8mm Forum: Exasperating overseas shipping ...

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 01, 2016, 11:42 AM:

Man, I really do hate getting things from overseas. I want to first say that I'm pretty darned sure that this is not Phillip's fault. I bought "The Fox and the Hound" feature from him, and he mailed it very quickly.

In fact, it took less than 48 hours for it to go from Phil's hand, to being checked it at the Los Angeles postal/customs hub. as that was the least tracking of the package, that it was scanned in. That was Thursday of last week.

Now, it may not seem like a lot of time has transpired, and customs says that it can hold onto a package for upwards of six weeks (egad, I sure hope not!!!) ...

but beyond even that, the UK tracking only works up to the point of being scanned in at whatever postal/customs hub is used, and then you have absolutely no idea if it has moved on, if it has, until it arrives at you're house.

... and every package is treated different. I bought a 400ft reel from Barry's Independent 8 just recent, and it took a mere 6 days from Barry's hand to my hands ...

So, incredibly frustrating.

A question for all of you ...

is there anyway, whether through a website and phone number, to contact this shipping hub in Los Angeles, and seeing just where a package is? I have the Royal Air Mail tracking number, but when I went to my local post office, it could only give me the info that I could get on the internet myself, so they were no help.

Any help, folks?

Posted by Alessandro Pavoni (Member # 1739) on April 01, 2016, 11:57 AM:

Hi Osi, put your tracking number on this website:
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input

maybe you have more informations
[Smile]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 01, 2016, 12:21 PM:

Our customs do exactly the same Osi, when coming from the States. It can take them weeks to process a parcel and then they charge you a kings ransom for the privilege! [Mad]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 01, 2016, 01:05 PM:

I did already try that, but the USPS doesn't show anything either. The funny thing is, like another package I got a few months back, tracking exists until it reaches Los Angeles, and then it seems to disappear in the system until it suddenly shows up without any notice.

Posted by Evan Samaras (Member # 5070) on April 01, 2016, 01:42 PM:

I feel your pain Osi,

I have bought prints from Germany and Italy that arrived as quick as 3 days! The shippers were astonished at the ship time! But I have also waited weeks on weeks for a package, checking the tracking daily- very frustrating!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 01, 2016, 02:25 PM:

It'll come Osi, that's for sure and knowing Phillip, his description will be spot on, so no disappointments here, which is always the main priority here with overseas expensive transactions.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 02, 2016, 12:04 PM:

I was able to get the phone number for customs, so I'll call customs (with royal mail tracking in hand), and see if I can get any further info going. Keep you folks updated.

Posted by Phillip R Campey (Member # 3942) on April 04, 2016, 01:28 PM:

Hi Osi, has the film arrived yet, I am really worried as I posted out your parcel and one to Germany and they both have not arrived. The tracking states that yours reached LA but then there is no more information. I have been told the parcel sent to germany has arrived in Germany but has not been delivered, I don't know why. This is really stressing me out as I have never not had a parcel delivered before. I think from now on I am only shipping prints to the UK. If its any consolation I bought a print from the US and after 2 weeks I still have not received it.

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on April 04, 2016, 01:53 PM:

I sent 4 features to califonia tracked and insured posted on Tuesday and they arrived 3 days later Friday

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 04, 2016, 02:41 PM:

Phillip, don't get too stressed just yet my friend. The Easter break often plays havoc with these type of services. I got a film recently from Australia inside 8 days of saying I wanted it, another ordered earlier has only just arrived in the past few days from a lot closer within Europe!

Any parcel with a tracking number can usually always be traced with a bit of digging. Try chasing up by phone, it's usually a lot more efficient to get your answers this way.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 05, 2016, 11:48 AM:

Well, get this ...

I tried USPS tracking last Saturday before I left the PC at the internet café, and it showed no tracking or no movement. Yesterday, Monday morning, I tried USPS tracking and BOOM! All the tracking suddenly appeared and stated that my package had arrived in Mountain Home for delivery, so I'm happy to state that my package was delivered yesterday afternoon.

It's kind of strange, though, that all the tracking info just shows up suddenly on the USPS tracking, it would have been nice to have had it up there along the way.

This really isn't so strange though, as I bought another package from the UK (warlords of atlantis 4X200 Agfa), and that only showed tracking up to Los Angeles, and then absolutely nothing tracking wise, and then it just shows up on my door step.

Package here ... good, postal service ... exasperating.

Posted by Kevin Hassall (Member # 2352) on April 05, 2016, 12:59 PM:

Am waiting for a film off Alessandro hope it doesn't get lost would hate that [Frown]

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