"Clearance delay" DHL shipping to USA (a package without e-juice products)

[kinhvanhoa]

Well, after my first order arrived, I placed another order on HC.
This time, I chose the DHL shipping since HC dropped the patience-demanding China Airmail shipping to US.
I've been so excited to wait for the package but, as I tracked my package on DHL, it says "Clearance delay."

According to the DHL website, "Further processing will occur as instructed by the regulatory authority. A DHL representative will attempt to contact the importer or shipper if further details are required."
Is that a common problem happening with the order shipping to US?

I didn't order any e-juice but 4 batteries, clearomizers and accessories.
I am afraid, the shipping time will be way longer than I expected. Or I will have some problem with customs either in China or in the U.S.

Has anyone experienced the same situation happening before?

Thanks.

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

I just noted the exact same statement on my order too! Was coming here to search and see if it's been discussed in the past, and your post was right there

I didn't order any juice or flavor either! My order was small, Vamo, battery, 2 x blunt needles, and the $0.01 clearance 5 pack of KR clearo's

I get DHL shipments from Taiwan and HK all the time, same express service and have never seen this come up before

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

Ohh no! It's batteries, see this post.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...r-shipment-held-up-clearance.html#post7290394

I wish they would let us know these things on the questionable items pages, that way would could skip those items and pick them up somewhere else so I orders don't get delayed!!!

 

[kumkum]

From past experience, the delay would last at most about 12 hrs and then it is on it's way to hong kong. And that is irrespective of any items.

 

[kinhvanhoa]

Thanks for the reply. Well, the post said, they would reship the package with the same tracking number. So does it mean the second attempt will not cause any problem? It seems that to keep trying again is a way of strategy which is generously appreciated by the Chinese custom officers. Anyway, it's interesting but it's so sad that I cannot get my order in time as I expected. (BTW, my first order shipped by the China Airmail took a month to arrive. Everything was in a good shape but I frankly thought that someone might sail across the Pacific Ocean and ran across the U.S. for delivering the package to me.)

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

From past experience, the delay would last at most about 12 hrs and then it is on it's way to hong kong. And that is irrespective of any items.

Thanks kumkum, but this doesn't appear to be a "Normal" delay to me, I have seen those many times and when that happens it gives a different message.

Thanks for the reply. Well, the post said, they would reship the package with the same tracking number. So does it mean the second attempt will not cause any problem? It seems that to keep trying again is a way of strategy which is generously appreciated by the Chinese custom officers. Anyway, it's interesting but it's so sad that I cannot get my order in time as I expected. (BTW, my first order shipped by the China Airmail took a month to arrive. Everything was in a good shape but I frankly thought that someone might sail across the Pacific Ocean and ran across the U.S. for delivering the package to me.)

Haha, I thought the same as I was reading that post, didn't make sense to me. Hopefully Newsunshine will clarify for us! I'd gladly take a refund on my battery, and then have the package re-sent without a battery, if it's going to cause further issues!

@ Newsunshine, you guys should put a "Customs" warning on every page that might cause such an issue, ejuice, flavors are well know but should not be omitted from this. This is the first I've heard of batteries causing a delay, so those pages should definitely have warnings put directly on the items pages. Billions of batteries ship out from China each year, why would there be a delay for a box with 1-2 batteries in it from a well known vendor?

 

[Sjkader]

I asked about the clearance delay on my last order. From my understanding all packages hit a clearance delay. My last one did and then it was on its way. Im not sweating it this time. I just wonder if DHL just does a better job of updating their tracking then others ;-)

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

Thanks, but this isn't the same as a/the normal clearance delay, as I mentioned above I've seen those many times and this is much different. I get packages from HK and Taiwan to the US all the time, so I do know what you mean about it being normal sometimes, and yes a normal clearance delay is normal, but this isn't a normal one

 

[Sjkader]

I got that exact message as the op stated. Last order and this one. Guess its normal to me

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

Ahh ok! Well that's not the usual customs delay message, it's a special one. So sorry, I assumed you maybe meant the usual one and was just telling us to wait it out and it'll be OK. While it probably will, be a wait and OK thing, this isn't a normal customs clearance delay message. Unless normal for you includes liquids, and batteries it seems too.

So ya, if you order those and other questionable items then that would be a normal expected message for you, but since I never have such items sent through customs from there it wasn't normal or expected when I saw that type of message. I often get hardware samples from over that way, and they usually do hit a normal customs delay most of the time, but that is without such an extended info message or further details about customs not being able to handle the issue themselves. So I assumed there is some larger issue.

