vs EMS

[UmUm]

There seems to be allot problems with US customs when using DHL, FedEx etc

Do you also get these problems when using EMS post to ship packages in from Asia?

We ship legal handmade small wood items from Asia to our customer in Texas using DHL and get annoying customs related delays at times.

[agent006140]

DHL network is not as broad as UPS,Fed Exp in USA.
You are better off using the postal systems from your country to USA

[UmUm]

Originally Posted by agent006140

DHL network is not as broad as UPS,Fed Exp in USA.
You are better off using the postal systems from your country to USA

Thanks agent006140 - do you know if EMS post, Air post etc goes through the same US customs checks/X-ray machine scans as do the packages shipped using the courier companies like Fedx DHL etc?

I did read somewhere if using the post office they pretty much just go straight through but that seems unlikely to me. Perhaps it depends on criteria like value, product type etc

[agent006140]

depends,private carriers like Fed Exp,UPS have customs brokers at major airports ,they get advance notice of shipments arrivals and will prefill customs forms so when they arrive,they will clear US customs faster.
USPS does not have this feature,they will take them thru customs and rely on what you declared on the customs forms .
if US customs decides there is customs duty,the postman will bring your buyer the shipment plus asking him to pay a fee plus the customs duty right there before releasing the package,I believe USPS charges $7 plus now.
you can read about it on US customs office website .

[agent006140]

Originally Posted by UmUm

Thanks agent006140 - do you know if EMS post, Air post etc goes through the same US customs checks/X-ray machine scans as do the packages shipped using the courier companies like Fedx DHL etc?

I did read somewhere if using the post office they pretty much just go straight through but that seems unlikely to me. Perhaps it depends on criteria like value, product type etc

No way to know,I would think letters and flat envelopes could go thru customs without being scanned by machine,there is no time to read content description one by one ! to decide whether it should be scanned or not,scan first ,ask later !!!!!!

[rogerdodger]

Originally Posted by UmUm

Thanks agent006140 - do you know if EMS post, Air post etc goes through the same US customs checks/X-ray machine scans as do the packages shipped using the courier companies like Fedx DHL etc?

I did read somewhere if using the post office they pretty much just go straight through but that seems unlikely to me. Perhaps it depends on criteria like value, product type etc

I'm in Thailand also, how is the EMS service? I tried to send a document home a few weeks ago and they told me it will take a month! I took it to DHL and it was delivered in the UK 3 days later.
Both were pretty much the same price... Very expensive mind. a document envelope 1500Baht £34