Forum

Packages can get Seized Anywhere, Anytime, Any Carrier, EMs, DHL, FEDEX, UPS, Does not really Matter. It is More a Matter of Having the right guy doing the SHIPPING, The Sellers who send the Product out Have a Better Idea of Which Methods to use, and When to ship, than we do over Here. Lets Face it, the Shippers are to ones who Lose Out Most of the time, If we do not get our orders we file a dispute, and get our money back.

So it is logical to assume that the Sellers/Shippers are Much more in tune to what is going on with US Customs, so If your seller insists that you use a Certain Carrier, It really is NOT Because they will make more Money, most of the time it is because THEY KNOW that the best chance for the order to Arrive at a certain destination is with a Particular Shipping Method.

So in essence if you have a trustworthy supplier, it is Always best to trust Their Judgement in reguards to shipping

So did you receive a letter for the package that got seized or are you safe from all that trouble when you use a mail forwarding service?

It makes no difference. Customs will send the letter to the name and address that was on the package that was seized. Same rules apply, just don't respond to it.

I received a letter at a UPS store. I thought for sure they were going to tell me to take my business elsewhere, but they never did.

just because you received a letter from homeland security doesn't mean it involves customs....it could be immigration related stuff...that's why the ups store don't know.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Now where did he mention HomeLand Security?

They sent the letter to my PO Box in NY.

customs is part of homeland security, the envelope should have a return address of homeland security

No, actually the return address is to US Customs and Border Patrol Service.

I cannot say that others may not receive a letter from "Homeland Security" but I have never seen one.

Be careful with DHgate, they will try and stall until you can't open a paypal dispute. I would just forget DHgate dispute and head straight to your credit card company or Paypal dispute.

The other thing about DHgate is that you need to provide as letter from customs to file a dispute with them. These letters do not always arrive in a timely fashion.

Best thing to do is work with a supplier you can trust. That way, you can work something out if a package is seized without having to open a dispute.

Also, some sellers are more knowledgable than others and know how to package and send items to avoid any problems. Not a 100% guarantee, you understand, but a good supplier will know how to minimize the risks.

Just to let everyone know the first order to the UPS box went through fine.

just had 4 packages seized by LA customs.

What is my best bet in getting a new address? is there anyway i can walk into a mail boxes etc or UPS store and get a mailbox without ID ? what do you guys do for 2nd address?

DHL works in cooperation with U.S. Customs. People often forget that the Senders are often flagged as people/businesses that distribute goods to the U.S. that have once been identified as counterfeit. This information is saved into their database, and packages being sent from a flagged location have a much higher chance of being opened up.

If a seller from China is selling counterfeit DVD's, and has had their packages once seized while in route to a totally different address, there's a good chance future ones will too.

You think they are going to do anything to change their address once the carrier comes to pick up the items? Probably not.

ebaymafia is right,us custom have the data for both sender side and receiver side,so if the goods have been seized from sender before,so next time when the goods come to us again,and us custom will check it more carefully .
But the people ususally do not know this,and they only care the receiver side address is sezied or not

I think thats why alot of sellers don't even use a return address or they write it in chinese.

Guy, I got the letter from US Custom from OH. Two boxes has been seized package sent with DHL. The value is $2111.. Please tell me what to do with letter? Just ignored or what?

^^^^^^^^^^
I just shredded the 2 I got last week.

Check with your seller.
They will probably want you to scan it in and send them a copy.
Then they should be able to re-ship some if not all of your items.

hello,
My first order is being delayed in LA through DHL. This is really my first time to get a shipment weight about 21K from overseas.
Friday, July 09, 2010
9 Clearance delay Los Angeles Gateway, CA - USA 04:30

8 Processed for clearance at Los Angeles Gateway - USA Los Angeles Gateway, CA - USA 04:30

7 Arrived at Sort Facility Los Angeles Gateway - USA Los Angeles Gateway, CA - USA 03:33

6 Departed Facility in Hong Kong - H K Heliport - Hong Kong Hong Kong - H K Heliport - Hong Kong 03:35

5 Processed at Hong Kong - H K Heliport - Hong Kong Hong Kong - H K Heliport - Hong Kong 01:00

What would be the outcome for the most part?
I'm sure I am not on any black list so far. I used a name variation.

Is there any one got through after a few days? How is Los Angeles Customs?

First time with DHL and first time weight 21K, is this just bad luck?

I posted on here awhile back my neighbor who is a customs agent - well now my old neighbor as i moved...told me they had some new flagging sytem on addresses that was suppose to go into effect this year or beginning of next year that was gonna make things tight as customs was getting alot of heat from companys for letting the items in and the rumor is many of the manufacturers may have aided them in helping revamp the system ..just a rumor but i know many friends at my local flea market have said it has been brutal lately .

Los Angeles is known to be bad. However, your package has not been delayed for that long a time yet. There is a CHANCE that you may still get it.

If not, you will receive a letter from Customs explaining they seized your package, why it was seized, and the procedure for contesting the seizure. Whatever you do IGNORE THE LETTER! Do not respond in any way! Customs will then simply destroy the merchandise.

If this happens, contact your seller and try to work something out. Usually, they are willing to re-ship. If they don't want to work it out, and you bought through DHgate or ALIexpress (and some others) you can fax or pdf a file to them with the letter and get your money back. But PLEASE contact your seller first. Most are honest and will try to work something out with you.

Is it bad luck? I don't know. Some sellers are more knowledgable than others about how to ship items and get them through customs.

