Stay with UPS??

[daved]

It seems like the shipments that are currently held up in customs are being shipped via UPS.

My ordered system has yet to be shipped (much less made) and I am wondering if I should pay the extra amount to get FedEx.

Has anyone experienced customs delays with FedEx? Perhaps with express shipping the unit is sent as a single unit (rather than as a case lot) and it might get through customs more quickly?

-Dave

[DIGITALgimpus]

Not through IBM, but I've had lengthy FedEx delays as well.

It's not the shippers fault. It's US customs, and their low budget (hence low resources for clearing items through). It's partially seasonal too. I've had more trouble from Oct-Dec than other times of the year. My bet is that there are more shipments to the US in those months for the holidays, hence bigger delays.

[jeffcrilly]

A couple weeks ago a colleague here at work (SF Bay Area) ordered something from china.

It came in two days.

If _all_ shipments to this country were delayed in customs (seasonal, whatever) we'd hear more about it.

Imo, this is a Lenovo problem, and possibly a UPS problem.

My ordered system has yet to be shipped (much less made) and I am wondering if I should pay the extra amount to get FedEx.

I'm contemplating the same thing -- order _another_ laptop and get a different shipper, and _pay_ for the shipping. If it comes to that, my plan is to contact the sales guy and just ask.

Btw, I _would_ order from a stocking dealer in the US, but it appears not many dealers stock the 1400x1050 display machines (with the config I'm looking for - 60gb 7200rpm, fprt reader, bluetooth, etc.)

jeff

[DIGITALgimpus]

They don't check every package. It's likely partially random, and partially based on some secret formula (perhaps size, contents, country of origin, etc).

So yes, not all will be delayed... But some will, if they end up getting tagged for checking. IIRC they estimate to check 10% of cargo coming into the US. That was about a year ago when they did a big story on cargo containers and national security.

IBM doesn't have any way of controlling what customs does. Nor does FedEx. It's cleared when the US clears it.

Want to complain: email your senator. And join the club. Many companies have been going through this problem for the past few years. Security isn't taken as lightly as it used to. It's just a fact of life. If you need something ASAP, don't order from overseas. If you do, be prepaired to possibly wait a few extra days.

[jeffcrilly]

Well.. yes, this problem has been a problem for some time. Most of what I've read is that there are "paperwork" problems... e.g. the paperwork is incomplete for a shipment, and it needs to be "redone" before customs will clear the shipment.
Just do a google search for "USCustoms Lenovo" and you'll turn up jewels like this story about a delayed X41 tablet or this tablet stuck in kentucky.

I do not disagree that there is some algorithm used for selecting packages for inspection, etc, but if indeed this was a "US Customs is delaying random shipments", then I'd not expect so many Lenovo complaints, statistically speaking. Also, if indeed this is such a simple issue as US Customs delaying shipments, then why doesnt Lenovo just note this on the shipping estimate? If it was _my_ company and _my_ customers, I'd be on top of the status of every one of those shipments that are in the "10%". But when you call lenovo on this, you get told _exactly_ what it says on the UPSTrack website... plus a bit of waffling/stonewalling.

Yes IBM, err Lenovo, doesnt have any way of controlling what customs does... but if Lenovo had their ducks in a row re USCustoms, I doubt there would be so many delays.

(ok. I'm venting again.)

jeff

[DIGITALgimpus]

I'm curious what companies fly through customs. Anyone I've ever dealt with has had the exact same issue. No exceptions.

Do you pay extra for these companies to speed things up? Secret password?

[GomJabbar]

How about if the 'Real reason' is to do FBI background checks on the purchasers? Or give the government time to install some rootkit spyware or keylogger or tracking device?

After all, to what purpose does it serve to delay shipments and have Lenovo's customers and UPS's customers mad at them. Neither one of these companies has any reason to delay shipments once they leave the Point Of Origin. I guess some might say it is incompetence, but I don't know. Both of these companies' livelyhood depends upon reasonably fast service. The government on the other hand......................