I need help with a small matter please.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:33 pm

I'm sure you have probably read my thread about a troublesome bidder I had on eBay. I eventually made the decision to ship the cel to this person after they finally made payment. Things were going smoothly since the buyer was becoming very cooperative and communications were going really well.

Today I received an email from the buyer that I'm somewhat confused about.

I mail you because i received a letter from Chronopost/Usps.
Told me that the package was blocked at the custom office :s
You have to call them and let them your identity and proof of your send.
It's the first time i had customs.

Thanks to let me know what i have to do.

I'm not sure what I need to do for this person. I thought someone here may know if they've experienced this before. I shipped the package Express Mail International (EMS) with a customs form attached. I've never had trouble with customs holding packages from my buyers in the past.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:37 pm

Here is a page I just used for checking the status of the package:
http://www.us.chronopost.com/web/en/tra ... &x=14&y=10

Are they suspicious of my package? Why hold it for investigation?

Missing invoice???

lcatino · Post by **lcatino** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:47 pm

I have no idea why customs would hold the package. It looks like there is a customer service link on that webpage. I would contact the customer service either by phone or e-mail, and see what they have to say.

I hope the situation gets resolved for you soon.

Post by **JWR** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:33 pm

Looks to me that your buyer must go to customs to pickup their package, most cases customs will hold a package till the buyer pays a "import duty" based on the value declared on shipment.

I have had simular happen on shipments to europe before. Each country has their own rules.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:54 pm

Ok, thanks.

I'll send an email letting him know he must go there. Would he need to go to his local post office for this or is there a special facility he would need to go to?

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:09 am

I've had this experience before with Canada. For some reason, the postal system up there really likes to go after incoming packages marked 'gift'. I'm guessing that Canada gets a good source of its revenue from verifying whether or not an item is a gift, and if not, to charge duty on it.

In the past, I've had to send an email stating my name and the purpose of the gift, etc.

I'm sure by now the Canadian authorities think I have a lot of cousins.

"Honest officer, it's my second cousin twice removed on my great aunt's side!"

Nene · Post by **Nene** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:30 pm

I know some customs officials in Europe can be really officious, even if the value declared is a low one. I'd just ask what verification the buyer needs from the sender and if they don't know, they should give the postal carrier a ring. They can't expect you to contact the carrier in their country, even if you are the sender. If they needed verification it was a gift, I'd be willing to do so. Anything to escape customs tax. XD