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Thread: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

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    Default Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    How is shipping from Britain to the USA these days? A package I posted at the end of March arrived last week in Illinois. I don't want to send pens into limbo!
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Not good from UK to Texas. On April 3rd I ordered two CD's from Amazon (US) with fulfillment by a UK company. The order was divided into two shipments. Delivery via mail service was forecast as "By May 5th" - one CD showed up in late May, and the other one is MIA.

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Sorry to hear that. It reflects my own experience. I think it will be a while longer before it is safe to ship.
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    Deb
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    I can tell you how shipping from the US to Britain goes. I sent out a sample ink packet in a padded 3x6 envelope on 19 May by USPS International First Class. It wandered around the US for 2 weeks until 03 June before getting on a jet to London. It raced through London Customs and was delivered on the morning of 05 June. The average time span in the past is 5-6 business days, door-to-door.

    All the Best.
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Not so good in the L - R direction either, then.
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    Deb
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    It is a concern. I need to send a Large Letter ink sample package to a friend in the US and under normal circumstances I might consider sending it by standard Air Mail. I have plenty of stamps that would allow me to post it in the post box

    However, as there is nothing that we could call "standard" happening at the moment I would only consider sending it via RM Tracked and that adds on a £5.50 fee for a tracking number and requires going to the Post Office and standing in a queue.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    I always send tracked but that didn't help the last package I sent which took weeks to be delivered.
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    Deb
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    I always send tracked but that didn't help the last package I sent which took weeks to be delivered.
    I can confirm that a previous package that I received from the US took so long to be delivered I sent an email to the CEO and asked if I could be advised what the problem was. This was mainly because no-one without a US zip code can ask a question on the USPS web-site. It arrived 2 days later.

    I haven't recently sent any packages there, but guess that everything is taking much longer at the moment.
    Last edited by Chrissy; June 17th, 2020 at 11:34 PM.
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    I got a package from UK (York) yesterday that had been posted 4 June. It sat in NY for six days according to tracking. Not too bad.

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Quote Originally Posted by empliau View Post
    I got a package from UK (York) yesterday that had been posted 4 June. It sat in NY for six days according to tracking. Not too bad.
    Indeed. That's the best time I've heard so far, here or in Facebook.
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    Deb
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    The six days in NY was probably just due to customs clearance. That's a short wait compared to packages sent to me from Europe a couple of years ago.
    Bob

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Quote Originally Posted by BlkWhiteFilmPix View Post
    The six days in NY was probably just due to customs clearance. That's a short wait compared to packages sent to me from Europe a couple of years ago.
    I agree that six days is a very short wait. I would be really happy with that. The problems arise when it gets to around three weeks and it's like the parcel is either stuck or lost.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    If I read the tracking right, it cleared customs and then sat for six days. But I am not complaining - in this unsettled and uncertain time, I feel fortunate to have received it in under two weeks. I am in New England though, so not far from NY.

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Quote Originally Posted by empliau View Post
    If I read the tracking right, it cleared customs and then sat for six days. But I am not complaining - in this unsettled and uncertain time, I feel fortunate to have received it in under two weeks. I am in New England though, so not far from NY.
    I think that's what usually happens in more normal times.
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    Deb
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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    From snooping around Royal Mail's website:

    Update: 11 June 2020 - Chicago Gateway (see below)

    Update: 2 June 2020
    Mail and parcels are being moved around the USA and managed through many international mail centres across the country. This is outside of the normal operating procedures, and is so the United States Postal Service (USPS) can manage the very high volumes.

    Los Angeles - is processing 50% more than they do in Christmas peak period, and are experiencing significant delays.
    JFK (New York) & Miami - is up to date and processing normally.
    San Fransisco - is handling heavy volumes and have moved international work to domestic mail centres outside of the normal International Mail Centres to cope with high volumes. Customers should expect delays.
    Chicago - Significant delays are still being seen through the Chicago gateway. We're diverting traffic away from this gateway in consultation with United States Postal Service.

