Moonsquirrel

My sister sent me a package for Christmas some while ago, I have no idea what's in it and doubt it's of monetary value, but I know she's sad it hasn't made it. I think there might be some food stuffs inside but she said she'd checked it would clear customs. Any ideas if there's a chance of me finding out what happened to it, and how to even start? It would mean a lot to her! I don't think she sent it recorded or tracked, so this may be an impossible feat.

Cheers all, and merry Christmas!

Jerseygirl

I found out many moons ago...best to order gifts via the internet. That goes both ways UK to US and US to UK.

mrken30

I once eventually got a package after 3 to 4 months. I think it had been sitting in a corner somewhere, but I did eventually get it. Most arrive within 3 to 4 weeks.

Rete

Several times a year, we would ship food stuffs to our Aunt in Germany. She loved American goodies. Go figure! Fluffer Nutter was one of those things ... shivering

Her packages always took from 3 to 5 weeks for delivery and that wasn't even during the holiday season. For the holiday season, we would mail her package by November 5 to ensure that it was received for Xmas.

scrubbedexpat091

Does regular mail UK to US go surface by ship?

mrken30

I think all mail now goes by air. I know they sell surface mail in the UK, but I believe it still goes by air, just given lower priority.

Orangepants

I just got a package today mailed from Thailand on the 9th November.

When I lived in Cayman, I'd often get Christmas mail and packages the following March! Think that's more to do with my Mum being a lazy arse! They just order from Amazon US now.

Pulaski

There's lots of good advice in this thread already, but if you send food there is always a risk that customs will open the parcel and reject (and discard it) it on grounds of their suspicion. I also wouldn't bet £1 on the customs officer knowing the precise details of the regs, so your "entirely legit" parcel could have been condemned unfairly.

That aside, if your parcel didn't have a tracking number assigned to it there is absolutely no way for the parcel to be traced if it went missing. If it "fell behind the sorting equipment" it might show up some time in the next 5 years.

scrubbedexpat091

Not a parcel, but a letter that spent 83 years lost at the post office.

Lost Letter From Maine Delivered 83 Years Later