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

[lambandtunaphish]

Mine cleared through ohare customs in a record 1h54 minutes... made it's way down to my local post office, where it was scanned in and then scanned for missed delivery, no one there to sign for it...1 minute after it "arrived" at the post office. which, by my guess, means they just said **** this guy and didn't make an attempt. i was out in the front yard all that day putting up christmas lights, there was no attempt. anyways, i go to pick it up, after a nearly hour wait, they cannot find the box. i go back to work, they called back later that afternoon they found it, and i had to go back to the post office which is like 30 minutes out of my home from work to wait in line and get the box.

this marks the 15th straight etre box my local usps station as "attempted" to deliver an never made an attempt. i moved across town 2 years ago, and ever since i've been serviced by this location it's been such a chore.

everything was safe and sound though!

Joana even checked in with me when the box was marked with a failed delivery attempt, which was a nice touch from Etre.

My post office has never attempted to deliver these large Etre/BIAB boxes. Never had an issue getting them delivered to my office though. I assume the business address makes them more likely to deliver things.

Related - our mailman actually tries to stay in his truck at our house. He'll pull in the driveway, lay on the horn and hope someone is home and comes outside to meet him.

 

[GregorySingh]

Congrats on receiving! Still praying to the beer gods. My box has been held at LAX customs since Tuesday

Mine has been “inbound out of (LAX) customs” since Nov. 20th.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Mine has been “inbound out of (LAX) customs” since Nov. 20th.

Oof. I imagine this time of year is rough for customs. Still a bit nervous my box will get sent back but your comment makes me feel a bit more at ease. Would you mind posting about the outcome of your situation?

 

[GregorySingh]

Oof. I imagine this time of year is rough for customs. Still a bit nervous my box will get sent back but your comment makes me feel a bit more at ease. Would you mind posting about the outcome of your situation?

Yeah, I’ll keep you updated

 

[BadJustin]

My post office has never attempted to deliver these large Etre/BIAB boxes. Never had an issue getting them delivered to my office though. I assume the business address makes them more likely to deliver things.

Related - our mailman actually tries to stay in his truck at our house. He'll pull in the driveway, lay on the horn and hope someone is home and comes outside to meet him.

Same here. You miss him and you're going to the brick and mortar

 

[roodie]

any luck with LA Customs recently?

 

[Gaseous Clay]

any luck with LA Customs recently?

Still waiting for movement on a box that hit LAX customs on the 26th. Its been "inbound out of customs" since the 4th. No clue if its headed toward me or away.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Still waiting for movement on a box that hit LAX customs on the 26th. Its been "inbound out of customs" since the 4th. No clue if its headed toward me or away.

Welp. My box is going back.

Your item could not be delivered on December 8, 2018 at 8:19 pm in ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS), CA 90009. It was held for the required number of days and is being returned to the sender.

I hope youre both luckier than I am, GregorySingh & roodie .

 

[roodie]

I had one get through LA but it was a small box. Every other box this year went through SF for no obvious reason.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I had one get through LA but it was a small box. Every other box this year went through SF for no obvious reason.

I have never had a box go through SF even when I lived in SF, lol. First time with LAX, 0/10 would not recommend.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

Looking for some insight here: I was thinking about re-shipping the box to a buddy in new york and having him forward the box to me in California once it clears JFK customs. It doesnt look to be below freezing much over the next few weeks, but ive never shipping during the winter. Is it too risky to do it now? Would shipping by air to CA once it reached NY cause more headaches or be more expensive than its worth?

 

[JonathanAmes]

Looking for some insight here: I was thinking about re-shipping the box to a buddy in new york and having him forward the box to me in California once it clears JFK customs. It doesnt look to be below freezing much over the next few weeks, but ive never shipping during the winter. Is it too risky to do it now? Would shipping by air to CA once it reached NY cause more headaches or be more expensive than its worth?

I received a box here in San Diego from JFK last week and everything arrived pristine if that helps.

 

[BadJustin]

Looking for some insight here: I was thinking about re-shipping the box to a buddy in new york and having him forward the box to me in California once it clears JFK customs. It doesnt look to be below freezing much over the next few weeks, but ive never shipping during the winter. Is it too risky to do it now? Would shipping by air to CA once it reached NY cause more headaches or be more expensive than its worth?

