Blog

  • 2020 Year End Widespread USPS Mail Delays

    Posted on 18 Dec 2020 03:06

    All USPS serives are seeing huge delays, if your package is shipped with USPS, please allow more time for it to arrive.

  • COVID-19 Impacts Mail Delivery

    Posted on 18 Dec 2020 03:02

    Domestic Buyer,

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on transportation availability, both USPS First-Class package service and USPS Priority Mail service will experience delay. Current delivery window spans anywhere from 3 days to 15 days for USPS FC and 3 days to 9 days for USPS PM. If your order is in a rush, please consider using USPS Priority Mail Express service and request for invoice.

    International Buyer,

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on USPS delivery to customers outside the United States, both USPS First-Class International and USPS Priority Mail International service will experience delay. Current delivery window spans anywhere from a month to several months for USPS FC International and 3 weeks to 2 months for USPS PM International. If your order is in a rush, please consider using FedEx International Economy service and note such when placing order. Customers from Canada can also request using UPS Standard as an alternative.

  • Understanding Custom Duties for Buying International

    Posted on 18 Dec 2020 02:56

    Its important that you as a buyer understand your own country's rules and regulations about making purchases from another country.  Some countries are very thorough about checking the incoming packages' values and issuing customs fees. For example, the UK is very strict about their limit of £15!  If your order is more, they charge a percentage plus an "Administrative fee" to collect it from you! The EU generously allows up to €150 without duties. Other counties are very lax about enforcement. Canada technically requires customs dutues on packages from the US, but rarely actually attempts to collect it from the recipient on packages under $100. We are required by US law to declare all orders at the net total amount and classified as "merchandise". We cannot falsify the amount or mark it as "gift".

    Here are some external references if you are unsure about what your country requires.

    http://www.dutycalculator.com/help_center/Import-duty-and-taxes-explained-in-a-nutshell/ - General information about duties and a caclulator for most countries

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs - General information about customs

    http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/tax-and-duty.htm - UK specific information

    http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html - Canada specific information

    http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/buying_online/buying_goods/within_non_eu_en.htm - EU specific information