Ken said

Has Los Angeles customs been slower than an anemic snail the last few weeks?

Has anyone else had trouble with LA customs trying to replicate the speed of an anemic snail or a dead rock, or well the US postal service, lately?

20 Replies
AllanK said

Problems with the ISC will happen. Sometimes they keep a package for weeks. US Customs is usually fairly quick. Maybe two days on average.

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LuckyMe said

Shipping from China has been very slow recently. But packages move fairly quickly once they reach the US, aside from the occasional hiccup.

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Ken said

Had them keep one package for almost 3 weeks, now they have another 2 packages that have been just sitting there for almost a week.

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I live in LA and usually get packages in about 14 days. I have one order with no updates since leaving China on Feb 22nd (possibly stuck in LA customs? Not sure) and one order that’s been floating around LA for almost 2 weeks. Frustrating

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I always have issues with LA customs. NY customs, almost never.

Ken said

I live in Las Vegas, everything comes through LA

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AllanK said

Is your package stuck in the ISC, or in US customs? There is no contacting the ISC. US customs has a phone number you can get online and ask them what the holdup is.

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Ken said

Now there are 3 packages all stuck in ISC.

AllanK said

All the ISC phone numbers seem to be unlisted. I tried a few years ago to get in touch with the ISC in NYC by searching the internet for phone numbers. Did find a couple of numbers that were supposed to be the ISC but they didn’t work or were simply an answering machine and no one returned a call. Unfortunately when a package is stuck in the ISC all you can do is wait. The slow part on international shipping from China is the part in the USA. On average the ISC should clear a package in two to four days but they can sometimes keep one for a month or more. A few years ago I ordered a large bamboo tea table from China and it got stuck in the ISC for nearly a month. I have heard horror stories of people who have packages stuck there for two months or more. Hopefully your packages will clear quickly.

AllanK said

Actually now that I think about it there is one thing you might try. Call your local Post Office Department of Consumer Affairs. You should be able to get their phone number by calling your local post office.

Ken said

Well they are late, but have been there less than a week and one of them is a Yixing from Amazon and that’s the saving grace, because I can call Amazon next week and have them do all the work, as its likely clearing one will clear the rest.

AllanK said

It is quite doubtful that Amazon can contact the ISC. There number is unlisted. I don’t think even Amazon can get it. They will just call an 800 number for USPS and get told it is being processed. The ISC does not speed up for any known force in the universe. They can be slow. But if they have been there less than a week I wouldn’t yet worry. They usually clear a package within about four days so it will probably clear soon. You could get unlucky and have it stay there longer but that is actually the exception, not the rule.

Ken said

Just got done with an ebay one that was stuck there for 3 weeks.. not fun.

AllanK said

To me the most frustrating part of having a package stuck in the ISC is you can never know why. Calling your local post office or the 800 number doesn’t do you any good either. I don’t know whether packages have to wait to be x rayed or something but they can be really slow especially during busy times like Christmas.

AllanK said

I do know there can be a hold up in the ISC if the seller did not properly fill out the customs forms. I once had a package clear the ISC and go to a regional sort center only to be sent back to the ISC. I sent the seller an email and told him it looked like the package was going back to China but it was just the post office screwing up. Never underestimate the USPS ability to screw up.

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Yesterday one of my packages was actually out for delivery via USPS. Lazy mailman decided he didn’t feel like walking down my driveway though and “left a notice” (I received no notice) that no secure delivery location was available. Not the first time that’s happened with my local post office.

My other order is coming up on a month with no updates since leaving China. At what point would you guys start to be concerned? LT851844039CN

Ken said

We had that problem in las Vegas a couple years ago, till we got together and really bitched at the postmaster, then complained to regional office.

Also always make the redeliver, dont go down and pick it up, the redelivery is more closely monitored, so they cant pull that stunt and after doing this for a while combined with the complaints, they told them they have to deliver it the first time.

mrmopar said

Try 17track. They usually have some of the best tracking. And yes, it is still in China as I logged the number in. Says ready for dispatch whenever that occurs.

AllanK said

Usually E Packet is delivered within two weeks, usually, but sometimes they just get delayed for unknown reasons. I have had packages delayed so long they called it lost and reshipped the package. Then the original showed up too. Sometimes these packages are just really slow. There is no telling why. The package may already be in the ISC but they have not scanned it. The Post Office may have a package for weeks before they scan it arrived. Until they scan it they won’t admit it is in the USA. This mind you is only one possibility.

Ken said

If the tea wasnt so good, we wouldnt put up with all this international shipping nonsense….

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