More stringent checking at Chinese customs?

[indielad]

My supplier changed shipping from HK to Guangzhou maybe because of the troubles over there at the moment. Both my parcels got stopped at Chinese customs for customs inspection. I have had customs checks before but this is weird as usually they stop one parcel and let the other through. Are Chinese customs checking every parcel due to the security issues for them in HK? It shouldn't be an invoice issue, my supplier is very well experienced.

[rsot]

How long is the delay you're experiencing?

[muzzie]

It happens from time to time. And it is really depending on the courier you are using.

[indielad]

The customs delay is about 48 hours via DHL. I have had delays of 1 day to 3 weeks previously, but usually one of my parcels is pulled for inspection not both. I order my stock in 2 x 30 kg parcels. It'seither unlucky or customs being more stringent.

[indielad]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

Good luck. I get seriously worried when shipments go out from China instead of HK. The only time I've ever had anything seized it was because the shipment originated from China instead of HK. It's worth the extra $ they have to pay to ship from HK.

SO you're just saying Chinese customs are more likely to stop than HK customs? My supplier is based in Guangzhou and usually posts them out via HK.

[indielad]

Originally Posted by phaz0rz

When I had trouble the shipments made it through the Chinese side just fine, but they were immediately stopped when they came into USA. Which was odd because they looked exactly the same as the dozen shipments we get from HK every week. The origin country must have thrown up red flags with US customs.

Great, looks like they'll get stopped in UK customs too when Chinese customs finally release.

Over the years I've only had one or two out of 5000 parcels returned. thiese customs delay really can hurt your business though. I don't kow what my supplier was thinking of changing from HK to China to post the parcels.

[indielad]

I've just had an update from my supplier. She said the parcel is actually flying from Guangzhou to HK then to the UK. This is a change from before where she arranged an independent courier to take the parcels to HK, and the tracking started from HK where they'd fly out.

[indielad]

Customs status has updated...Looks like it's good news from Chinese customs!


Further Detail
Shipment has been given a release by Customs.
Next Step
Unless there is an adhoc exam or a stop by another regulatory authority the shipment will proceed to delivery


For the sake of my nerves, hope UK customs let it through now!

[kruszkush]

Do they like actually open parcels in cases like this?

[indielad]

Yes they doopen them, they come with DHL repacked tape,sometines the items come back all creased and messed up. They sometimes open them without even stating they held them on the tracking occasionaly