Air is expensive in my experience. If he ships on a Monday, it should make it to you by that Friday but he HAS to ship on a Monday. I'd do it, just sent my Secret Santa box and I am probably done until Spring now

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I received a box here in San Diego from JFK last week and everything arrived pristine if that helps.

Air is expensive in my experience. If he ships on a Monday, it should make it to you by that Friday but he HAS to ship on a Monday. I'd do it, just sent my Secret Santa box and I am probably done until Spring now

Thanks y'all, thats reassuring and I appreciate it. If the box makes it back to Etre in one piece sometime this week I'll see if the return is still possible.

 

[BadJustin]

Thanks y'all, thats reassuring and I appreciate it. If the box makes it back to Etre in one piece sometime this week I'll see if the return is still possible.

If you need a hand I can gladly receive and send off to you from here man. In NY as well.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

If you need a hand I can gladly receive and send off to you from here man. In NY as well.

Very generous offer, thank you Justin. I have a buddy in NYC who will be taking care of my proxying needs but I will keep you in mind should this happen again. Really appreciate the offer, thanks so much.

 

[BadJustin]

Very generous offer, thank you Justin. I have a buddy in NYC who will be taking care of my proxying needs but I will keep you in mind should this happen again. Really appreciate the offer, thanks so much.

No worries dude.

 

[Saind]

So how about BIAB and etre eh?

 

[BadJustin]

So how about BIAB and etre eh?

'


Poll added.

 

[Gaseous Clay]

I posted a few days ago about my box hitting LAX for the second time in a row. Was worried it wouldn’t make it through again but somehow it passed through customs and should be in my hands by the end of the week. Not sure if it made a difference that the box was destined for the Bay Area this time instead of LA. I imagine it’s just luck of the draw. First time a box of mine destined for SF has hit LA though. Proceed with caution, west coast folk!

 

[ewwiccc]

I posted a few days ago about my box hitting LAX for the second time in a row. Was worried it wouldn’t make it through again but somehow it passed through customs and should be in my hands by the end of the week. Not sure if it made a difference that the box was destined for the Bay Area this time instead of LA. I imagine it’s just luck of the draw. First time a box of mine destined for SF has hit LA though. Proceed with caution, west coast folk!

great to hear it passed through customs!

 

[Gaseous Clay]

great to hear it passed through customs!

Thanks! I was certian it wouldnt make it through but I guess I got lucky. I do wish etre wasnt so forthcoming on their customs labels, though I completely understand why they are. C'est la vie.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Poll added.

Cool cool. I'm the only vote for BIAB. Y'all must really be into wondering why your box is stuck in customs.

 

[NClambicguy]

Cool cool. I'm the only vote for BIAB. Y'all must really be into wondering why your box is stuck in customs.

You must like having to send a dozen emails to get an update on if your box will be sent, and if you do get a box, getting to see the contents of said box without even having to open it.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

You must like having to send a dozen emails to get an update on if your box will be sent, and if you do get a box, getting to see the contents of said box without even having to open it.

I've never once had to send a "where's my box?" email to BIAB since they always arrive in under two weeks after initiating payment.

Never stuck in customs, and never with broken or missing items.

 

[sherm10161]

Never stuck in customs

ISC Chicago is the GOAT. Should be called ZFG Chicago.

 

[NClambicguy]

I've never once had to send a "where's my box?" email to BIAB since they always arrive in under two weeks after initiating payment.

Never stuck in customs, and never with broken or missing items.

Why do you think it is more likely that a box from Etre would get stuck in customs compared to a box from BiaB?

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Why do you think it is more likely that a box from Etre would get stuck in customs compared to a box from BiaB?

Reading this thread.

 

[stupac2]

Reading this thread.

That's just that there are far more Etre users here (and probably in general). Customs is entirely place and time dependent, I've only had one box have issues and it was years ago during the LAX crisis where even BIAB refused to ship to CA (in fact, as far as I know they still do).

 

[rrryanc]

BIAB refused to ship to CA (in fact, as far as I know they still do).

They'll ship to CA. At least have been within the last couple of years. Done both onsite and proxy, haven't had any issues.