Help: Tacking International Packages

[Ziggy]

Long story short: I shipped a SNES game (from the USA) to a forum member in the UK almost a month ago (Sept 12th). I used a small flat rate Priority Mail box. The buyer PM'ed me today and said he didn't receive it yet.

First off, is it normal for it to take this long? I don't know how long customs takes to process things in the UK. It's been 3-4 weeks so far. Is this normal?

I have the tracking number from when I shipped it. I can search the tracking number on the USPS website, but the USPS stops tracking it once it leaves the country. I realize that at this point you have to track it on the receiving country's website. Through some quick Google searches, I found that I should try the tracking number on both the Royal Air Mail and Post Force websites. I have tried both, and both sites say the tracking number is invalid or cannot be found or whatever.

Both sites said to enter a 9, 13 or 14 digit number. The number I have is 13 digits. For example, it is LJxxxxxxxxxUS (where all the x's are numbers). Just for the hell of it, I tried taking the first two and last two letters off (which makes it 9 digits) but that didn't work either.

So, can any one tell me how the receiver in the UK can track this package? I told him to call or go down to his local post office with the tracking number and ask them, but I'd like to know for myself.

@ mods: Perhaps if this thread turns out to provide useful information regarding this matter it can be stickied in the BST section. I can edit the first post to contain all the useful info.

[fastbilly1]

@ mods: Perhaps if this thread turns out to provide useful information regarding this matter it can be stickied in the BST section. I can edit the first post to contain all the useful info.

Good thinking. If we get an answer we will stickey it, or add it to the BST guide

[gtmtnbiker]

I would think you should be able to enter the tracking number in the Royal Mail website once it enters the country. I had a similar experience where a package was shipped from Hong Kong with a tracking number. I used HK's website until it left the country. Then I switched to usps.com when it entered the US. It worked but it wasn't always updated daily.

[Ziggy]

If we get an answer we will stickey it, or add it to the BST guide

Ah right, I forgot about the BST guide.

I would think you should be able to enter the tracking number in the Royal Mail website once it enters the country. I had a similar experience where a package was shipped from Hong Kong with a tracking number. I used HK's website until it left the country. Then I switched to usps.com when it entered the US. It worked but it wasn't always updated daily.

Yeah, I learned of this the same way. I had something coming from Japan, and I kept checking the tracking every day on the Japan website, but it wasn't being updated. Finally after a month, I emailed the seller and asked. He told me to check the number on USPS. Sure enough, the package was waiting for me at the post office in my home town.

But still, I checked the tracking number on both UK websites and it didn't give any results. I'm hoping some one here from the UK with experience can clue me in. Maybe I'm not using the correct site?

[Demented Collector]

About 3 years ago I had some stuff sent from America to me here in the UK.

The items were sent tracked.

Once the items reached the UK they were allocated a different tracking number for the remainder of the delivery.

I can't remember how I found the new number as it was so long ago.

PM me the American tracking number and i'll do some digging on various UK postal sites.

This carrier deals with a lot of international items..

http://www.parcelforce.com/

[jinn]

Did you fill out the customs declaration form completely?
I was told that if not all items are listed, then you can run in problems.
I shipped a PSone to the UK using a flat rate box, it took just a little over a week to arrive.

[Ziggy]

Once the items reached the UK they were allocated a different tracking number for the remainder of the delivery.

Hmm, interesting. I'll have to alert the buyer to that info.

Did you fill out the customs declaration form completely?
I was told that if not all items are listed, then you can run in problems.

There was only one item, a SNES cart, and it was identified on the customs form. I probably put down "used SNES video game" or something to that effect.