US Customs ate my package

[Philip]

Originally Posted by mahratt

Hi Philip.

I know for sure that my package for Robert is now located in the US Customs.

It may very well be true. However, the tracking system depends on the handlers of the mail (whether they may be working for customs or the post), scanning the parcel into the system as it moves en route. If it is scanned at the point at which it exits customs and then continues on its delivery path with the post, then that bit of info should appear on the tracking history. And so forth, as it is is transferred from one point to another on its journey to its final destination. But it has to be scanned before its movement can be recorded in the system.

What I can state from experience (I have been in the antiques business for years and do a lot of shipping) with the US post is that sometimes, shipments addressed to me have no tracking entries after the New York ISC, often for a week or more, until it finally and unexpectedly is delivered to me. Online, the impression is that it is "forever" stuck in that NY processing center because there is no subsequent entry of data. Ideally, tracking entries typically appear for each intermediary stop, for example from NY to my home in CA. But in some annoying cases, it is like a "black hole" of data and there is no idea of where the thing is until it finally shows up--and it could be the following month. And in a few instances, when I check the tracking info online after delivery, there is no record of it being delivered at all! (for shipments going via international priority or express mail, a signature is required of the person receiving it so thus the delivery is recorded electronically in the tracking system, either via the hand-held device carried by the postman, or if the delivery card with bar-code is signed manually and scanned when the mail is picked up in person at the station.

The only point I am making is that the performance of the postal network can be unpredictable because of inherent inefficiencies in the postal system as a whole. Postal tracking is not infallible, there is a human element involved. And US Customs is not necessarily the default root of delays in the mail. Due to the volume of mail, not all packages warrant the same scrutiny. It is perhaps understandable that customs inspectors want a hard look at a parcel containing, say, a revolver or a set of ivory billiard balls, but here we are talking about a currently-published book, which according to tariff regulations enters duty-free if written and published abroad.

[mahratt]

Philip
Thank you so much for such detailed information.

[ariel]

Mahratt:

Here is your post of October 6 in the Swap Forum


“In addition, to everyone who purchases my book, I send an e-mail translation of the book in English in Word format.”

Sounds like a promise to me.

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

Mahratt:

Here is your post of October 6 in the Swap Forum


“In addition, to everyone who purchases my book, I send an e-mail translation of the book in English in Word format.”

Sounds like a promise to me.

Ariel

Well now you know that this is just my little courtesy for those forum members who, unlike you, do not know Russian.
Especially for you, I made an addition in my topic on the Swap forum.

[ariel]

Nothing like that was mentioned originally. Sounds like a broken promise to me.

You mention that this “courtesy” is free.
Well, if the price is right , I am willing to pay.
How much do you want?

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by ariel

Nothing like that was mentioned originally. Sounds like a broken promise to me.

You mention that this “courtesy” is free.
Well, if the price is right , I am willing to pay.
How much do you want?

I see you don't understand my bad English well. That's why I'm going to write to you both in English and in Russian, which you know very well. I don't sell English translations. I give courtesy to those participants of the forum who do not know Russian, sending them a translation of the book. I hope you understand now. And one more thing. Not all questions can be solved with money.

Я вижу Вы плохо понимаете мой плохой английский. Поэтому напишу Вам и на английском языке и на русском языке, который Вы точно хорошо знаете. Я не продаю перевод книги на английский язык. Я оказываю любезность тем участникам форума, которые не знают русский язык, отправляя им перевод книги. Надеюсь теперь Вы поняли. И ещё один момент. Не все вопросы можно решить при помощи денег.

[ariel]

Duplicate. Sorry, the button on my iPad overreacted:-)

[ariel]

Got it: you just do not want me under any circumstances to have English translation of your book. Why, is of course your decision and your problem. But that’s OK.
Thanks for the messages.