But thanks, since you have seen that exact message before and it was just a simple delay that does make me feel better, however I am still concerned due to the post I linked above with Newsunshines comments about batteries

Image of customs message for reference:

 

[Sjkader]

My first order had no batteries or juice and had that same message. This order has one mini ego battery in it. I guess it's just a wait and see game. Hope everyone's goes through. Bad enough waiting normal delivery times

I guess it's possible that dhl just added that message to curve the messages from people wondering what a clearance delay ment.

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

Well that's odd, maybe some other items cause it as well?

To me, the message I'm seeing now reads like customs themselves cannot deal with the clearing of the questionable item, and will have to call or bring in some other individual from another government or regulatory department outside of customs themselves.

Normal (expected) customs delays just say exactly that, clearance hold or customs delay, without any additional info or messages.

 

[Sjkader]

Ok you got me there. I have no idea ;-) but like I said. My last order said the same thing and came through with no problems. Hope that's the case this time.

My last order only had 2 ce5's and 3 mods. So not sure what would cause the delay

 

[newsunshine]

Thanks kumkum, but this doesn't appear to be a "Normal" delay to me, I have seen those many times and when that happens it gives a different message.



Haha, I thought the same as I was reading that post, didn't make sense to me. Hopefully Newsunshine will clarify for us! I'd gladly take a refund on my battery, and then have the package re-sent without a battery, if it's going to cause further issues!

@ Newsunshine, you guys should put a "Customs" warning on every page that might cause such an issue, ejuice, flavors are well know but should not be omitted from this. This is the first I've heard of batteries causing a delay, so those pages should definitely have warnings put directly on the items pages. Billions of batteries ship out from China each year, why would there be a delay for a box with 1-2 batteries in it from a well known vendor?

We have no problems sending batteries out of china with DHL so far. Many packages with DHL have a few hours or 1 business day delay before they leave china. so we do not think that the delay is a big problem.

May i know your order number, so I can look into it?

 

[Aurora-Oblivion]

We have no problems sending batteries out of china with DHL so far. Many packages with DHL have a few hours or 1 business day delay before they leave china. so we do not think that the delay is a big problem.

May i know your order number, so I can look into it?

I linked thread on page one (Post 3) where you mentioned customs issues with batteries, is that only with the other shipping service and not DHL?

Thank you for looking into this, it just didn't look like normal customs delay to me, so that is why I'm concerned. I know usual delays are expected, but this looks different to me is all.

Order number was 119783

 

[wolandepiphanius]

I got the same message, and I have no batteries nor liquids, so I guess it's just clearing customs. I'm not worried, but I do hope the package clears.

 

[newsunshine]

I linked thread on page one (Post 3) where you mentioned customs issues with batteries, is that only with the other shipping service and not DHL?

Thank you for looking into this, it just didn't look like normal customs delay to me, so that is why I'm concerned. I know usual delays are expected, but this looks different to me is all.

Order number was 119783

Thank you for your fast reply.
It seems that your order has cleared customs.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Location Time
7 Processed at SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 16:29
6 Clearance processing complete at SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 16:26
5 Clearance delay SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 09:22
4 Arrived at Sort Facility SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 09:17
3 Departed Facility in FUJIAN PROVINCE - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC FUJIAN PROVINCE - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 01:29

 

[kumkum]

Thank you for your fast reply.
It seems that your order has cleared customs.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Location Time
7 Processed at SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 16:29
6 Clearance processing complete at SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 16:26
5 Clearance delay SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 09:22
4 Arrived at Sort Facility SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC SHENZHEN - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 09:17
3 Departed Facility in FUJIAN PROVINCE - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC FUJIAN PROVINCE - CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC 01:29

Looks like a big lot of shipment was sent out by HC.

Mine too has the same timings.

Now i looking forward to custom delay in H.K.

 

[kiwivap]

It's normal. It happened with my last order a while back. Exact same message on the DHL tracing site. Was delayed 2 hours. I think the time varies depending on how long it takes to get the official people to clear them - will be some special customs thing I expect.

 

[kinhvanhoa]

Guys~ As newsunshine generously replied to my post, the case is closed. My order is now in Hong Kong already. I think it's only a matter of time delayed at the custom office, and as soon as it is cleared, it is on the way. DHL perhaps offers very detailed tracking info that sometimes makes people worried.
Thanks, newsunshine and all!