Anyone work at customs or nz post?

Community
#1

I’m expecting a package that should have left the states last week and should have arrived yesterday/today. However the USPS site says it has left Chicago and hasn’t been “received” into NZ yet.

Does anyone know how packages are received into NZ if they came via USPS?
I have a track and trace number and I’ve looked up how it was sent and it states 3-5 Postal Business Days. As it was sent on the 13th, I’m getting a bit worried it won’t arrive for the weekend, which it certainly should have if there weren’t any problems.

As its clothing for our team, I’ve a funny feeling it will be held at customs anyway. However if it was to come in today/tomorrow, in theory we can pay customs the tax bill and get it down on to Wellington for Friday morning.

I know its a long shot posting here, but figured we’re a nice diverse bunch of people, you never know what might pop up.

Thanks
Chris

#2

I used to work for DHL back in the day.

Documents come straight through, but everything else needs to be cleared by customs and MAF, typically via review of the manifest. If the goods are worth enough such that taxes apply, the customs will typically hold them in “bond” so the taxes can be paid before they are released. MAF will also hold stuff if it appears to contain any biological materials, and there is always the risk that another bio package broke open, which contaminates your own package.

Chicago is a major hub, so I’d expect the package to make it to SFO/LAX reasonably quickly and then catch one of the long hauls direct to AKL. If it goes through SYD then that could be cause for delay. Of course, if the originating courier writes the wrong destination code (should be WLG in your case), then that is also a cause for delay.

I’d expect it to arrive today or tommorrow, and it might be worth talking directly to USPS’s reps here (is it NZ Post ?) to see if they can access internal systems that may have more detail on exact movements of the package.

#3

Thanks Mike,

Last thing NZ Post said was that it hadn’t left the states yet (this was yesterday afternoon) however the track and trace said it was “on its way to destination” since Monday morning. I guess its just patience, I think my captain has resigned himself to the fact our nice new team jerseys aren’t going to make it down in time : (