Woo Hoo I got tracking numbers!!

[Tony Miles]

The drama of the kilt ordered and paid for last September may soon come to an end. It shipped yesterday but I'm not sure how long it takes from Scotland? It's coming through regular mail.

[GMan]

Nice feeling isn't it?

[Dan R Porter]

It takes 8-12 weeks from scotland...

[Kilt_Em_All]

It takes 8-12 weeks from scotland...

8-12 weeks? Are they using canoes?

-Elliott

[ForresterModern]

I think Dan is jerking your chain a wee bit. If it is coming Royal Mails or Parcel Force it will usually take about 10-14 days, plus possible delay in Customs for inspection and possible tariff assessment. If you got tracking numbers, and they are not from FeDex or UPS or DHL then it is likely Parcel Force. As I said their big delay is the time it takes to clear customs, and whether you get dinged with any customs tariffs to pay.

If you got Fedex tracking numbers be prepared to not only pay the customs tariff but an additional Fedex handling fee. Just the way they do business. That is why most of us specify Royal Mail if possible for our Scotland orders, unless you are in a mighty hurry.

Good luck.
Pics are in order when it arrives.

j

[Tony Miles]

It's Royal Mail - Tariffs?? - you mean I met stuck paying even more??

[Na Heilthirich]

Congrats, Tony.

Hopefully we'll get the old thread back soon!

[ForresterModern]

It's Royal Mail - Tariffs?? - you mean I met stuck paying even more??

Royal Mail is generally a good sign as they are the least likely to enforce customs tariffs. That said, the shipper has to put a valuation sticker on the outside of the package that states the item specifically (in this case presumably wool Kilt) and the valuation (theoretically what you paid them for it, although sometimes shippers are nice and undervalue things for you). Depending on that valuation, and the fact that you are receiving finished goods (customs regs are extremely confusing here) you may still be assessed an import tariff as a percentage of the value of the item(s) imported in that shipment. Generally, finished fabric goods could be tariffed at up to 17.5% of their value, although in my experience and discussing it with others it may go through clean with no tariffs (typical for Royal Mail) or get hit with anything in between nothing and the 17.5%, in which case they will contact you to pay the tariff, usually after releasing the item for delivery.

Again, good luck. Pics are required, or it never happened.


Oh, one more thing. Those tracking numbers for Royal Mail are generally only good until the package hits customs, then it will simply state the last place it was in the chain up to that point, i.e., that it made it to customs at whatever port. You will not know when it leaves customs, and after that it enters the USPS system where they do not track oversees packages. So expect an indeterminate blackout period after tracking says it is in customs, as the customs guys may take their time getting around to releasing it, then it has to wind through the USPS and will probably need to be signed for upon delivery. If you get dinged with tariffs, they will either call you to pay them while it is still in customs (unusual) or you will be invoiced by mail after the package arrives. So don't be surprised if some days or weeks after your beauty is already on your hips a letter arrives from customs demanding a tariff payment, but it is unlikely.

[KFCarter]

I've had great luck (touch wood) with a number of Royal Mail packages, only one of which took more than a week from Scotland to Savannah, and that one only 9 days.

But, oh boy, those last few days can crawl by!

[SteveB]

When a Royal Mail package leaves customs and is picked up by the USPS it is scanned into the system. Sometimes the USPS adds "RM" in front of the number.I have followed packages from Scotland allthe way to my door through the tracking systems. Rarely does a Royal Post with tracking not get into the USPS system.