understanding tracking info - mentions CUSTOMS

[11sana]

I recently bought a tureen from USA and the tracking info summary reads as follows:

Tracking numberLK094177857US- opens in a new window or tabINTO CUSTOMS, Jan-07-13, 22:30 PM, CHICAGO (O'HARE) AMCMa...

What does it mean??  Can anyone please explain??  If it is in customs, should I be seeking assitance from the seller?  Thanks...

[lyndal1838]

Priority and Express Post International are ridiculously expensive Sana.  If you are buying regularly from the USA it will mount up very quickly.

Does it really matter if a parcel takes longer to arrive and is not trackable after it leaves the USA?

If a seller is willing to use First Class Airmail you really should consider it.

[11sana]

Lyndal -  point taken.  I guess each person has to consider their purchases on balance - eg rarity... but for common items, no probs, I too would go first class ('L') too.  The tureen is my only real bargain on ebay so far and I really, really want it...had I appreciated the difference b/w priority vs first class, personally would have been happy to pay a few extra $$. 

[***super_nova***]

  The tureen is my only real bargain on ebay so far and I really, really want it...had I appreciated the difference b/w priority vs first class, personally would have been happy to pay a few extra $$. 

We are not talking about "few"$.  Not sure how big or heavy this tureen is, but as somebody who buys lots from USA and from sellers who will not send any other way but trackable with signature, my guess would be about $60. 

[lyndal1838]

If it is the Carlsbad tureen with the blue flowers you would pay up to US$100 for postage with one of the priority services.  So it is definitely not just a few $ more.   Would you still consider it a bargain if you had to pay that amount of postage.

Personally, I would prefer to use a cheaper postal service and buy a second item.;-)

As a rule of thumb the Priority and Express International services cost between 3 and 6 times as much the First Class service.

[superscanner4]

No worries my parcel arrived yesterday!  Whilst this one was stuck in a backlog at LA, like others I have found Chicago to be a bit of a black hole and your parcel can sit there for two weeks.

There is a big jump in cost from First Class Internation to trackable Priority.  It just depends on the value of the item if you want to spend more.  For instance it costs me $11.60 First Class Int'l for a pair of shoes that would cost $48.00 via Priority.  I use the cheaper option and have had nothing go missing yet.