Ordering from Scotland, anyone???

[csbdr]

I talked to Paul yesterday and he's been sick in bed, and hasn't gotten anything to the post. Give him a break, guys.

[RockyR]

BTW... MOST things that come Parcel Force or Royal Mail DO NOT get hit with US Customs duties, especially when coming from 1 individual (not compny) to another. What I typed was 'worst case scenario', which is what seems to happen to us regularly . That's the exact reason many people choose to buy from US companies when dealing in overseas goods... the company absorbs the Shipping and Customs duties.

BTW... I'm not saying ANYTHING negative about Paul. He seems like a very nice guy. Paul... if you are sick, I hope you get better soon.

[Redshank]

When I send parcels from Scotland to the States they usually take between 6-8 days, although it has been known for them to take 15 days but that is unusual.

[MacLowlife]

I too have had the benefit of Paul's enterprising nature. He did me right. Thanks again, Paul.

I too got hit by the Royal Mail labor action. The worst is the unpredictability.

I too have had packages completely lost ( from London and cheerfully refunded, by the way).

I haven't run into customs trouble on single garments, though I had to hire a broker on a lot of 100 wax jackets one time

BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS:

The GB Pound is at a dollar and a half.

[Paul]

I talked to Paul yesterday and he's been sick in bed, and hasn't gotten anything to the post. Give him a break, guys.

I'm all well and able now. I felt very poorly yesterday, but it was perhaps just something I'd eaten.
Everyone who's waiting on me posting stuff (other than the jackets), I'm going up today!

[ForresterModern]

Royal Mails can move at a glacial pace getting through customs and then on to the USPS for final delivery, and it is never predictable, unless you know there is a strike or other ongoing labor problems, in which case you can expect only a delay. ParcelForce is a bit better, but unfortunately relies on DHL as their US delivery service, and they have a less than stellar reputation (couldn't locat my address and sent back to Scotland, then lost totally, a custom weave tank this past summer, that I am still waiting to have replaced). Neither tends to get dinged with customs as long as it is not too large or expensive a package, generally under a couple hundred $ US. Plan on paying any amount of duty, no matter how small, if FEDEX is delivering your package, and also for them to tag on their own "handling" fees of about $25US per shipment, regardless of whether the actual duties owed are a couple dollars or a hundred dollars. I Have only been hit with duties twice, by two different Scotland based vendors (Heritage of Scotland and our own Scotweb) when the vendor ignored my specific request to NOT ship by Fedex at all costs, and instead, in the name of speed and security "for my interest", sent them Fedex. So two $300 kilts cost an additional $75US from HoS and one clearence kilt of about $200 value cost me an additional $69 sent from Scotweb a couple months ago. So much for saving money on buying the clearance kilt.

I have not had anything shipped from the UK by UPS for some reason, presumably because their presence there may not be as big as over here or thier prices over there may not be as competitive.

Hang in there. It will eventually show up. We all hope.

jeff

[denmcdough]

Yes, Paul is a great, young chap. He's definitely gone above and beyond the call of duty. My hat is off to you, sir!

I don't think, though, that anyone was giving him a hard time. I was just wondering why the post is so slow...has nothing to do with Paul.

Anyway, glad you're feeling better, Paul.

Den

[RockyR]

ParcelForce is a bit better, but unfortunately relies on DHL as their US delivery service, and they have a less than stellar reputation (couldn't locat my address and sent back to Scotland, then lost totally, a custom weave tank this past summer, that I am still waiting to have replaced).

It's curious that your Parcel Force package was delivered by DHL. Every package I get from Parcel Force gets delivered by US Postal Service on this side of the pond (I get 2 to 4 shipments weekly from the UK shipped via parcel force). I DO get things shipped via DHL, but they were shipped in the UK by DHL.

[Nighthawk]

If it was sent by St. Kilda (aka Gaelic Themes), then it did go via Parcel Force, which translates to USPS on this side of the pond. US Customs has been stopping a good number of our parcels lately, which adds anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to the shipment.

This is NOT meant to scare you and I hope it DOESN'T happen, but be prepared for a letter from US Customs asking you to hire a customs broker to help prepare a 'Formal Declaration'. If you do need that, it will run about $125 to hire the customs broker on top of the duty that customs charges. It won't NECESSESARILY happen, but be prepared.

Do you have the tracking #?

Are you serious? If that's the case, I need to have my uncle bring my Kilt outfit with him on the plane!

Yes, sadly, he's serious. I used to trade bootleg concert CD's and DVD's (mainly Iron Maiden) and started running into this problem after the 9/11 mess. A letter of formal declaration to receive $3 worth of burned CD-r's was just plain insane. The government seem to take any excuse to rip us off any more.

[denmcdough]

Hallelujah! The package from Scotland arrived the other day. It took almost three weeks. So, if you're in the same predicament, don't despair !