International packages being held in customs in your country

[EL34]

Several International customers have reported that their packages have not arrived yet
The tracking will show that the package left Miami, FL and then there is no tracking after that

After a package leaves Miami, it goes to the destination country
Then it sits in a container until it is un-packed and scanned by the destination country

There is nothing I can do, the package is in your country, not the US

There is nothing you can do until your customs un-packs the container and it gets into your postal system

For those that do not understand this situation, let me apply some logic here.
If the package left Miami by plane or by board, do you think that the plane or boat is just out there circling around in the sky or on the ocean?
Or do you think the plane or boat went to your country and unloaded the containers there?

Your customs officials would not know anything about your package until the container was unpacked and your package was scanned.
That is when your package shows up in your postal system

Go to the USPS site here and find your country for more info
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm


I copied and pasted some emails from customers down below

[EL34]

Here are some emails from customers


Germany
I JUST got my boards after the package was stuck in customs(?) for a month with no feedback from the german side! What an ordeal! Thanks again for keeping me calm.
The boards look great and I'm happy and will surely be ordering again from you in the future!
All the best and stay healthy in these crazy times.


Norway
Hi Agein!
Here is the reply from the custom service here in Norway.
As I expected. The package  never seems to have left the US.

Hello.
Thank you for your inquiry on 16.04.2020.
The package you are referring to has not arrived in Norway yet. It is most likely delayed due to the Korona virus. It is beyond our control. If you want to call for it, it has to be done via sender in the US.
With best regards
Jorunn
Customer Advisor
Posten and Bring Customer Service
Tel. 22 03 00 00


New Zealand
Unfortunately my order has not turned up and has had no updates in 3 weeks. Tracking number xxxxxxxxx. All shipping/processing/customs is still operating as normal and as per the tracking it does not show that it has reached New Zealand. I would like to know how to go forward so I can get the parts. I appreciate your help!


Canada
I finally received the package (order # 314431022)! This Covid madness is really taking its toll, that took nearly a month!


Canada
Hi, I usually get stuff from you quickly.
It’s been a month.
Due to COVID-19?
Is your delivery service shut down?
Last tracking was in Miami on April 11th, on the way to BC, Canada.
Can you offer me any assistance, please?


Hey Doug just thought I would give you a heads up .I still haven’t received my package I know it made it to Florida I think tracking stops when it hits Canadian customs ...I’ve ordered a fair amount of amp stuff over the years and never lost a package yet ...shit happens I just reordered from Canadian place fingers crossed


Please see below re status of the board I ordered back in March.
It seems that it has not left the US (it hasn’t arrived in Australia) so Aust Post is unable to locate and/or track it.
I have a second board that I ordered around mid April that seems to have also got stuck in the US.
Can you please follow up with USPS so that they can at least locate the items?

[tubeswell]

That kiwi was not me (just so you know). FWIW, all imports (and all businesses) here are affected by the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

[EL34]

That kiwi was not me (just so you know). FWIW, all imports (and all businesses) here are affected by the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

Thanks for the info

I found this USPS service interruptions page today that has info about many countries

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm


Attention customers in Norway
Your postal system is at a stand still because of the virus

Norway
Norway’s post advises that it is currently unable to send postal items to any countries outside the European Union, with the exception of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. Norway’s post is therefore declaring a situation of force majeure and has stopped accepting postal items destined for countries not listed above until sufficient transport capacity becomes available. These temporary measures are due to the lack of transport capacity as steps are taken to limit transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

[vampwizzard]

It’s my understanding that pre virus there were problems with tubes getting held. I’ve also shipped for an ecommerce and there are MANY quirks depending on the country.

Generally, VAT countries are hit or miss on notifying the customer that their package has arrived in country and has cleared customs. Italy was the worst. Australia wouldn’t notify and it would take 4-6 weeks on average for delivery. England would track well but sometimes missed if we had paid the VAT tax already and would force the recipient to pay extra.

It’s a minefield. International customers need to remain patient if the product ships and starts tracking. Alternatively, you can set up a mail forwarding box. I’ve also found the only consistent reliable services to be DHL and Fedex, but they are expensive.

[EL34]

Australia

4-22-20
Australia Post advises that it has declared a situation of force majeure for all inbound and outbound letters, parcels and express mail service items until further notice. Precautionary measures imposed by the government to curb spread of COVID-19 are affecting daily operations and services offered by airlines and other transportation providers. This is having a direct impact on service quality for both international inbound and outbound mail. Customers should expect delivery delays.

3-16-20
Australia Post advises that it has temporarily suspended signature upon delivery for inbound items, effective immediately, in order to limit face-to-face methods of delivery and reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

[HotBluePlates]

I went through the same, shipping an item to Italy years ago.  After leaving the U.S., the package "disappeared" for 3-4 months, waiting for Italian Customs to inspect & process the package, before releasing it to their internal postal system.

There was no special crisis happening at the time, and I soon found out others refused to ship to Italy for this exact reason.

[shooter]

 
when we ported in Italy (pre internet n cell phone), making a call home was an 8hr ordeal, (2 any other country), once took 3 days    somehow though the ppl were so nice you didn't get upset