International Shipping & Ordering: Stories/Tips/Tricks/Advice

[kscaldef]

From your guys experiences when it says "Arrived at Sort Facility" for over a week is that something to worry about?

Not really. There's lots of variability in how quick packages get processed.

 

[RyanG1]

Anyone have experience flying with well secured growler(s) in checked baggage for an international flight? Or is that a no go since they are not bottles.

 

[RayP]

Anyone have experience flying with well secured growler(s) in checked baggage for an international flight? Or is that a no go since they are not bottles.

I know CA has some weird growler laws, so not sure if this is helpful or not... But I know of some growler shops in Atlanta that will let you fill a Hydro Flask. If you had one of those to fill up, you'd have nothing to worry about.

 

[RyanG1]

I know CA has some weird growler laws, so not sure if this is helpful or not... But I know of some growler shops in Atlanta that will let you fill a Hydro Flask. If you had one of those to fill up, you'd have nothing to worry about.

We do have stupid growler laws, but thankfully places like Cellarmaker and SARA let me fill my hydro flask there. So that would be a good solution, just don't to loose my fancy 64 ouncer to international customs.

I know Cellarmaker started selling steel growlers. Not sure if those would pass.

 

[andrewdrinks]

Anyone have experience flying with well secured growler(s) in checked baggage for an international flight? Or is that a no go since they are not bottles.

I flew BTV->JFK->LUX with three HF 75cl growlers - one casualty en-route (flip-top popped up, despite tape). No issue with them being growlers, not bottles, but tape the hell out of the flip top.

 

[BirdUp]

I flew BTV->JFK->LUX with three HF 75cl growlers - one casualty en-route (flip-top popped up, despite tape). No issue with them being growlers, not bottles, but tape the hell out of the flip top.

Also flew a bunch of HF growlers back to the UK. My bag definitely got opened and inspected too, still no issues.

 

[sunnrider]

Use zip ties on flip top growlers.

 

[apatrick17]

Successfully completed my first international trade recently. I read this entire thread as I was getting ready to prepare my shipment and it was a huge help - everything went smoothly besides the amount of time it took my box to get from CT to Antwerp due to shipping a couple weeks before Christmas (the box coming to me took an equally long time). Big thanks to Number45 and bahnfire who I messaged for some additional advice prior to shipping!

 

[stupac2]

Anyone have experience flying with well secured growler(s) in checked baggage for an international flight? Or is that a no go since they are not bottles.

It's going to depend on the airline. Most of the time growlers are fine, but every now and then you get called out and need to dome a half gallon of Nelson in the airport bathroom.

BTW, any updates on people getting stuff through LAX? Etre said it's like 50-50 right now, accurate?

 

[viajero]

It's going to depend on the airline. Most of the time growlers are fine, but every now and then you get called out and need to dome a half gallon of Nelson in the airport bathroom.

BTW, any updates on people getting stuff through LAX? Etre said it's like 50-50 right now, accurate?

BiaB says it's good to go, but I've got a friend in AZ who's had a box sitting at LAX for a couple weeks now (and with ominous communication from the customs guys there about it being an almost certainty to be sent back).

If you don't wanna hassle with LAX, what's the geographical cutoff? Like, if you shipped to Texas, for example, where would the package enter the US for customs stuff?

 

[CornAndBeer]

If you don't wanna hassle with LAX, what's the geographical cutoff?

No such thing, it has been rare but not every package I get goes through ORD (Chicago), I have had a few JFK and even one LAX.

 

[boogercrack]

BiaB says it's good to go, but I've got a friend in AZ who's had a box sitting at LAX for a couple weeks now (and with ominous communication from the customs guys there about it being an almost certainty to be sent back).

If you don't wanna hassle with LAX, what's the geographical cutoff? Like, if you shipped to Texas, for example, where would the package enter the US for customs stuff?

mine go through Chicago like 90% of the time and JFK otherwise.

dunno if there's really a rationale behind it.

 

[viajero]

Thx, gents. Interesting stuff to ponder. Would love to pull the trigger, but the thought of a $60 shipping bill down the drain has me gun shy. Will probably continue to mull over until need for more 3F OG overwhelms all, and I just go for it.

 

[kscaldef]

What have people been seeing with their winter Etre shipments? Mine seems to be taking an unusually long time leaving Belgium, but maybe it's really a delay getting scanned in at US customs?

 

[CornAndBeer]

What have people been seeing with their winter Etre shipments? Mine seems to be taking an unusually long time leaving Belgium, but maybe it's really a delay getting scanned in at US customs?

I know they were on vacation for a week or so and no packages went out

 

[kscaldef]

I know they were on vacation for a week or so and no packages went out

I've got tracking, but nothing since "Departure from office of exchange" on Monday.

 

[Shakedwnst]

I'm not sure us customs scanned either of my packages.

