Hang-ups in LA Customs

[tgtaylor]

Last month on ebay I ordered a 300mm Nikkor-W from Japan on a Sunday night. The lens was picked-up by the local PO near Osaka and was shipped on Tuesday from Osaka International. It arrived in SF Customs where it spent about 2 hours and was picked-up by the PO which delivered it to me that Friday.
This month I ordered a Toyo long bellows for my 4x5 Robos on a Sunday which was picked up by the local PO near Tokyo and shipped from Tokyo International arriving in LA Customs on Tuesday where it is still sitting according to Japan Post tracking. What's the deal with LA customs that packages sit for days before being released? At SF Customs it's just a couple of hours before being picked-up by the PO but in LA it's several days.

Thomas

[Nodda Duma]

It could also be holiday postal traffic.

[ghostcount]

I suspect holiday deliveries has set their schedule back a few days. It's been my experience with USPS these past few weeks.

I spoke to a lady at the local UPS counter and she said Amazon shipping has kept them so busy some of their deliveries are delayed 3-5 days. So much for 2 day Prime for this month. :p

[tgtaylor]

i don't think the holiday mail is the reason as this has happened before and during a non-holiday time of the year. It's been my experience that there is a significant delay in LA customs but practically zero delay in SF customs.

Thomas

[Ari]

Customs is a bizarro world, where what should happen, doesn't; and what shouldn't happen often does.
Chalk your experience up to random events outside of your control, and be happy that everything arrived intact.

[Daniel Stone]

Customs has taught me patience. Remember when we used "sea mail"? Or sent hand-written letters instead of an email blast to all our contacts at once ;)? I'm all for wanting to get your things quickly, as I enjoy that aspect of modern life as well :), but a few days? I can understand if it was weeks, but days???

[BrianShaw]

Maybe your experience in SF wasn't the norm. Or maybe you just don't have enough name recognition down here to get expedited service. Ha ha ha.

[Bruce Watson]

What's the deal with LA customs that packages sit for days before being released?

This is America. Follow the money.

[tgtaylor]

Funny thing, I just logged onto JP Post tracking and the package hasn't moved since Tuesday:

143417

But when I logged onto tracking on my ebay account it indicates that the package was transferred to a USPS facility on Thursday:

Carrier:Japan Post
Arrived at USPS Facility
Dec-10-15, 10:39 AM, LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

Processed Through Sort Facility
Dec-08-15, 21:47 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment
Processed Through Sort Facility
Dec-08-15, 01:19 AM, TOKYO INT D

Acceptance
Dec-07-15, 12:12 PM

Its strange that JP Post tracking doesn't show the 10 December movement but ebay does. In any event there is a good chance that it will be delivered today, Monday at the latest.

Thomas

[BradS]

I imagine that L.A. customs handles just a bit more stuff that S.F.

[Old-N-Feeble]

I've had things hung-up coming or going through Chicago, sometimes for over a week. It didn't seem to matter what time of year.

[Fred L]

four days ain't that bad. I had a package of stickers that sat in Canada customs for what seemed like a week. Stickers. made in US. they were prepared to send me a new batch but as luck would have it, they arrived shortly after we chatted. I try not to stress it. at least it made it to the US and I betcha it arrives tomorrow ;)

[tgtaylor]

It's out for delivery today!

Once a package arrives in the states and enters the USPS system, all further tracking is posted to the USPS site using the original tracking number, in this case the Japan Post tracking number. I didn't know this before:

December 14, 2015 , 8:03 am
Out for Delivery
HAYWARD, CA 94544
Your item is out for delivery on December 14, 2015 at 8:03 am in HAYWARD, CA 94544.
December 14, 2015 , 7:53 am
Sorting Complete
HAYWARD, CA 94544
December 14, 2015 , 4:21 am
Arrived at Unit
HAYWARD, CA 94544
December 12, 2015 , 9:49 pm
Departed USPS Facility
OAKLAND, CA 94615
December 12, 2015 , 5:55 pm
Arrived at USPS Facility
OAKLAND, CA 94615
December 10, 2015 , 10:39 am
Arrived at USPS Facility
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
December 8, 2015 , 9:47 pm
Processed Through Sort Facility
ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Origin Post is Preparing Shipment
December 8, 2015 , 1:19 am
Processed Through Sort Facility
TOKYO INT D, JAPAN
December 7, 2015 , 12:12 pm
Acceptance

Thomas

[Fred L]

Out for Delivery


my three favourite words when I buy something ;)