Goodbye, stuck in US customs or still hope?

[paul.co]

Hey guys! Long story short, I got two watches (two different packages) sent from EU to a friend of mine in US and latest tracking info looks like this:

[date]: On The Way - Your package is pending release from a Government Agency. Once they release it, your package will be on its way.

Nothing changed for almost 2.5 weeks and I’m losing hope. Tried to call UPS but they haven’t provided any info other than the fact they are “investigating it”.

Is there a way to find and reach out to that Government Agency or are they lost forever? Anyone experienced something similar?

Thanks,

 

[TESLA760]

UPS or USPS ? I have had watches sit in Customs for almost a month before being released.

 

[paul.co]

UPS or USPS ? I have had watches sit in Customs for almost a month before being released.

Thanks, in my case it was UPS. Have they requested anything else for the clearance process it just went through?

 

[paul.co]

I forgot to add this to my initial post, but both watches were declared as “service return” and they had the commercial invoice for a value of rought $30

 

[TESLA760]

Thanks, in my case it was UPS. Have they requested anything else for the clearance process it just went through?

I don't recall every receiving a shipment through UPS for a rep item. Therefore I cannot opine on their clearance methods.

 

[paul.co]

I don't recall every receiving a shipment through UPS for a rep item. Therefore I cannot opine on their clearance methods.

Thanks, this really gave me a bit of hope. I might be wrong but I think the customs agencies offices themselves are not linked to particular shippint companies, so it might be the same procedure for USPS/UPS/FedEx/DHL

 

[Karbon74]

UPS “Your Package is Pending Release from a Government Agency” - MAILBOX MASTER

You’re expecting an international delivery from UPS and have received a “Your Package is Pending Release from a Government Agency” tracking update.

mailboxmaster.net

 

[Karbon74]

mentally prepare yourself to lose it
if you get it, then pleasant surprise

 

[paul.co]

mentally prepare yourself to lose it
if you get it, then pleasant surprise

Damn…

 

[paul.co]

UPDATE on the situation: The watch has been confiscated by US customs… it was safely packed, marked as a service return, valued at $30

 

[tomriddle]

UPDATE on the situation: The watch has been confiscated by US customs… it was safely packed, marked as a service return, valued at $30

luck of the draw brother they got yours

ouch

 

[bhehe6813]

UPDATE on the situation: The watch has been confiscated by US customs… it was safely packed, marked as a service return, valued at $30

They open x number of packages at random, the declaration doesn't matter. The declaration might get it flagged for something else, but it sounds like you just got unlucky they opened yours.

 

[Karbon74]

at least it's "just" confiscated and they are not coming after you

silver lining.

Sorry for your loss, friend

 

[bhehe6813]

at least it's "just" confiscated and they are not coming after you

silver lining.

Sorry for your loss, friend

You don't get in trouble in the US for this. It's called a love letter, OP will or already did get one in the mail saying the package has something illegal/not allowed to import.

I've never heard of a non vendor getting in trouble for importing small amounts of drugs even, let alone one replica watch, it's a hard case for them to prove that you actually bought that.

I remember my dad got 2 or 3 of these importing Cuban cigars that were cross shipped to Gibraltar of all places.

That being said it's technically illegal last I checked, but again, never heard of any prosecution on any forums or subreddits for personal amounts of replica watches, replica clothes, cigars, etc lol. They just confiscate it instead.

 

[bhehe6813]

Damn…

did your seller guarantee customs clearance or at least cover 50%? I think all the tds do, most non-site dealers do as well.

 

[j21]

I forgot to add this to my initial post, but both watches were declared as “service return” and they had the commercial invoice for a value of rought $30

This declaration raised a red flag(customs didn't liked it) and the rest followed...
Shipping without knowing how to properly fill the customs declaration should be avoided, and seller should stick shipping inside eu only

 

[Kerbus]

The last rep I ordered didn’t even look like it came from overseas even though it did. It was cleverly labeled from a domestic address

 

[paul.co]

This declaration raised a red flag(customs didn't liked it) and the rest followed...
Shipping without knowing how to properly fill the customs declaration should be avoided, and seller should stick shipping inside eu only

What exactly do you think raised a red flag? The package already got the clearance from EU customs prior to reaching the US and had no issues there.
What would be the proper way to fill that in? Just to know what to avoid for the future.

The last rep I ordered didn’t even look like it came from overseas even though it did. It was cleverly labeled from a domestic address

That’s interesting but I’m curious how that’s done. Can you provide more info on this?
I’m really curious how this is done as even though it’s labeled from a domestic address it will still get through customs (I believe) since it literally/physically comes from a route outside of the US.

 

[bhehe6813]

What exactly do you think raised a red flag? The package already got the clearance from EU customs prior to reaching the US and had no issues there.
What would be the proper way to fill that in? Just to know what to avoid for the future.

That’s interesting but I’m curious how that’s done. Can you provide more info on this?
I’m really curious how this is done as even though it’s labeled from a domestic address it will still get through customs (I believe) since it literally/physically comes from a route outside of the US.

They ship to a reshipper in the US, reshipper ships to you. Why? No idea.

Also it's not like the from section on the package means anything at all to mail companies or customs. It's only used for sending a package back. All packages have a origin marker/sticker/stamp on them or it's on the label itself. This is a location code that has no relation to the from address.

You should also keep in mind every x packages are opened at random in US customs, it would be insanely bad luck to be one of these random searches, but it can happen.

Comparing customs between two countries is pointless, you don't know what kind of tech or decisions one of them is using vs the other.

 

[Karbon74]

What exactly do you think raised a red flag?

IMHO it was "SERVICE RETURN"
the customs declaration has to describe the physical object that is in the parcel and the estimated trade value

It would have been better to put
TIMER or WATCH PARTS
with a note inside saying "watch does not work well, for repairs or parts"

That said, I made the choice to only sell in EU. You never know if the parcel will be randomly checked, and I don't want to handle the distress of a buyer not getting his watch.