Walk me through shipping from China

My first order “direct from China”… can anybody tell me the process of how/what/where something gets from a factory there to my doorstep here. I’d like to know about transportation, customs, etc…

Attached is the tracking page from my Banggood order… what does it mean?


Latest Update: Oct 08, 2015
10:04
Processed Through Sort FacilityCHINA SHENZHEN EMS

Oct 07, 2015
15:06
AcceptanceCHINA

Oct 06, 2015
15:18
Processed Through Sort FacilityFLYTEXPRESS-CN
10:22
AcceptanceFLYTEXPRESS-CN

Sep 25, 2015
02:02
Shipping information recievedCustomer

yours has more updates than I’m used to seeing, what shipping service did you use?

Normally you’ll get something like

- Acceptance (or just Chinese characters)

- Processed through sort facility (in China)

- long wait for the plane or boat to travel and go through customs

  • Processed through sort facility (in US)

then normal tracking from domestic hub to post office, etc.

That’s what I get with ChinaPost or epacket shipments.

Once it’s out of the hands of the Chinese mail, then you should look at your local mail service’s tracking.

My experience is that I can see weeks go by between the time notice is sent from the Chinese side to the US Mail side to expect a package, and the US side reports they got notice to expect a package.

I’d guess that means it’s in transit and doesn’t get into the hands of the US Mail until the plane arrives or the boat docks.

Then nothing, and more nothing — never any confirmation the package actually even went anywhere — until days or weeks later, suddelly I get a bunch of messages all at once from the USPS saying it has passed through several different sorting locations in the past few days and will be delivered soon.

Hmmmnnn… sounds great. Looks like planning ahead is the key. I didnt choose any special shipping, just whatever the default is for the $25 group buy.

Like others are saying, there’s really no good way to track a package from China. You’ve just basically gotta hold on and have faith. Its a strange sensation for those of us used to buying from US places, especially sites like Amazon that are always right on top of things.

One thing you can try - on that Banggood page, click the “Order Information” tab. On that page will be a “Track Number” listing that is actually a link, although Banggood’s CSS tries to hide that for some reason. Click the track number and it’ll take you to a service called 17track.net, which may give you some more information. Once your package has actually made it to US shores, you can paste that same funky looking tracking number into the USPS page for updates, including an estimated delivery time.

My experience describe above is using “17track.net

so below I change the punctuation slightly — this is what I’ve seen:

17track.net … may give you some more information once your package has actually made it to US shores … but likely nothing before that”

Order, give up, forget you ordered, and then eventually it will arrive, most of the time. Sorry, but it just takes a lot of time and patience.

Just the way these things are with almost all of the Chinese “mega-stores”. If you want better speed and/or certainty then you have to go with the (more expensive) express shipping option. And don’t count on customer service from them; instead rely on paypal or your bank’s policy regarding cancelling payments. It seems that only when the money will disappear that these stores begin to pay attention to you. China Post is notorious for inconsistent shipping; they’re usually quite slow and have no idea where your package is. Partial refunds in the form of store credit is the usual ruse when goods are damaged or wrong, and shipping into China is costly by design to protect their industries making returns financially unacceptable.

Cover your own assets, do not trust the ‘mega-stores’ to be there helping you when you need them. Ain’t gonna happen :frowning:

Other than slow shipping and poor packing I’ve been lucky so far. I don’t hesitate to use them but I won’t spend more than I can afford to lose on one order. With fingers crossed,

Phil

  1. Order your item :slight_smile:
  2. Next day, the store marks your item as shipped. :bigsmile:
  3. Week to a month later, they actually ship your item. :expressionless:
    4a: If untracked, proceed to 5. :zipper_mouth_face:
    4b. If tracked, you get some mostly un-useful tracking updates on the china side.
  4. Package enters blackhole. :ghost:
  5. Depending on the current mood of the god poseidon package is either lost or lands in your country.
  6. Package swings by customs blackhole. If you roll an odd number on your 12 sided die your package enters customs blackhole. :ghost:
  7. Package arrives on you doorstep. You struggle to recall what you ordered. :~
  8. Next day, tracking still shows not delivered yet.

1) Place an order
2) Pray for 3-6 weeks
3) Order arrives half opened, crushed and looks nothing like the pictures.
4) Convince PayPal to refund your money

Rinse and repeat. If your item arrives unscathed, and as depicted on the website, take a picture of it…. because it’s a real life unicorn.

Horror stories do occur but in my experience it’s just slow(like rowboat across the Pacific slow). I figure on 6-8 weeks for most things.

