Sporran is being held hostage...help!

**Eric Schutte** · 2nd October 09, 11:01 PM

Hello all,

Just a rhetorical question.....I bought a full mask muskrat sporran from Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. It has made it as far as the Foreign Mail Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. Any idea how long it might take to process this package and then get it to the west coast? I won't hold anyone to it, I just want to know what to expect.

Thanks all,

Eric

**SFCRick** · 3rd October 09, 12:25 AM

Depends on who the carrier is, can be quick or held up by an inspector

**dfmacliam** · 3rd October 09, 06:44 AM

I have had packages come from Canada just as quick as 3-4 days while others took 7 days.. but it had never been a big issue.. just depends on the carrier.. Usually regular postal service is easier to deal with

**Dall_Piobaire** · 3rd October 09, 06:56 AM

This is a concern I have had when considering buying overseas.

What determines what gets held in customs and what gets through. What gets held for additional tariffs, or, charges, and how is it determined?

I have heard it is just all around easier to go with Royal Mail, even though it might take a tad longer.

**ForresterModern** · 3rd October 09, 07:58 AM

Generally anything over about $250 US valuation coming in from a foreign country gets stomped on by customs, at least for inspection, especially furry things. FEDEX and I believe UPS have agreements with customs to expedite their packages by guaranteeing customs tariffs are paid by them, then a charge added for handling, then the receiving patron is charged for the customs plus fees before delivery. Other shippers packages get set on customs hold docks until someone gets around to either doing the inspection of just sending it on through without opening the package. It also depends on how the shipper describes the item and value on the customs declaration.

I have had stuff go through on Royal Mail from Scotland in under two weeks----surface shipping----and had other stuff take more than a month from notification of shipping until receipt. Just depends on customs, and I am not sure what their factors are that may hold up one package for weeks and let another through in days.

I would say if you don't have it within about a month from original shipping notification give the shipping company a call and ask for a tracing on your package, as this may jog the system------or it may not. Good luck with that.

**Eric Schutte** · 3rd October 09, 10:47 AM

Thanks to all of you. Forrester, we are coming up on 2 weeks now, so I guess I will wait another 2 weeks and then start making calls. This sporran was originally sent CanadaPost and then USPS when it gets to the states. Hopefully it won't be too much longer.....

Thanks guys,

Eric

**Eric Schutte** · 5th October 09, 09:59 PM

Just an update, the sporran got here today and all is well.

Thanks guys,

Eric

**KFCarter** · 6th October 09, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Eric Schutte

Just an update, the sporran got here today and all is well.

Thanks guys,

Eric

Congratulations! Post pics when you are able.

**xena** · 6th October 09, 01:17 PM

I'd say that wasn't long getting from New Jersey to Washington State. It was in Jersey on the 2nd, and arrived in WA on the 5th. Just the weekend. Not bad for USPS.

**ForresterModern** · 6th October 09, 01:22 PM

Well done, congrats on the new addition.

The problem I always have with Royal Mails/Canadian Mail is when it gets handed off to customs, because the tracking totally stops and it appears as if the item is stuck at the customs facility forever. Actually that is only because USPS does not pick up the tracking---they just pick up the package when released by customs and deliver it. So you never really know when it will be dilivered as in the tracking system it still appears as if it is stuck in customs when more likely than not it is in a postal truck en route to you somewhere.