Customs clearance delays from Canada to USA

[caesar81]

Hey guys,

I'm waiting on a King V that I bought from British Columbia and has been stuck in customs for 3 days now waiting to clear.

How long can this take to clear at this time of year?

[OnlineStageGear]

3 days is not long. I have had them sit in European costoms for weeks at a time. It is just sitting there waiting for someone to do the form on it and do the rate conversions.

[Accept2]

From Canada to the US, it should clear the same day it comes in, except during Christmas time when it gets all backed up. If its longer it usually means information is missing and they are trying to get the info from the seller, or there is no broker assigned to clear the package and they are trying to get that info from the buyer.........

[caesar81]

Thanks guys, still waiting. I shot the shipping company an email to see if they have all the info they need to clear the shipment. Thanks for the suggestions ! I have a feeling it will clear very soon. Yay !

[caesar81]

Yeah right ! I'm still waiting like an ass, 8 days now and counting. I just emailed DHL to see if their brokers will get off their lazy asses and fill the damn inspection forms or whatever and get this thing moving !

[Rsmacker]

It'll turn up soon, now the weekend is over and the guitarist who works in the Customs office has gigged it!

[caesar81]

It'll turn up soon, now the weekend is over and the guitarist who works in the Customs office has gigged it!

That's probrably what happened too ! :ROTF:

[Accept2]

DHL? There's youre first problem............

[caesar81]

DHL? There's youre first problem............

It sucks man... Maybe this week will bring better news. Been 3 days now without update saying clearance delay, but I bet I know what it will say next time they do update it... Clearance delay!

[caesar81]

DHL? There's youre first problem............

They didn't update for 3 days now, wonder if that's a sign that it might clear soon? Not likely I bet.

I feel bad for people who had to wait longer than me though, customs is such a pain.




Little update, didn't want to triple post :

Well, I'll say this much for DHL, they are responsive and I always get a reply before 24 hours have passed.

I just heard from the customs broker and they sent a note to Canada to their people to expedite the guitar through customs tommorow. I should hear something by tommorow night. So I guess they're doing their broker thing to get it through then.

It's been a painful wait, but as the saying goes,"The squeeky wheel is the one that gets oiled."

BTW, in case I haven't said it before.... I hate CUSTOMS !!! :ROTF:

[caesar81]

DHL delivers !!
The reason it was stuck in customs so long was because ground shipments take forever.... customs are lazy at the border and you have to use their broker, not the shipping service broker. Never again will I use ground delivery for Canada to the US or vice versa.

Once they heard my complaint that customs was taking too long, DHL took my guitar out of the backlog and express mailed the guitar to me today and I have the beast !! And they did it for free and appologized for the delay and were always very friendly.

Now I know never to have guitars shipped ground when shipping international.With the Air express it totally bypasses customs and passes customs while airborn.

Now that's service ! DHL, you have a new customer that is very satisfied.

[Top Jimmy B]

I once had DHL deliver a guitar to me, after sitting in customs for five days, and then call me two days after I had taken possession asking if the driver could pick it up as they forgot to get clearance from customs. I think the lady was anticipating my reply.

[caesar81]

I once had DHL deliver a guitar to me, after sitting in customs for five days, and then call me two days after I had taken possession asking if the driver could pick it up as they forgot to get clearance from customs. I think the lady was anticipating my reply.

Yeah, sure..... sure you can come pick it up. :ROTF:

That's wild Jim!