Shipment to Australia from US -- how long?

[Former_Member]

On December 9, I mailed a package to Australia. It went International First Class (buyer did not want to upgrade to Priority). I just heard from the buyer, and she has not received the package yet.

How long does it normally take for packages from the US to reach Australia?

Should I offer a refund?

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Bringing this forward.

[starflycreations]

I mailed a pkg to Australia just the other day and the PO said 5 - 10 business days. I imaging that it is even longer over high traffic periods like Christmas and New Years.

Good luck finding your package.

[DevineDesignsJewelry]

Don't offer a refund yet. I had the same issue about a month ago. It took aobut a month, close to it, for the package to reach my customer in Australia. It must have been held up in customs. And it depends what you wrote on the customs form. Contact the customer and let her know this, and give it a couple more weeks. She can also go to the local customs office and check on it if she wants.

[PiggleAndPop]

i'm still waiting for a package from China I ordered on the 13 Dec, but they said 2-3 weeks, sometimes 5 weeks. I'm hoping it comes soon! I wouldn't offer a refund yet, like everyone said above, it prob just got held up with the hols.

[DingandKennie]

It can take up to a month to reach any international destination. Once it gets to the customs office who knows how long it will stay there. I wouldn't do a refund yet like the other posters said.

[LittleAcornToronto]

I've had packages take up to 4 weeks to reach the distant points on earth ;) and I had a package take SIX WEEKS once - but it had been held up in customs.

[Former_Member]

Everything I've ever mailed to Australia has taken 4-5 weeks minimum. It's Customs that's holding it up and there's nothing you can do to help them with that. Just make sure they are aware of this before sending your package.

[PiggleAndPop]

update- MY PACKAGE FROM CHINA CAME TODAY! How's that for a positive jinx? Maybe she got hers too!

[starless]

I'd ask if they would mind waiting a little longer as it can sometimes take 4-6 weeks (especially with all the holiday mail!)

[Former_Member]

Mine to Australia usually take two weeks or less. . .

[Former_Member]

Every time I've ordered from the US I've had my items in around 3-6 weeks... At Christmas though they did have a massive backlog through our postal system so it could've been held up in there.

[WhatCandySays]

I will take a photo for custom form and receipt (postage) and send it to the buyer.

[CLfabulousbeads1]

Wow I didnt realize it could take about a month for someone to get their items over seas.

[amberstudios]

I didn't have problems with Australia, but my package to Kuwait, send on December 12, still did not reach destination...Does somebody shipped to Kuwait?

[Former_Member]

Hi,
I sent a package to Australia on December 4, the buyer got it Dec 26.
She was pretty anxious about it, so I gave her the customs number.. I am not sure if she was able to track it with the number, but she said that it was very helpful. I would give another week or so.

[KarensjewelryKorner]

From my experience, Austrailia always takes a minimum of 4 weeks from the US

[Former_Member]

I assume you mailed First Class? (Priority would be 6-10 business days). If so, it can take up to 6-8 weeks, but usually around 3 weeks, maybe a little more for Australia. Just make it clear in your listings. You'll still get the occasional question like this, but at least you can point to your listings if you need to. (Despite having that spelled out in every single one of my listings, I got a message yesterday from an item shipped Dec. 19 to Spain not arriving yet -- barely 2 weeks).

[RunkPockDesigns]

I have mailed to Australia around 10 times now, however I have shipped everything priority mail. Most things I shipped took exactly 2 weeks. However, there was that one order that took a month and a half to get there. There is NOTHING you can do about it, or to figure out where it is. I wouldn't refund them or anything, just wait. Make sure if you are shipping internationally to warn your buyers it could take any undisclosed amount of time to get to them, and they need to be patient! I have a whole paragraph written up, ready for international customers to let them know their shipping is more expensive, and will take longer, about custom, etc just so you can cover yourself if it does end up taking longer that you think it will

[WildRoseHerbs]

Yep, up to 8 weeks for international through USPS first class. Mine sent to Australia around that same time are just now starting to arrive. Some are not. I tell my customers to wait the full 8 weeks before offering a refund. I have recently switched to doing only Priority for international orders (except Canada, no problem there yet). This whole holiday fiasco was just too much, things have been moving terribly slow everywhere. I sent hundreds of international orders this year, it's a pain for myself and my customers.

Just be very polite and kindly ask for their patience, I tell my customers I will immediately refund their order if it has not arrived after 8 weeks. I also always email the customs # when shipping and inform them it can take up to 8 weeks. Hope this helps!

[BlueDaisySky]

Do you just refund item cost and not shipping?

[Former_Member]

I wouldn't expect a customer to pay for shipping on an item they never received.

[Former_Member]

Thank you all for your replies! I will contact the customer and ask for a bit more patience, and let her know to check with customs. You have all been very helpul.

[beevintageredux]

Oh, wow, I was just coming into the forums to ask the EXACT same question! I also mailed my package on the 9th. I've shipped to Australia several times before, and have usually had the items arrive within 2 weeks max. I'm wondering if there was some sort of mass mailing of packages colgging up the works ;)
I'd like to piggyback Maryka's thank you. My morning isn't looking so craptastic anymore.