Aliexpress changed rules, now sellers have to provide tracking number. Those who do this have to take some extra money, others dont provide it and still use most cheap shipping way (I think most of this group will be blocked by ali, but due enormous amount of sellers this can continue several years more).
The shipping costs were coming from the likes of Gearbest.
I noticed something of a slowdown lately, usually at handoffs between different carriers. I had one from GB that was going to PostNord (Sweden), and it languished for over a week before getting my first email from PN.
With all the miscellaneous flash sales and coupons and such from GB, I’ve been going crazy with 1-off orders, as little as a 99¢ USB hub thingy. I’m not about to pay 3bux for shipping and insurance, so I picked free shipping. I got a few things from Azerbaijan Post just fine, so hopefully these will make it, too.
But yeah, last year was averaging about 4wks to get my goodies, as little as 2-3wks in the middle of the year, but now, it’s a month or so again, and seems to be stretching.
Worse, sometimes tracking numbers don’t even match! Some S2+es I ordered had tracking number A, and I just got it today with tracking number B, completely different. So I’m not even sure how that happened.
Now, sometimes Int’l Bridge would get different USPS numbers. One’s assigned to it initially, the “wishful thinking” tracking number, but then when it makes the actual handoff in Huntsville or wherever, it get a new/different one. So I have to refer back to the IB site to get the new USPS number (which does get updated, interestingly enough), but if I requested email status-updates for the first USPS number, they just stop at a certain point, and then the request re the second USPS number will work flawlessly. The previous case was just number A with no updates, even now, after-the-fact (still in “pre-shipment” or whatever), then it arrives with number B today.
So, fingers crossed…
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Oh, even with ostensibly untracked numbers from AzPost, if you plug it into… 17track or trackingmore, one of them… it’ll kindasorta work. I have no idea what the messages mean, though. Something “left-hand” whatever? At least it’s some clue. 
In my country, I don’t know if you can call it “deteriorating service”, but they have a new tracking info…which is “Unsuccessful Delivery”.
Once I see this tracking info, it’s time to go to pick it up myself at the post office (for they never deliver!)
I live in a building with a doorman, so there is never not anyone to take the mail, so I mentally switch “unsuccessful delivery” with “it was forgotten and overlooked on some corner of the post office van”
Q: Anyone with experience with BPost International, if they ship lithium-ion batteries internationally (specifically Southeast Asia country)?
background:
I’m new to ordering online (just started this year), so far I’ve tried AliExpress and Banggood. I’m in Southeast Asia (Philippines), so China is just nearby.
I got interested with USB meters this year, and through online research came across HKJ’s various reviews, and chanced upon this forum. I’ve also started to get interested with flashlights, and therefore 18650 batteries.
So one thing lead to another, and now I’m in the market looking for 18650 batteries. There seem to be very few 18650 battery sellers here in our country (either generic / brand-less ones; with mislabeled capacities or unknown max discharge rating) or are too expensive (~US$20+ for 1pc 3500mAh branded battery).
Since I’m just trying out ordering batteries (having read about international air shipping restrictions), I only ordered a few from an AliExpress seller at first (the package isn’t in my hands yet, but has already arrived in the country, and is undergoing customs exam — it used Turkey Post shipping).
I also tried ordering from Banggood (it was “on sale” a few weeks ago); but parcel didn’t seem to fare well with shipping (it probably wasn’t boarded to the airline), because registered tracking only references it being shipped and no further updates for 4 weeks. I have raised the issue to Banggood (BG) and at first BG said they will re-send the parcel, then the next day, they backtracked and said that “no shipping method” is currently available (shipping method had been available last month when I ordered it), so they will just refund it.
Now, I tried to order a few more 18650 batteries from an AliExpress seller. I thought the seller was going to use Turkey Post (which seemed to work, as per above). But the seller gave me a tracking number, which is BPost International (“RGxxxxxxxxxxBE” type of tracking #). I’d hate to wait another 4 weeks before finding out that the shipment has to be refunded because batteries are prohibited…
slowdowns for sure when it comes to getting stuff from china now, i have a few things from ebay almost 1 month old, still nothing usually i get stuff within 2 weeks or so, not sure whats going on…
Haven’t noticed any change myself - stuff from sellers on Aliexpress and EBay is generally coming from China to Scotland within the usual 2-3 weeks. Same goes for Banggood.