It sucks that this is your first shipment, but these things will happen from time to time. Ship to a different address from now on. The address on the package (if it turns out to be seized) will be flagged by customs. So any future packages going to the same address will have a higher chance of being seized also. Better safe than sorry.

Small packages by ems are still working good for me, I recieved several within the last week.

jeffwei

thanks for your comfort:)

hi jubntz,
how small it should be? 20lbs ok? did you get them from different address or the same one? was that a residential or po?



thanks

In my experience with EMS anything under 50lbs and a box no bigger than the size of a piano chair is good. It would also be in your best interest to get a few business P.O. boxes and have the shipments coming into all of them equally. I'd say no more than 3 shipments per address per week, so about 8-12 shipments per address per month is good. I have never had an EMS shipment get seized using this strategy yet. Knock on wood!

^
 

Most of the stuff I get is about the size of a shoebox, they all go to a business mailbox with different names.

I'm finding out the hard way this may be true. This is a really popular seller on DHgate. The first shipment was seized 6/13. OK. Have had seizures before. He then re-shipped it to new name/address the following month as today of 7/13 and it was again seized by Customs at DHL in Los Angles. This is the first time I've had a second shipment seized. I didn't even get first seizure letter for previous shipment until 7/11.

Anyone have experience with having two shipments seized in a row with same seller? I know he will lose a lot of money as have I taken a hit. Now I know for certain this seller has been flagged. Last month was the worst month up to date for me with this month even worse with no sales at all. Will try using EMDS again.

The only problem with DHL is you can't use a different zipcode plus you risk too much cash on 1 shipment. With EMS my average shipment costs between $100-$200 and I order from about a dozen different sellers, use different names and zipcodes.

Its doesnt matter what you do and alot of it is just luck ,, they know most of the stuff from China is %$#% ..but they only have so much manpowere that is why they are imputting the new sytem .

New update about my package though dhl in LA.
Just called and talked to 3 ladies. It is seized for now waiting for proper supporting document from the shipper.
Oh. bad luck!
My first package paid in pursuing my financial freedom dream plan!!!

It was delayed since last Friday. but at least I finally got to know what is going on.

Well, thanks everybody.

LA is not safe!!!

by the way, did anyone finally got their package released and how did the shipper/seller do it? Please PM me. I can even pay for it, it is x00 bucks for me, laid off ex-IT worker.

Please help

newer update,
DHL just left me a voice mail and ask me to call back saying they need some proof for the authentication of the dvds.
Should I?
Is there a trap or anything? I didnt tell them that package is for me, the name is different:-)

any advice?

even newer update about package seisure.
I just got a small package from China today.
It survived. I guess the size is the key.
I'm not on a black list yet, haha......

You just need to ignore it and you won't provide any proof of legal for the dvds ,so it is better to spend more time on other deals

Yeah if all you ever order is dvds your gonna run into problems, its good to find a large variety of products and sellers, ecspecially if you find a good nonbranded product, that'll clear every time unless there's some other issue but you'll be able to deal with it since there's no trademark involved.

ya listen to teedon dont do anything dont say nothing, and for goodness sakes quit calling them lol let it go chalk it up and find another addy.

did i say dont do anything? if i didnt dont do anything!!!

does anyone know how to use mail forwarding with companies like MyUS com, I use to ship to pennsy before not a single packge seized by customs on New York I did it for a whole year.

I've gotten 2 of those letters.. Even though you get those, you will still be able to receive your items. I'm still getting packages today.

Earlier in this thread I made a Post that mentioned a "Trusted Supplier" among other things and how THEY are the key.

A trusted supplier selling VERO, NEVER has a Pickup at his Location, do you think they are going to inform the authorities as to where they can find them? Smart Supliers send their goods directly to the Dhl office, UPS Depot, Post office or whereever and ships items using Stealth Names/Addresses to Avoid what you are talking about. New or Not to Savy sellers make these mistakes and Burn for them.

The Old saying goes: Burn,,,,, you'll Learn"

So it is ALWAYS best to find a Trusted Seller who has been Burn't once or Twice, He has a Better idea of how Not to get Burn't.

And if he Don't get burn't,,,Neither will you.

Actually the seller I used has over 5000+ feedback. His name has been said many a times on this forum. He is in China but has DVD's shipped from Hong Kong.

This is the first experience I've had where first shipment and second re-shipment of same order has been seized at DHL location in Los Angeles. I'm sure he's using stealth accounts but it is uncanny how both were seized going to different addresses (one brand new). Maybe new implementing system at Customs that now tracks all Hong Kong packages that are now opened and inspected?

I doubt that they can inspect every package from Hong Kong. This COULD just be bad luck, although maybe, as you say, there is more to it than that.

But anything we can come up with would just be speculation.

No Matter what New system Customs may implement, "Sharp" Chinese exporters will come up with a "Workaround" at some point, their Continued success depends on it.

As i said months back .. the goal with CUSTOMS is the same with Ebay ..they cant get everybody but they can get more .. the more and more difficult it becomes the more people get frustrated and quit just like ebay you keep losing accounts and you give up .. I have been following ebay for 11 years and used to order my Lots right from ebay sellers didnt even need to bother with trying to find a overseas supplier ..i havent seen a 'LOT of what i sold in 2 years ..when there used to be 1000's than there was 100's now 0.....Smart chinese sellers can only do what they can do --- they used to depend on ebay -now no way around it ,,, i think it will just get to the point where you lose about 15-40% of packages and chinese sellers will take your money and start up with new name /acct etc ....its not get better as technology evolves .