International shipping not received after 4 weeks.

[Former_Member]

Hi All,

I sent an order to Brazil out of Wisconsin about 4 weeks ago and the recipient has yet to receive it. Is it normal to take this long? I spoke with a woman from the post office and she said once it's out of the country the US may loose tracking information. My customer spoke with Brazil's postal service and they said it has been received in Brazil but there is no further tracking information as of March. Any suggestions as what steps I should take next?

Thanks

[Former_Member]

I had a similar issue with a parcel to Cuba. It was tracked, but the last time it was tracked was in Italy. I think it never arrived, I asked for a refund and got it from teh postoffice, for the price of the item and the postage, it took time, I only got the refund after about 4 months. I had in the meantime fully refunded the client. I was usign Maltapost and this was the only issue i had with postage so far.

[SageNThymeDesigns]

I've had items shipped to Germany and Canada (during their mail strike) that took over a month, but eventually arrived.

South America may be a little different. I've shipped to many nations there, and believe that all packages eventually arrived. When I've had people purchase from more rural parts of Central and South America, they often request the package be sent to a friend in the US who will be flying to their location for a direct hand off because the postal service is spotty at best.

Tracking is only available while the package is in the US, so there would not be any further tracking once it arrives in the destination country. It's likely stuck in customs, which can take a while. If it is returned to sender, the tracking will kick in again once it's back in the US.

I've only had two packages returned to sender, both were shipped to the UK. I believe that everything else has arrived safely...

[EAGERforWORD]

Good and bad news to add! A parcel from the UK to Brazil took 4mths. It got there but I suspect a lengthy detour. I didn't accept the offer to repay the refunded money but she placed another order which made up for it.

[MyDistinctDesigns]

I am having the same problem with a parcel I shipped to India. It has been almost 5 weeks and they have not received it.

[SeverinMetals]

I ship priority international and usually it takes 2 weeks. one package to Russia took about 5 weeks. It seems they have tracking for it too.

[Former_Member]

Tell your customer to check with her local post office. Sometimes parcels are held for fees. It seems that at times the recipient isn't notified.

[FenderGemsNCrystals]

I have had packages take 3 months. I insure most of my international packages.

The insurance makes me wait 6 weeks so I wait 6 weeks before refunding. I have one right now floating around South America where Monday is 6 weeks. The customer wrote and once I explained that the parcel is insured and that as soon as we hit the 6 week date and file the claim she would be refunded. Thus reassured she pleasantly agreed to wait.

[Former_Member]

There are some countries where the postal system isn't nearly as fast as what we have here in the USA.

Brazil is one of them. I have a regular customer in Brazil who's packages arrive anywhere between 2-3 months after they are posted.

They always get there but if they arrive within 2 months we consider it to be a 'fast' shipment. She has been dealing with me for the past 8 years now.