Why does shipping from China take so long?

[Nephasth]

Because the sort facility in Los Angeles ---smurfing--- sucks!

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

2012-05-10, 09:34:00, LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

Processed through USPS Sort Facility

2012-05-09, 10:25:00, LOS ANGELES, CA 90009

Processed Through Sort Facility

2012-05-06, 18:14:00, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)

Origin Post is Preparing Shipment


Processed Through Sort Facility

2012-04-30, 08:27:00, SHENZHEN

Acceptance

2012-04-29, 19:20:00

[kahlid74]

I was actually going to give you a real reason lol.  Common ship shipping is 2-8 weeks depending on where in china.

[jmike]

It's not just L.A. I bought a Carbon Fiber Vinyl Sheet on ebay (Paid for it a month ago today) and still hasn't gotten here. This is what I got when I looked up the tracking number:

Missent

2012-05-07, 10:07:00

Processed Through Sort Facility

2012-05-07, 10:07:00, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

Arrived at Sort Facility

2012-05-07, 10:00:00, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

 
Plus I live in NJ so I don't know what's going on. I don't think I'm getting my package, ever.

[BadMouth]

We'll see if my order from India gets through any faster. 
It's only been processed once so far.

Your item has been processed through our sort facility in ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) at 3:50 am on May 08, 2012.

That's the price you pay if you want it cheap.

I quit ordering <$5 ebay stuff from China because the last few required a signature upon delivery.
It's just not worth it to have to drive downtown to the post office and stand in line to sign for it.

[Vigo]

It's not just L.A. I bought a Carbon Fiber Vinyl Sheet on ebay (Paid for it a month ago today) and still hasn't gotten here. This is what I got when I looked up the tracking number:

Missent

2012-05-07, 10:07:00

Processed Through Sort Facility

2012-05-07, 10:07:00, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

Arrived at Sort Facility

2012-05-07, 10:00:00, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

 
Plus I live in NJ so I don't know what's going on. I don't think I'm getting my package, ever.

Hrmmm...I was thinking about buying some of that stuff for a project that needs to be done in June. Thanks for the heads up on that. I might have to find a new seller. My wife had to wait like 3 months for a Hello Kitty clock from China that she was gonna give to our niece. That stuff just sucks.

But I agree shipping can go crazy even if it doesn't go overseas. I had sent out an encoder to a member here in Canada. It took a whole month to get to him. I felt bad, but he was a really a good sport about it. People here are awesome. 

[hypernova]

Buy American when you can.  It's not worth it to line the pockets of communists when it's only a paltry amount more to get it here.  I get my college class texts on ebay still, but I've stopped getting them from China/Malaysia/Hong Kong.  Not because they're slow.  It's actually reasonably quick.  I just don't mind that one time $5-10 price difference knowing I'm paying some person in OK rather than overseas.  And it's still massively cheaper than getting it at the campus bookstore.

Some things, yeah, I'll get from China (hell, nowadays, it's most things) like a HDMI cable, but screw 'em when you can.

[Nephasth]

How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... )

[SavannahLion]

How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... )

+1

All things being equal, that dude in OK is likely a reseller who bought most of the junk from China. It's a sad truth and one that most people "not just Americans" fail to realize. We've lost our production edge, we're just greedy consumers who will eventually turn into servants.

[Le Chuck]

How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... )

+1

All things being equal, that dude in OK is likely a reseller who bought most of the junk from China. It's a sad truth and one that most people "not just Americans" fail to realize. We've lost our production edge, we're just greedy consumers who will eventually turn into servants.

Extremely well armed servants that still possess the most technologically advanced military on earth.  There's something to be said for having a big stick.

[Nephasth]

There's something to be said for having a big stick.

You and your penis jokes...

[hypernova]

How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... )

You don't.  You just hope.

[Howard_Casto]

Anything more complex than a toaster (ironically including your average toaster) is made in China.  90% of the shelves in your local S-mart are stocked with Chineese merch.  Even "American" and "Japanese" products have 50-90% of their components made in China. 

The only things still made in the USA are products that are too bleeding edge for China to manufacture (think processors and such) or too large for it to be cost-effective to ship (think cars, and homes). 

Our industrial age was several decades ago.  We are now in the business of services and r&d... get used to it, this is how capitalism works. I don't think people understand that the local economy doesn't exist anymore.  It's been purely global for decades, ESPECIALLY when the internet poped up.  China in terms of their social-economic state are stuck in the 50's in many respects.  It's their turn to work factories.  Don't worry, when the next industrial age hits we'll be ready. 

