Shipping times from China

[Yaworski]

Modern shipping is a wonder. In my lifetime, it went from ordering something and waiting weeks for delivery to ordering something and being upset because it takes a day to get it.

On Jan 2nd, I ordered two items on eBay. One coming from Texas and the other coming from China.

The item from Texas arrived on Jan 6th. That's pretty quick considering USPS didn't have it until the 3rd.

The product from China was given an expected delivery date of Jan 22nd. OK, it takes a while to get across the ocean. Right? Nope.

• Jan 3rd Package recieved
• Jan 4th Package arrived at and departed regional distribution center AND cleared export customs
• Jan 5th Departed China and arrived at destination hub
• Jan 6th Import customs cleared

So in three days, it made it from China to America and cleared customs. Wow! I'm going to get this thing right quick. Right. Nope.

• Jan 9th Arrived Chicago IL
• Jan 11th Arrived Columbus OH
• Jan 17th Received by Post Office Pittsburgh PA

Makes me wonder how this process works. On the Chinese end, do they bundle up tons of small packages and ship them en masse and then once they get here, they get broken apart and repackaged into crates going to different areas until finally they get passed off to the postal service for delivery?

I mailed a package to my son in California for Christmas. I mailed it on the 19th and he got it on the 23rd. So we know the USPS can get things around quickly.

Anyone have insight into the ins and outs of packages from China?

 

[jeffrefrig]

Just listen for the rocket!

 

[03hemi]

Yes, don't order anything from them.

 

[madmikeb]

Every time I've been burned on ebay it was a Chinese seller. After a couple times I stopped dealing with any Chinese sellers.

 

[Yaworski]

So, no insight on how their shipping works?

 

[ameridaddy]

I have no insight. I've received a package from China in as little as 4 days and as long as 3 weeks, and mostly somewhere in between.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I think most of the stuff from China is already here, probably in one of those big shipping containers ready to be distributed at some warehouse in 'frisco. China's a long drive.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

I don't know about China, but a couple of years back I ordered a used camera that I know was onsite in a shop in Tokyo, Japan.

I bought it at 5:00 pm on a Tuesday, and received it on my doorstep in rural Gilchrist County, Florida at 4:48 pm Thursday afternoon!

That's less than 48 hrs travel time from the other side of the world. I still don't understand how that's possible.

 

[Yaworski]

That's less than 48 hrs travel time from the other side of the world. I still don't understand how that's possible.

My daughter has a penpal in Japan and they regularly exchange packages of snacks. Usually there in a couple days.

The Japanese are very efficient. Trains being late is such an unusual occurrence that if your train is late, the station master will give you a note for your boss to explain your tardiness.

 

[venomballistics]

It's a mixed bag.
If they can air freight it ... they often will, and that will take a good chunk out of the delivery time.
Via slow boat ... it seems to be a bit over a week at sea followed by whatever time it'll have to sit off shore waiting to get docked ...

 

[lawandorder]

Don't purchase anything from China if I can help it in any way.

 

[Yaworski]

Don't purchase anything from China if I can help it in any way.

You must not have a cell phone, TV, bicycle, computer, blender . . .

 

[Yaworski]

According the tracking information, it's in my mailbox right now.

So it took twelve days to get from customs (assuming west coast) to Picksburgh.

 

[Rustyt1953]

After taking stock of my current material possessions I find that the bulk came from offshore.

We just don't have the wherewithal to be too picky about country of origin.

 

[llowry61]

According the tracking information, it's in my mailbox right now.

So it took twelve days to get from customs (assuming west coast) to Picksburgh.

Just guessing, but yes probably came to the US on large freight flight. Once it hit the US and cleared customs probably flown to the nearest hub then ground freight through delivery.

I used to work at Rickenbacker AFB south of Columbus when Flying Tigers had a hub there (subsequently bought out by Fed Ex).

They would bring in 747's and DC10's full of cargo from all over the world, off load them, break them down repack them then reload them on planes, trucks etc. based on destination.

They did this 7 nights a week. Planes came in around midnight and were all gone by 8am the next morning.

 

[Yaworski]

After taking stock of my current material possessions I find that the bulk came from offshore.

We just don't have the wherewithal to be too picky about country of origin.

Sad but true.

What I find both interesting and sad is that Taiwanese and Korean companies outsource manufacturing to China.

I also find it interesting that appliances from a Chinese owned company are made in Thailand.

 

[Doug M.]

USPS cancelled a large outside trucking contract a few weeks ago and I have no idea how they are dealing with replacing that capacity.

 

[MRB1]

If I need something from china I drive five miles to the nearest Walmart.

 

[Yaworski]

After I looked at the package and looked at the tracking number, I think that I see part of the problem. Many different hands touched it

Orangeconnect brought it to the US. Eventually UPS got involved and took it to USPS. UPS had it from the 9th to the 17th. The Postal Service didn't get their hands on it until the 17th and I got it the next day.