Question for high volume suppliers. How long does it really take?

[Ez Duzit]

Here's a familiar situation, that we as customers have all experienced.
You want something from one of your favorite suppliers but they're out of stock. You ask on their sub-forum how long until they get more. They reply that, "they already ordered more, and they're on the way. Should be here soon."
Two or three weeks later, you again ask how much longer, and you're told they're "waiting on word from customs." A week after that, someone else asks how much longer, and the supplier says, "they just got cleared by customs so it should be really soon." Another week or two goes by, and you ask one more time, how much longer? The reply, is something along the lines of "since they've already cleared customs it should be any day now."
Finally two or three weeks after that, the new stock finally gets posted on the suppliers site.

This is not an isolated thing, but seems to be the norm, even for the best, most beloved suppliers that are on these forums. Yes I will continue to use these suppliers because they are top notch, but dam, this is frustrating. [Equally so for suppliers I'm sure]

I can understand a large order such as some suppliers must place, taking so much time. I really do. But when you finally tell us something has already cleared customs, what is the hold up after that? Why is there often another 3-4 week wait before the new stock is finally posted on the website?

I know I'm not the only one that finds this annoying, and I'm sure you suppliers aren't happy about it either. No product equals no sales. But any reasonable explanation for this, will no doubt help us (the customers) to be a bit more understanding.

Don't anyone mistake this for bashing any suppliers, because that's not the case. Quite the contrary. Most suppliers around here often go above and beyond to make customers happy, and it shows in the many positive reviews you all get. I personally have had amazing service from every single supplier I've used for anything e-cig related. I just get frustrated with this one particularly annoying thing, and hope to get an answer that makes sense.

 

[hoogie76]

The typical process goes like this:

I look at my stock and see what I need.. Place an order with China.. They tell me that they're out or have to build it and the lead time is 2 days, the standard answer...

2 days goes by and then you ask if it shipped, more excuses and told 2 days more days..

Eventually it ships.. They don't ship by the UPS guy coming by and doing a pickup, they all seem to use freight forwarders..

So the freight forwarder picks it up(along with all the other worldwide shipments) and brings it to his warehouse to be sent to the carriers that will eventually deliver it.

The Freight forwarder has it for 2-3 days before you even get a tracking number only to see that it's sitting in Hong Kong customs.. You wait and wait..

Hey great, there's movement, all you may get is that it left HK customs, which way it's heading is a mystery..

You check back two or 3 or 5 days later and now it's in NY or Chicago, just says it's arrived and not sure what they are doing with it.. It may leave and be on it's way to me or it may go into US customs or a warehouse for 10 minutes or 10 days, again a mystery..

Eventually it shoots out the back end of the process and you receive this box that looks like it floated over here via ocean and someone found it on the beach and delivered it..

This is about average.. Other times you'll get it in 4 or 6 days, again it just shows up and tracking info is updated 2 days after you've received..