What's your 'missing package' rate from the US?

[KillingTime]

Hi,

Don't know if this is the correct forum for this but here goes..

I've been ordering light parts from various members on CPF and many from the SS. Most of these parts come from the US and are meant to end up in Britain. At the moment I'm averaging 1 lost shipment in 3 (2 out of 6 gone missing).

I've had to ask Fivemega to re-send some of his goods for this reason.

The latest shipment to go AWOL contained 3 McR20's. The SandwichShoppe do state in their T&C's that it's basically your problem once the post office takes over, fair enough, but non US customers don't get the option to take out any insurance. So, before I shell out another $60 of some more reflectors, I'd like to hear from those that also order from the US (to Britain) so I can gauge what my mods are really going to cost me...

Thanks.

 

[gadget_lover]

When I saw teh title to this thread, I thought you were asking about insurance rates. As in "How much do they charge to make sure your package does not go missing".

Within the US, I've almost never had a package go missing.

I mailed about 130 packages a few years back, and only had problems sending to a CPF member at a University. He claimed that he did not get the first two packages that I sent. The packages went world wide, including 6 or so to Great Britan.

 

[benchmade_boy]

for me it cost $3.35 US to insure for $200.00. but i only ship in the US.

 

[iced_theater]

Obviously since I don't live in England I can't directly relate to your post, but I have mailed things all over the world and have had zero go missing.

 

[JonSidneyB]

I have lost 3 package to Germany in 6 months. I replaced each of them. I have lost one to Austrailia and one to England.

 

[chrwe]

In the last year I have received 13 out of 13 packages sent to me from the U.S. . They were either sent airmail or GPM. Airmail usually took longer. The longest wait however I had for a GPM package. It took around five weeks to show up after it had left the U.S. .

To answer your question: My missing package rate is exactly zero.

 

[Frenchyled]

All the packages I sent arrived at their destination !! About 50 parcels in 4 years... they took between 4 days to 2 months to arrive...Recently the Chammie I sent priority registered tracked insured took one month to arrive, but I think it was a U.S customs delay.

Between 2002 to december 2006, I lost two parcels. One from McGizmo which arrived opened without the flashlight, and one from Orb which never arrived.These two lost have been friendly replaced by the senders :goodjob:

Since december 2006, I've lost two parcels, but again one seller re-sent me the goods I've ordered, (thank you Lighthound, great service), the other is a free forwarding service by a friendly CPFer and frankly I can't ask him to replace the package !!
Now, I am waiting my JetBeam-CLE since 18 days...It seems that more and more packages are lost by the French postal service and that's worrying me a lot.

Rate for me :
- packages sent : 0% missed
- packages received : about 2% missed ....

Not bad at all !! Even if I'd prefer 0% missed for me and for the sellers !!

 

[KillingTime]

OK.

I'll wait another few weeks for it to arrive. After that, I have a friend I can reach out to in the US who visits Britain every few months. I can get stuff sent to him insured and ask him to bring it over with him..

Thanks.

 

[DM51]

How was the package shipped? USPS Global Priority (GP) is pretty reliable, takes about 5-7 days, USPS Express Mail Service (EMS) is safer (but quite expensive) and 3-5 days.

 

[Eric242]

In the last...let´s say ten years I received (mostly) and sent stuff from/to all around the world and not a single package got lost. I guess it must have been at least 500 shipments (most stuff sold/bought via eBay / I do not own a business, all for privat use). I considered several items lost but after a while they showed up anyway.

Usualy it takes about 7-14 days for a airmail/GPM shipment from the us to arrive over here in germany (I don´t think there is much difference between the different EU countries), if customs get their hands on it might take up to 4 weeks. I don´t get concerned anymore if shipping takes up to 4 weeks.

Back in 1996/7 I had a bigger package with Star Wars stuff coming and it took 12 weeks! It should have beend sent via airmail (and I payed for) but for what ever reason it came via surface shipping and that´s why it took so long.

Eric

 

[Raptor#]

Nothing sent so far, something arround 10 recieved.. noone lost.

But damn, the german customs always take theyr time! It usually takes 3 weeks +/- a few days untill they let my stuff through. Fastest package ever was one from szwholesale, arrived in a week, but that was arround christmas... i guess they just opened the flood gates back then, if you know what i mean.

 

[HEY HEY ITS HENDO]

i`ve had shedloads of stuff from all over the globe with nothing going AWOL,
a few have taken 3 weeks or so ......

 

[Coop]

had a few customs delays, even one up to 3 months, but none missing so far (knock on wood)

 

[KillingTime]

How was the package shipped? USPS Global Priority (GP) is pretty reliable, takes about 5-7 days, USPS Express Mail Service (EMS) is safer (but quite expensive) and 3-5 days.

Looking at my order on the SS;

United States Postal Service (1 x 0.225lbs) (Airmail Letter Post (4 - 7 Days)): $5.35

I think there were other (more expensive) methods of delivery (GP & Express) when I completed the order, but non of these included insurance so there seemed little point in opting for them. I assume GP & Express when you're shipping worldwide are only more reliable up to the US border, after that, you're at the mercy of whoever handles the mail in the destination country.

No worries. From the above posts, it seems most people wait up to four weeks for their stuff to arrive.

Will have to be patient then...

Will post some beamshot pics of the mod when the parts arrive. Tri Seoul P4 U bin at 970mA...will see how it compares to the TSP. I have a feeling the TSP will stand its ground. That light was seriously overdriven to begin with.

 

[havand]

I've received everything i've ever ordered. U.S. or otherwise. I'm linclined to believe the problem is with foreign shipping services and not the USPS, based on my experience. I know a lot of people HATE USPS for various reasons. But, my experience have been nothing but positive. *shrug* Cany anyone else chime in on that? Is the problem in the U.S. or the other countries in your opinion?

 

[flashgreenie]

I haven't lost anything sent from the US yet. From my experience, assuming that your are sending from the US to elsewhere, the problems is more likely to be with the receiving country. Living in Sweden, I haven't had problems with the swedish post except when they send the stuff back after one month but thats another story.
I had a brass lioncub sent from Germany to me in Greece when I as working there and it took almost 3 weeks to get to me via airmail even though it was a registered airmail package. My first expensive flashlight nearly got lost. Never will I play with greek post again...

 

[TCW 60]

In the past I got all my post (knock on wood). Last from Emillion 8 days. From US most in 12 days.

 

[cal..45]

I do buy alot of stuff (mostly watches) from other countries. the only package that never arrived came from an australian seller last year, with all the others I had never any issues. just the shipping time is sometimes way too long, last saturday a package from singapore finally arrived, after almost six weeks of shipping.


regards, holger

 

[morituri]

So far I have received all items I ordered from the US -- from large retailers like Amazon, smaller ones like Lighthound and also individuals. This is over the past 12 years or so (since 1995), so I guess I have been lucky.

 

[cy]

hundreds of packages shipped to all over the world here...

have only lost two to Canada, which also holds the record for normal shipments taking longest.

will continue to ship intnl for low dollar items without insurance/tracking but refuse to ship intnl without insurance, high dollar and/or easily recognizable lights like surefire.

just had a package take 6 weeks to UK, but it was a large box. not a small envelop like what we mostly ship.

anymore... I will state multiple times and buyer has to accept. if insured shipping is not used. I cannot be responsible for loss.

for paypal buyer can reverse charges if no tracking is used. so seller is really exposed to buyer being honest.