Delayed shipping - When to call it a day?

agnes

agnes

agnes

Soldato
Joined
1 Dec 2006
Posts
16,863
Location
Amsterdam, NL
Looking for a bit of advice, I ordered 3x Burson Audio v6 op-amps direct from them back on the 30th March. The shipment confirmation came through within a day and several weeks later, it never moved from departing Singapore. To this day it's still stuck in Singapore. I did pay $18 extra for express posting.

I started communications with the company and expressed concern to which they told me that Singapore Post is having some issues and they will get an update. Fast forward another week (last week) I had lost my patience and asked for a refund as it was clear the package had been lost in Sinapore Post (the package is no bigger than a few lego blocks for reference).

Eventually they simply said they had sent out another package but this time with FedEx Express (as per my original order) which was back on Thursday last week with FedEx stating a expected delivery date to me (here in California) for today at 1030 am. It's now Monday, 0820 and according to the tracking they have yet to even receive the package because it's still only in the stage of shipping information received.

Unless FedEx have teleportation potential to get this envelope to me from Singapore within 2 hours, It's just not going to happen. It's currently midday over there so surely it must have been updated their side by now.

I did order through my credit card, at this point, if by the end of today no update on either of the tracking items. I'm seriously tempted to just charge back and cut all communications.

The company is Aus based but operate out of Hong Kong, they have great reputation and the person I've been speaking with is super reasonable and understanding.

With Covid being the thing at the moment, I've been fairly happy to give this some leniency, but when is it enough? I feel as throw I've just thrown $180 down the drain.

What would you do?
 
I'd keep waiting, loads of things have been delayed massively. It's not a fault of the seller I don't think.

I'm expecting things from 3 weeks ago and that only local post.
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Depends if you can source them elsewhere
And at roughly the same price
And how quickly would somewhere else get them to you
Click to expand...

Already checked, they are more of a made by order sort of thing it seems. There are some listings on ebay either from Germany but it would be a lot more expensive as the order directly from the company is for a package of 3 from a special, where as normally they come in a pair. Basically, if I find another place to order from, they are very likely to be second hand and about $50-$60 more at minimum.

And as far as I can tell, there is zero availability in the US. They are a specialist item.
 
Given the current state of things I'd give it a few days for FedEx to get it to you - I'd had all kinds of varied shipping updates lately that aren't in sync with what the courier is actually doing due to current situation.
 
agnes said:
Already checked, they are more of a made by order sort of thing it seems. There are some listings on ebay either from Germany but it would be a lot more expensive as the order directly from the company is for a package of 3 from a special, where as normally they come in a pair. Basically, if I find another place to order from, they are very likely to be second hand and about $50-$60 more at minimum.
Click to expand...
Not good then
I would be asking for some sort of good will gesture because of the delay
Very least they should do is refund your
Postage costs
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Not good then
I would be asking for some sort of good will gesture because of the delay
Very least they should do is refund your
Postage costs
Click to expand...

Aye, the good will gesture at this time is them sending the second order with good faith that I will return the original order if they ever show up.
 
Given the current state of world wide shipping I'm not surprised by anything at the moment. I've had several things disappear in Japan Post for several weeks before being returned to the Vendor as they'd stopped basic shipping to the UK.

Fortunately the Vendor I'm dealing with are being very reasonable and are either talking to you about upgrading shipping method or holding things until the normal shipping method is available again, whichever you prefer.
 
I've been ordering stuff from all over the world at the moment. One thing coming from the states is about 3 weeks so far. Got stuck in customs I think, but then at the same time I've had stuff arrive quicker from EU and then stuff take a long time from EU. Mixed bag. I think it just really depends. Still waiting on something and fedex site says it left LA 20th April. No sign yet!
 
Tracking on parcels at the minute is nearly pointless. Here in the UK RoyalMail even on their Special Delivery items aren't scanning parcels in the way thy normally would so tracking is limited or non-existent Ive had parcels in the past from Germany to northern Ireland arrive in 2 days, but yet similar sized items can take 2+ days even to arrive from mainland England.

https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/f...nloads/fedex-covid-service-update-en-apac.pdf
 
Its a nightmare at the moment for obvious reasons. Personally I'm avoiding anywhere that won't let you cancel online as trying to get through to customer services is nigh on impossible if anything goes wrong. Been waiting over two weeks for something from within the UK after its over a week late store now says "out of stock" no date avaialble only an email update "we'll let you know when its available". Well I finally snapped decided to cancel spent an hour waiting in a queue on the phone had to redial once as got disconnected finally got through to someone in India I think - she said she'd noted it and would escalate - thats the best I can hope for at present. Well known high street store too. (George via Asda)

edit: had to do a proper escalation via PayPal to get a cancel and refund! Bloody heck. Won't be using them again.
 
Last edited:
I'm quite surprised there's so many delays - on the Express side most services are still operating OK aside from some surcharges being imposed by the carriers.

DHL seems to be the most reliable currently - only some far off destinations like Australia are seeing some delays. Mostly next day within EU as usual

And FedEx are still managing their next day service to US without many delays.
 
I know someone that works at the Post Office and she said they have pallets of parcels that are awaiting sorting. Many are also from Amazon as they are using the Post instead if their drivers.

I was waiting for an order from China that was coming up to the end of the date I could claim so I sent a note to the seller and they said put a claim in. They refunded me the same day yet I expect it will turn up eventually.
 
every courier and parcel service is creaking at the moment, i work for one of the big ones in the UK and we're running about 50% beyond what we would see at christmas time couple that with social distancing measures being implemented which causes all sorts of issues and a severe shortage of staff due to so many people self isolating, its a challenging time for anyone involved in logistics and shipping,

that said i just had a delivery this morning from Germany within 48 hours so there is and plenty of stuff is still going out next day within the uk so whilst you should expect some delays it shouldnt be at the level you;ve experienced
 
Ordered a usb stick from OcUk on Easter Monday and was dispatched the same day via free postage.


It arrived this morning.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom