Ordering from Scotland, anyone???

**Paul** · 12th March 10, 04:00 AM

Den, there is no tracking no.
With Royal Mail when you pay for tracking it is tracked in the UK only and that costs an extra £5
It was sent International Airmail, and I've sent around 50 or 60 things this way. It may have taken a while in some cases, but the items always showed up eventually.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 12th March 10, 04:54 AM

I just had two small packages sent to me (personally -- not the museum) from Scotland through regular Royal Mail. Two different packages sent by two different people. I expected both of them in about 6 to 10 days, which I think is a pretty fair average based on past experience. Both of them took longer than three weeks to get here. So I don't know, maybe something is going on either with the Royal Mail or the USPS that is delaying these international deliveries.

Haven't noticed any unusual delay in the shipments we get in for the museum gift shop, yet, but usually there we are talking about larger packages, with different kinds of customs requirements.

**SteveB** · 12th March 10, 05:01 AM

Gentlepeople,

A short while back there were some labour actions by the staff of the Royal Post. There are still labour issues with the Royal Post. This is adding a large amount of time to international shipments as the priority is much lower than for domestic mails. I have experienced four week to five week transit for letters and personal posts that were only one week in delivery before the labour actions. Please be patient, it will arrive.

**dfmacliam** · 12th March 10, 04:56 AM

When things come from the UK it is possible for them to get hung up in Customs. I bought a caubeen for NI and it took nearly a month... not saying that will always be the case, but it does happen.

I would not be upset, it's just what happens. I can honestly say, Paul has gone above and beyond, sending many forum members items via the Royal Post.

**csbdr** · 12th March 10, 05:39 AM

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.

**Paul** · 12th March 10, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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!

**RockyR** · 12th March 10, 06:17 AM

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** · 12th March 10, 06:38 AM

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** · 12th March 10, 06:52 AM

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.

**ForresterModern** · 12th March 10, 07:22 AM

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