Main > Main Forum
US to UK Delivery - my experience
(1/3) > >>
ex_directory:
This maybe useful to someone who is ordering using USPS Priority Mail International (6-10 days)

Thursday 20th March - Ordered a bunch of stuff from GGG
Wednesday 26th March - First registered with USPS site
Wednesday 9th April - Found at parcelforce depot!

Total business days from GGG = 14 days

Not sure what US have for Easter, 2 days from above was UK Easter holidays.

I received a USPS tracking number from GGG, go here to track it:

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm?from=global&page=0035trackandconfirm

Once it gets to the UK it then goes to a UK courier, you have to guess which one, in my experience it is one of DHL (sometimes) or Parcelforce (often).

With parcelforce you can track the item using their site:

http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/track?catId=7500082
Tick the international delivery option and then the USPS tracking number will work.

Don't be fooled by USPS tracking notes, the UK bit could be wrong, see red below:

USPS:
 Electronic Shipping Info Received, March 26, 2008
 International Dispatch, March 28, 2008, 10:53 pm, NJI
 Arrived Abroad, April 03, 2008, 10:31 am, GREAT BRITAIN
 Into Foreign Customs, April 03, 2008, 10:55 am, GREAT BRITAIN
 Out of Foreign Customs, April 07, 2008, 10:59 pm, GREAT BRITAIN
Attempted Delivery Abroad, April 09, 2008, 6:21 am, GREAT BRITAIN

ParcelForce (what is really happening):

28-03-2008  22:53  CAPE FOREIGN CENTER JERSEY CITY NJ 099 Left origin country
03-04-2008  10:31  International Hub Arrived in destination country
03-04-2008  10:55  International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
03-04-2008  10:55  International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
07-04-2008  22:20  International Hub Released for delivery
07-04-2008  22:22  International Hub RELEASED WITH CHARGES
07-04-2008  22:59  International Hub En route to delivery depot
08-04-2008  13:26  National Hub Sorted in hub
08-04-2008  21:38  Local Depot Arrived at delivery depot
09-04-2008  06:21  Local Depot Awaiting payment of charges

So there was no attempted delivery!

Next step, go pick it up, make payment over the counter (17.5% of goods value + £8 admin fee) to help fund government projects, all yours  :)

Hope this helps someone. Ex
Cornchip:
  USPS and global mail in general is my preferred choice of delivery over the more expensive couriers. You think you paid too much to customs this time, UPS can really gouge you with there own charges. Wow.

 Overall, I don't see much wrong with this at all. You ordered too late before a long weekend. That's what really slowed things down. I can't say too much for your own customs either. Goes with the territory I guess.   :dunno

 Cornchip.
Fozzy The Bear:
14 days is not bad when there's a holiday in it!! In any case, this is not my experience of deliveries from GGG. I've had stuff arrive here in the UK in 5 days or less sometimes. Delivered by USPS and Royal Mail.

In any case.... what's the problem.... you're getting goods hideously cheaply at the moment given the exchange rates.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
ex_directory:
Guys, re-read my post, this is not a complaint, just an experience, more interestingly for the UK people building cabs at the moment (of which I am one) to see how the US postage is working at the moment. I probably saved myself a couple of days by using the tracking so thought this would help others - hence my post.

I am actually really pleased with the speed, this weekend is now reserved for some CP work  :D

For the record, and I knew exactly what I would be charged from customs, the delivery time was not the best but also not the worst I have experienced from the US and Randy was very helpful.
protokatie:
You did a US to UK test...

Here is the standard for a Uk to US test:

Order from Ultimarc on Sunday, get package here on tuesday... Seems like the system works better for us getting stuff from your land :D

Then again it might just be Andy Warne and the fact he uses DHL as his only shipping currier. Or the fact that I live 30 miles from one of DHL's primary import airports ;)

Still nice to order one day and get the thing from the UK only a few days later....
Navigation
Message Index
Next page

Go to full version