US to UK shipping.

[MIGNAL]

Has anyone experienced lengthy shipping times between the US and the UK? I ordered some small parts ( perhaps a medium Jiffy bag at it's largest) some 8 weeks ago. The supplier has informed me that they were dispatched 7 weeks ago. He's offered to resend them at his cost and no charge. He's a very genuine chap and running a small one man business so I'd rather give the stuff time to arrive. . . but how long?

 

[tekno.mage]

8 weeks does seem a rather long time for something to arrive from the US. I've not bought anything from abroad for a while (a couple of years) - but I remember that even large items sent by "seamail" (ie NOT airmail) only took 6 weeks to get from Australia to the UK and most items I bought from the US only took a week or two - 4 weeks at the most if they got held up by customs.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Does sound like they've been lost. The customs delay is very variable in my experience and of course they're impossible to just call and get any sense out of. Customs have a lot of power and authority and I think they hide behind it sometimes. I guess in this asymmetric warfare age...they have to be careful!!

I waited 4 weeks for a camera from Canada. If he's prepared to send another I'd go for it. Doesn't sound like he's taking the micky does it?

 

[MIGNAL]

No. I think he's being very straight. He has offered to resend at his expense. He also knows that there is likely to be repeat orders, so he has nothing to gain from not sending. If anything I feel bad for him because he is likely to be out by at least a hundred dollars or so. Not good.
I did think that customs may have held it up but I normally receive similar items 2 to 3 weeks within ordering from the US and a similar length of time from China. This is the first time that anything has taken more than 4 weeks.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

bet its in some postal workers garage by now!!!

 

[Harbo]

Generally 2 or 3 weeks in my experience but sometimes quicker.

I ordered some stuff from Amazon back in July, which I didn't realise was coming from HK!
It never arrived but they sent out a new lot which arrived this weekend - only 2 1/2 months after I ordered it!
Just glad I wasn't desperate for it?

Rod

 

[MIGNAL]

Crikey! I've just read (on another forum) that some guy in the US had sent a small item (non electrical) back to the UK for repair.
It arrived 8 months later!!! Apparently held up by customs.
I can't wait anywhere near that long and neither can my customer who is already getting a little frustrated. I think I would best get him to resend now.

 

[Chippygeoff]

I order my scroll saw blades from America and have done so for years and the longest I have had to wait is a week.

 

[dazzer]

If the value of the goods is over £18 then its more than likely that its been the victim of import charges and you will normally get a letter saying that the post office has your package but you will need to pay these charges before they release your package (this is done at your local depot you go down pay the amount and they then give you your package)

I had this happen a few years ago where it took 3 months for me to get my package from Canada it was all due to the import charges, the guy who sent the package thought that it had got lost and offered to re-send me the items but i told him I would give it a little longer and within the week I had the letter about import duties

Perhaps check at your local depot to see if they have it.
I hope you can get this sorted

Dave

 

[MIGNAL]

Yes. I've had the customs/charges letter on many occasions but I can hardly pay it if I haven't received the letter in the first place!

 

[marcros]

Mignal,

Can you get the replacement package to Texas on Thursday morning or before? If you can, I will bring it back with me to Leeds (if it is only jiffy sized) if that helps.

Mark

 

[steadyeddie]

Has the parcel been sent by UPS, FedEx or similar. If so, there should be a tracking number to allow you to follow it's whereabouts. As stated previously, it may be held up in customs.

Dave

 

[MIGNAL]

Mignal,

Can you get the replacement package to Texas on Thursday morning or before? If you can, I will bring it back with me to Leeds (if it is only jiffy sized) if that helps.

Mark

That's a very kind offer Mark but unfortunately he hasn't got the replacements in stock until sometime next week. Actually I've just emailed him to see if he has a tracking number - forgot all about that!

 

[Steve Maskery]

I you really do expect to make repeat orders, you could get him to send a replacement then, if and when the original turns up, pay him again. That way neither of you loses anything. It doesn't make up for the hassle, of course, but at least you will get what you ordered, you won't feel bad for him and he (eventually) makes two sales rather than just one.
Maybe?

 

[mind_the_goat]

I subscribed to a US published magazine which has so far failed to arrive some 7 weeks after I got the 'dispatched' note. They have re-shipped so hopefully will be here soon.

 

[dickm]

My daughter, who lives in the US, dropped her work laptop at a conference in York a couple of weeks back and stopped it working. She needed it for writing reports the day after the conference, so her work IT guy sent her a replacement from Toledo, Ohio to our address in Aberdeen for her to pick up. It took just under 36 hours to reach us by FedEx............
Heaven knows how much it cost them to send it!