 

[BingoBango]

I've got tracking, but nothing since "Departure from office of exchange" on Monday.

Mine's in the same spot. If I remember correctly, once it leaves bpost into the frail arms of USPS the bpost tracking usually stops updating until it's delivered, and USPS tracking should maybe eventually update, if it feels like it maybe it will get around to it. The USPS tracking number should appear on the bpost tracking page under "Barcode Sender" in the Parcel Detail s section at the bottom. Right now USPS shows my package as "Origin Post Is Preparing Shipment" which suggests that they haven't gotten it yet from bpost, or it's on a plane between the two, or it's on a shelf that they haven't gotten around to scanning yet, or, given that USPS tracking is so flaky who the **** knows where it actually is. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up at my door tomorrow or a couple weeks from now.

 

[BingoBango]

The NSA must have told USPS I was picking on them on an internet message board, because my package cleared customs less than an hour after that post. Thanks NSA dudes!

 

[mikecharley]

This has been showing for 5 days now... usps shows inbound into customs (jfk) for the same period with no update... any advice?

 

[bvdubn1]

This has been showing for 5 days now... usps shows inbound into customs (jfk) for the same period with no update... any advice?

I am pretty sure my last shipment had the same message. Stayed in customs for about a week and then just showed up at my house one day. I wouldn't be too concerned at this point.

 

[CornAndBeer]

Try running the tracking # (or cross reference # if one is given) through USPS. I find that sometimes bpost updates after USPS once it hits the states.

 

[kscaldef]

Anyone ever seen USPS tracking like this?


DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
January 26, 2016 , 6:23 pm

Unclaimed/Max Hold Time Expired



ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), CA 90009

Your item was returned to the sender on January 26, 2016 at 6:23 pm in ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), CA 90009 because it was not claimed by the addressee once the item reached its maximum hold time at the post office.

January 26, 2016 , 6:23 pm

Processed Through Sort Facility

ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

January 26, 2016 , 6:22 pm

Arrived at Sort Facility

ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

January 26, 2016 , 6:25 am

Departed USPS Facility

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

January 26, 2016 , 3:38 am

Inbound Out of Customs



January 26, 2016 , 2:44 am

Arrived at USPS Facility

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

January 22, 2016 , 6:33 pm

Inbound Out of Customs

 

[csano]

Anyone ever seen USPS tracking like this?


DATE & TIME
STATUS OF ITEM
LOCATION
January 26, 2016 , 6:23 pm

Unclaimed/Max Hold Time Expired



ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), CA 90009

Your item was returned to the sender on January 26, 2016 at 6:23 pm in ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), CA 90009 because it was not claimed by the addressee once the item reached its maximum hold time at the post office.

January 26, 2016 , 6:23 pm

Processed Through Sort Facility

ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

January 26, 2016 , 6:22 pm

Arrived at Sort Facility

ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

January 26, 2016 , 6:25 am

Departed USPS Facility

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

January 26, 2016 , 3:38 am

Inbound Out of Customs



January 26, 2016 , 2:44 am

Arrived at USPS Facility

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

January 22, 2016 , 6:33 pm

Inbound Out of Customs

That looks like messed up tracking (which wouldn't surprise me, given that it's USPS). I'd give it another 24-48 hours before panicking (believe me, I can relate).

Cheers!

 

[Wino1]

Read thru this thread, seems to be a lot of US -> Europe. What about shipping multiple boxes from Brussels back to the U.S? Should I "gift" myself both boxes, or is it better to send one box to myself (SF) and the other to my parents (Virginia)? I'm thinking about doing ~12 bottles in each which should be less than 40lbs.

 

[csano]

Read thru this thread, seems to be a lot of US -> Europe. What about shipping multiple boxes from Brussels back to the U.S? Should I "gift" myself both boxes, or is it better to send one box to myself (SF) and the other to my parents (Virginia)? I'm thinking about doing ~12 bottles in each which should be less than 40lbs.

SF is tough. Customs there has been holding up boxes recently. I'd send both to VA.

 

[bvdubn1]

Read thru this thread, seems to be a lot of US -> Europe. What about shipping multiple boxes from Brussels back to the U.S? Should I "gift" myself both boxes, or is it better to send one box to myself (SF) and the other to my parents (Virginia)? I'm thinking about doing ~12 bottles in each which should be less than 40lbs.

Any reason you can't just check them on the plane when you fly back?

 

[Shakedwnst]

SF is tough. Customs there has been holding up boxes recently. I'd send both to VA.

No way he read this thread if he's still considering sending a box to SF

 

[Wino1]

Any reason you can't just check them on the plane when you fly back?

I'm taking one extra checked bag, a second is $300. Hence, shipping will be cheaper.

 

[andrewdrinks]

A second bag is $300?! Which airline charges that so I know to steer clear?