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Postal service. ???

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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I ordered a die from British tools and fasteners in New York a couple days ago an just received conformation it will (supposedly) be delivered Saturday. I would have been cheaper and delivered faster had I ordered it from Tracy Tools in the UK! I've bought tools before from Tracy and they are very attentive to there orders and usually send out the day you ordered. Royal mail is not the speediest, but sometimes faster than USPS. But look at the mileage difference! :rolleyes2:
 
There are things I puzzle over with the US mail. Got an envelope from them that contained it said "damaged" mail. All that was there was the section of a rear page with the address information. The rest of what I assume was a catalog was missing. So why I wondered, spend the time, effort and whatever the envelope cost just to send that on...
 
I've told the story here before of the Lucas switch I ordered from England. The royal mail delivered 4000 miles to Chicago in 2 days. The USPS took another 38 days to deliver it 700 more miles to Oklahoma City.
 
Bayless said:
I've told the story here before of the Lucas switch I ordered from England. The royal mail delivered 4000 miles to Chicago in 2 days. The USPS took another 38 days to deliver it 700 more miles to Oklahoma City.
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How long did it take to go through customs in Chicago?
 
BobHaskell said:
How long did it take to go through customs in Chicago?
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37 days! :jester:

I've had similar experiences with overseas shipping. They'd pop the box into the mail on Tuesday, and it arrived in US on Thursday. Then two or three weeks in Customs, before USPS even got it for final delivery to me. I've learned that UK shipping *in a flat envelope* goes through faster, I assume because flat things get very quick customs inspections. Boxes and packages are eyed (x-rayed?) more closely.
 
The preferred suppliers of Rolls parts for us is "Flying Spares." A UK outfit and have the right parts, usually ship same day as ordered. A few days and they're in-hand. UPS delivery. USPS involvement somehow gets things bolloxed. Domestic suppliers take what seems forever and not always the correct bits, some things are even in packaging identical to FS and likely from them, then a markup is applied.
 
BobHaskell said:
How long did it take to go through customs in Chicago?
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Don't know. This was a $10 electrical switch. I had a tracking number and all it showed was something like There has been a problem but your item is in shipment.
 
Bayless said:
Don't know. This was a $10 electrical switch. I had a tracking number and all it showed was something like There has been a problem but your item is in shipment.
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I got one of those "There has been a problem" notes last year. I received the parts before the "problem" was resolved.
 
NutmegCT said:
37 days! :jester:

I've had similar experiences with overseas shipping. They'd pop the box into the mail on Tuesday, and it arrived in US on Thursday. Then two or three weeks in Customs, before USPS even got it for final delivery to me. I've learned that UK shipping *in a flat envelope* goes through faster, I assume because flat things get very quick customs inspections. Boxes and packages are eyed (x-rayed?) more closely.
Click to expand...
I think I have you beat. I had a period-correct key fob restored in the UK (Beautiful job, BTW). He sent it back on June 27, 2023, with Royal Mail International Tracking. I tracked it to US Customs in LA. Then it disappeared. It arrived today, Feb 14, 2024 - 232 days. About 225 of that in Customs. Of course, getting any info from Customs wasn't going to happen.
 
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