Also communism isn't bad, nor are the Chinese people or their businesses.  It's just the creepy little fat kid that opresses them that is bad.    As a whole the business aspect of China is very similar to our own countries.

Btw, I am NOT saying that these facts are particularly a good thing, I'm just making the point that the ship has sailed and there's no going back to the 50's where everything was made right here in the good old U S of A and you could point to a spot on the map and instantly say "that's a good country" or "that's our enemy".   


Getting back on topic.  I've actually been astounded at how things from China often get here quicker than other parts of the US.  Anything I order from CA , for example, can take a full two weeks to get here.  On the other hand yoru average import do-dad will get here in about a week, sometimes alarmingly sooner, like 3-5 days!  I think it has to do with what you order though.  I usually order electronics kit... leds, resistors, ect...

[trekking95]

Actually I think its the cheapest and fastest shipping in the world! Any time I order stuff there has never been a problem with it.

[Grasshopper]

Our industrial age was several decades ago.  We are now in the business of services and r&d... get used to it, this is how capitalism works. I don't think people understand that the local economy doesn't exist anymore.  It's been purely global for decades, ESPECIALLY when the internet poped up.  China in terms of their social-economic state are stuck in the 50's in many respects.  It's their turn to work factories.  Don't worry, when the next industrial age hits we'll be ready. 

I don't share your complacency.

What you've just described was essentially plan B, for when our manufacturing sector became uncompetitive. And for a few decades we (more or less) got away with it. However, even the relatively well paid knowledge-based jobs are beginning to be outsourced to places like China and India, and there doesn't appear to be a plan C.

The only thing that will bring the global economy back into balance (and which will eventually be forced on us) is a massive devaluation of all western currencies. There's simply no way that someone working in a western country can compete on the global stage when there's an equally skilled individual in China or India willing to do exactly the same work for a tenth of the salary.

[Gray_Area]

That's the price you pay if you want it cheap.

I quit ordering <$5 ebay stuff from China because the last few required a signature upon delivery.
It's just not worth it to have to drive downtown to the post office and stand in line to sign for it.

You don't have to. You can call their 800 number and request it re-delivered....of course, you have to be there.

The only thing that will bring the global economy back into balance (and which will eventually be forced on us) is a massive devaluation of all western currencies. There's simply no way that someone working in a western country can compete on the global stage when there's an equally skilled individual in China or India willing to do exactly the same work for a tenth of the salary.

The western world would've done well to have taken ownership of the rest of the world into the beginning of the twentieth century, and particularly at the end of world war two. Then, only those folks would be working. Not that, barring some catastrophe, anyone will be working in 100 hundred years. Maybe less.

But this is all off topic. I don't check on my items from abroad. I just wait for them. Some come quickly, some don't.

[kahlid74]

What you've just described was essentially plan B, for when our manufacturing sector became uncompetitive. And for a few decades we (more or less) got away with it. However, even the relatively well paid knowledge-based jobs are beginning to be outsourced to places like China and India, and there doesn't appear to be a plan C.

Don't believe all the hype about outsourcing, it's not happening anywhere close to the scale you think it is.  It's security theater, to rile up supporters and gain political advantage.  Does outsourcing happen?  Yes.  Are well paid knowledge-based jobs coming back to countries originally farming them out?  Yes.  Is it the end of the world?  Nope.

Anything more complex than a toaster (ironically including your average toaster) is made in China.  90% of the shelves in your local S-mart are stocked with Chineese merch.  Even "American" and "Japanese" products have 50-90% of their components made in China. 

I think your percentages are a bit off and difficult to actually prove.  There is also still a significant difference in capacitors/transistors made in Japan vs China.

Our industrial age was several decades ago.  We are now in the business of services and r&d... get used to it, this is how capitalism works. I don't think people understand that the local economy doesn't exist anymore.  It's been purely global for decades, ESPECIALLY when the internet poped up.  China in terms of their social-economic state are stuck in the 50's in many respects.  It's their turn to work factories.  Don't worry, when the next industrial age hits we'll be ready. 

Also communism isn't bad, nor are the Chinese people or their businesses.  It's just the creepy little fat kid that opresses them that is bad.    As a whole the business aspect of China is very similar to our own countries.

It always irks me when people call China Communist.  Their country is anything but communist.  They are closer to a capitalist dictatorship than anything else.

[Vigo]

It always irks me when people call China Communist.  Their country is anything but communist.  They are closer to a capitalist dictatorship than anything else.