    Customers should expect delays across the USA, some are significant as USPS continues to deal with heavy increases in volumes.


    That may be why empliau's package moved so quickly through US Customs whilst others are languishing. His package went through NY which is processing "normally".

    All the Best.
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    In the interest of science (and the fact I wanted to try these ink samples) I ordered an Edelstein ink sample set from Niche Pens located in Newport, Wales and asked the CS Representative to send them by Royal Mail tracked (an extra 7.50 GBP). Total was 17.46 GBP. I thought I'd share with you how the tracking went. I'll update this post as the packet continues on its journey to California. Hopefully the information may be of use to other fpgeeks. Time is local time at point of origin.

    Thursday 18 June 07:47pm --- Item received at Cardiff MC

    Thursday 18 June 08:39pm --- Item despatched to Heathrow Worldwide DC fom Cardiff MC

    Friday 19 June 03:47am --- Item Received by Royal Mail Langley HWDC

    Friday 19 June 06:56am --- Item Leaving the UK Langley HWDC

    June 21, 2020, 05:16am --- Processed Through Facility ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

    June 22, 2020, 02:32pm --- Arrived at USPS Regional Facility QUEENS NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

    June 22, 2020, 09:20pm --- Departed USPS Regional Facility QUEENS NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER

    June 25, 2020, 06:05am --- Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility SANTA BARBARA CA DISTIBUTION CENTER

    June 26, 2020, 02:21pm --- Package Delivered
    Last edited by junglejim; June 26th, 2020 at 04:22 PM. Reason: Update Tracking
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Quote Originally Posted by junglejim View Post
    In the interest of science (and the fact I wanted to try these ink samples) I ordered an Edelstein ink sample set from Niche Pens located in Newport, Wales and asked Sophia the CS Representative to send them by Royal Mail tracked (an extra 7.50 GBP). Total was 17.46 GBP. I thought I'd share with you how the tracking went. I'll update this post as the packet continues on its journey to California. Hopefully the information may be of use to other fpgeeks. Time is local time at point of origin.

    Thursday 18 June 07:47pm --- Item received at Cardiff MC

    Thursday 18 June 08:39pm --- Item despatched to Heathrow Worldwide DC fom Cardiff MC
    I will be watching with interest.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Update from the Royal Mail website regarding UK to USA transit:

    Update: 19 June 2020

    Our air transit routes into the USA are now working well and we’re flying items daily from the UK.
    We’re using multiple entrance gateways on the East and West coast as well as in Miami and Chicago to inject into the USPS domestic operation.
    The USA, like many places is receiving huge import volumes and has been affected in the same was as all logistics operation; namely reduced staffing and social distancing requirements which reduce efficiency.
    We’re monitoring traffic though the US gateways and have opted to move some traffic from gateways where delays are more evident (moving Tracked items from Chicago to New York).
    Last edited by junglejim; June 21st, 2020 at 09:06 AM. Reason: spelling, as usual
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    Update: the CD I ordered on April 3rd and presumed to be MIA - - showed up on Saturday (June 20th) in good order. All's well that end well, I guess.

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    Default Re: Cross- Atlantic Shipping

    The package with the ink samples was delivered today! It arrived safely in a white padded packet and also had a package of Haribo candy thrown in (as extra cushion?) Total time from Wales, United Kingdom to California was 8 calender days. I was amazed how fast it raced through US Customs. I don't know how future packages from the UK might change time-wise, but this was a snapshot of what occurred with this package.

    For those of you in the UK who do not have the link, I am including the Royal Mail International Incident Bulletin which provides updates on how mail is traveling to different countries. It is updated every few days as Covid-19 conditions change.

    https://personal.help.royalmail.com/...ident-bulletin


    All the Best, and stay Healthy and Safe.
    Last edited by junglejim; June 26th, 2020 at 08:17 PM. Reason: spelling, as usual
    Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again

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