Spot on :smiley:

^ yeah pretty much. Even a Chinese site that gives you information like you show I have found most of the time is inaccurate in what they show, I’ll get stuff that says its shipped but I find a different date its actually shipped on on the package, or they never shipped it, stuff that doesn’t say shipped that I’m waiting for to say shipped and suddenly it arrives, a package that is shipped earlier gets here weeks later than one ordered weeks later, you just never can be certain, its best to do what cabfrank said, but add a reminder to check back later.

The chinese parcel tracking isnt as bad anymore as it was years ago. As you can see, its nowadays pretty detailed.
The point from when my packages “disappear” is, when they get into the hand of DHL/German Post, tracking doesnt gets updated, or packages show up in tracking out of nowhere and so on.

Plus, what i can see from when the tracking is working: packages take often just 3-4 days after order to arrive in germany ……… . but then stuck at customs for weeks!

1. Order.
2. Forget about order.
3. Have a nice surprise when package arrive.

From what I see, it’s on it’s way to USJFK airport. It will show up next as Arrived at ISC NEW YORK NY (USPS) and after that a Processed through USPS Sort Facility (New York, NY or Jamaica, NY ?).

Since it’s on the move, you should start tracking it at USPS. I usually subscribe to USPS email alerts to keep me updated.

Let us know if USPS tracking is working for you now.

i always think of shipping from china like …
Ron Popeil says when describing the Ronco rotisserie grill on his TV infomercial , “Just set it …and forget it ” …
start wondering where your stuff is at about day 23 .
Never pay for tracking …if you do you’re already setting yourself up for disappointment .
always assume a 7% overall loss over time…just factor that into your buying decision.
Don’t get preachy or in depth with how they should re-structure their entire business model when asking for a refund or if you have an issue .
Settle quickly and if you can always take a halfway reasonable offer from them … just to save your own sanity .
worst thing you can do is assume they will act like you think they ought to .
Be aware that vendors can go from wonderful to horrible over night …(fasttech )
Roll your dice and take your chances .Odds are very good you’ll have some very good results spending money overseas

Not recommended but:
2a. Remembered your order was way past stated 40 days free shipping
2b. Open dispute
2c. Won and received refunds.
2d. Forget about it
2e. ???
3. Have a nice surprise when package arrive.

I felt guilty doing that but things get too slow and this sometimes happens.

Small items don’t usually have tracking unless you pay for it. I have been waiting for six weeks for a Nut Light from Banggood.
I ordered some little magnets from Deal Extreme that never came. I complained after a couple of months and they sent them again, but those never came either. Then they suggested I add $1.75 for tracking the third shipment, and it did arrive.
If there is tracking, the USPS will usually show “preparing shipment” within a few days, and then you can have them send email updates.
When it takes so long I don’t have any project to work on, I order parts from Illumination Supply and pick them up in San Jose.
I think it gets slower in the fall when stores are stocking up for Xmas.

Arrived today… 11 days shipping time, guess I got lucky. Here are all the tracking updates I received. As expected, as soon as it hit CONUS, I was able to track to my door. This was for the BLF A6 Flashlight Group Buy from Banggood.

SYNOPSIS
24 Sep: Order placed
29 Sep: Notice of backorder (gave me the option of continuing order or cancel, very nice)
06 Oct: Notice that package shipped
08 Oct: Tracking shows it leaving China
15 Oct: Tracking shows it in New York
17 Oct: My mailbox

ACTUAL TRACKING
Oct 17, 2015 09:19 Delivered, In/At Mailbox, Your item was delivered in or at the mailbox at 9:19 am on October 17, 2015 in VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455. VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455
Oct 17, 2015 08:34 Sorting Complete VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455
Oct 17, 2015 06:23 Arrived at Unit VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23455
Oct 17, 2015 00:06 Departed USPS Facility NORFOLK, VA 23501
Oct 16, 2015 22:43 Arrived at USPS Destination Facility NORFOLK, VA 23501
Oct 15, 2015 20:01 Departed USPS Facility FLUSHING, NY 11351
Oct 15, 2015 09:13 Arrived at USPS Facility FLUSHING, NY 11351

Oct 08, 2015 10:04 Processed Through Sort FacilityCHINA SHENZHEN EMS
Oct 07, 2015 15:06 AcceptanceCHINA
Oct 06, 2015 15:18 Processed Through Sort FacilityFLYTEXPRESS-CN
Oct 06, 2015 10:22 AcceptanceFLYTEXPRESS-CN
Sep 25, 2015 02:02 Shipping information recievedCustomer