Well, a capitalist dictatorship is not right at all. First, a dictatorship would require a dictator. China actually is single party controlled and can place anyone they want as president. Second, capitalism requires the notion of private property rights which are not granted under the Chinese constitution. There have been some watered down laws recently in China granting certain land use privileges and personal assets, but the fact is that according to the Chinese government, everything people have is still granted and owned by the gov't. Combine that with the fact that the single party in control of China is in fact the Communist party, and that they impose abolishment of religion, widespread censorship of information, and they are a de facto party (there is no legal means for an opposing party to take control), Calling China a communist country is actually a much closer definition.

[kahlid74]

It always irks me when people call China Communist.  Their country is anything but communist.  They are closer to a capitalist dictatorship than anything else.

Well, a capitalist dictatorship is not right at all. First, a dictatorship would require a dictator. China actually is single party controlled and can place anyone they want as president. Second, capitalism requires the notion of private property rights which are not granted under the Chinese constitution. There have been some watered down laws recently in China granting certain land use privileges and personal assets, but the fact is that according to the Chinese government, everything people have is still granted and owned by the gov't. Combine that with the fact that the single party in control of China is in fact the Communist party, and that they impose abolishment of religion, widespread censorship of information, and they are a de facto party (there is no legal means for an opposing party to take control), Calling China a communist country is actually a much closer definition.

All great points.  My thoughts however dealt more with that even though the "communist" party is in control, behind closed doors a select few members of said communist party actually control all of the wealth and power, really IMO making it feel like a dictatorship.  As far as the Gov't owning everything sure, but if person A has a 4000 sq house with 4 Mercedes Benz's and Person B works for FoxConn at $1 per hour, that's not really communism is it?  Isn't the true point of communism that all are equal regardless of skill?  Everyone gets enough for their selves right?

China is struggling with it because they've allowed businesses to grow at a rate where personal wealth is beginning to thrive in China, which doesn't exist in communism.  So they're in this new world somewhere between the economic freedoms of capitalism and the social constraints of communism.

[Vigo]

Even in a pure communist country, being classless is only an ideal that is never achieved. But yeah, I understand your overall point though, people are allowed to succeed. China has allowed for a far less regulated trade that any form of communism in the past, seperating it from a country like North Korea.

I think you are right about their internal struggle as well. There is a push for a number of laws that go against the China constitution, but at the same without certain changes they are not allowed to progress like they would like.

[BadMouth]

....OH, you meant the hippie kind of communism.

(Item from India should be delivered today    )

[Vigo]

How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... )

  Yep, My encoders are Chinese. I can at least say I work directly with the guy that designed them. He sends out to a small company to print the boards, and I believe he does all the soldering himself. The guy loves video games, mostly fighters.  I'm not trying to spin a "My product is made with love" kinda thing, but I guess he makes these things just like individuals would if they were to do it here. I think it's kinda cool.

[yotsuya]

I'm not trying to spin a "My product is made with love" kinda thing, but I guess he makes these things just like individuals would if they were to do it here. I think it's kinda cool.

You should make stickers of that slogan and put them on your packaging! 

[Le Chuck]

Even in a pure communist country, being classless is only an ideal that is never achieved. But yeah, I understand your overall point though, people are allowed to succeed. China has allowed for a far less regulated trade that any form of communism in the past, seperating it from a country like North Korea.

I think you are right about their internal struggle as well. There is a push for a number of laws that go against the China constitution, but at the same without certain changes they are not allowed to progress like they would like.

North Korea is as communist as it is democratic.  It is a hyper nationalist insular military state under a policy called Juche, which is basically god like reverence towards the ruling family.  They made nice with the neo-stalinists for a while but even those relationships are strained at this point.  The only thing I can think to compare North Korea to would be Myanmar tho that is changing rapidly.  

[Nephasth]

The package from China showed up today. It spent less time in China and travelling to the US than it did in the hands of the USPS...

[Vigo]

Are the epoxy blobs on the PCBs done by hand, too?

 

With love.

[BadMouth]

So, this arrived from India.....
(mailing label is on other side)



Had no idea that people wrapped packages in linen and stitched them up.
(there is a cardboard box inside there that they could have just thrown a label on).

[Nephasth]

Well, I just got some high voltage capacitors in 5 business days from China for half the price it would have cost me to go with a US supplier.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=120019.0

China can't be beat when it comes to electronic components. I'd rather send $2 over there than give someone $8 over here that sent $2 over there to begin with...

[geomartin]

 

[Gray_Area]

China can't be beat when it comes to electronic components. I'd rather send $2 over there than give someone $8 over here that sent $2 over there to begin with...

Yup.