Slow shipping? Stuck in ISC L.A

[irv]

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this lately?

Purchased a card from "X" seller and it shows the card was shipped with tracking around May 30th.
Checking tracking a few days ago and just now, it still reads that it is still in ISC L.A. since June 4th.

The card, according to tracking or the seller, read that it was supposed to arrive today, June 14th.

I know this is not the sellers fault, but does anyone know what could be possibly going on?

I recently purchased a card from a U.S. member here and although it was just sent in a PWE, it arrived rather quickly in his and my opinion.

Has this been the norm for Tracked card purchases lately or is something out of the ordinary going on with just my card?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Many times. You're in Canada, as am I.

My guess is that the shipper used a third party discount shipping service to send your purchase. This happens all the time with certain sellers in the western U.S. These types of shipments seem to bounce around between various sorting centers in the LA area, sometimes for a month or two. Sometimes, it just gets lost in their black hole and they furnish you with no information for 30-60 days. It's atrocious. Good luck in ever locating these shipments when they're in this state of limbo. My best guess is that USPS gives these packages the lowest of low priorities due to the discounted shipping rates, but again, that's always been my guess.

Another awful thing about these shipments is that the tracking number will only work within the U.S. Once it has been dispatched to the destination country, you'll never know where it is until it arrives.

If you are dealing with a seller who you know uses these methods, spend extra for UPS if you want to see your cards in a more reasonable amount of time.

[irv]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

Many times. You're in Canada, as am I.

My guess is that the shipper used a third party discount shipping service to send your purchase. This happens all the time with certain sellers in the western U.S. These types of shipments seem to bounce around between various sorting centers in the LA area, sometimes for a month or two. Sometimes, it just gets lost in their black hole and they furnish you with no information for 30-60 days. It's atrocious. Good luck in ever locating these shipments when they're in this state of limbo. My best guess is that USPS gives these packages the lowest of low priorities due to the discounted shipping rates, but again, that's always been my guess.

Another awful thing about these shipments is that the tracking number will only work within the U.S. Once it has been dispatched to the destination country, you'll never know where it is until it arrives.

If you are dealing with a seller who you know uses these methods, spend extra for UPS if you want to see your cards in a more reasonable amount of time.

USPS is exactly who it is but I am surprised, if it's true, that this seller would use the cheapest form of shipping, especially when shipping is $15 U.S. or $20 CDN?
I've had delays before, but nothing like this, and that was when their shipping fees were just $5.95 not that long ago.

Judging by your reply, it sounds like I am not the only one.

Thanks for the info!
I appreciate that.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I had a funny feeling I knew exactly who you placed an order with. Now I know for sure!

They're a great company, as we all know. They bumped their S&H charges significantly for Canadian shipments. It used to only be $1 more than their domestic S&H rate. Not sure what happened, and I too have wondered if this increased rate would translate to quicker shipping times. Guess not. I wouldn't know, as I have any of my winnings from them shipped to an American address, then forwarded on via untracked letter mail to Canada. This actually takes less time, in spite of the shipments having to travel over 1000 miles out of their way! My advice to you would be to find an American friend with whom you can make a similar arrangement.

[skelly423]

Fellow Canadian, I get the same problem all the time. There's a prominent ebay seller in southern California, and reliably his packages take 6 weeks to arrive. I had one wander from Carson CA to Los Angeles, and back again, four times before it exited the loop. I don't know of any solution, but you're not alone in your frustrations.

[irv]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

I had a funny feeling I knew exactly who you placed an order with. Now I know for sure!

They're a great company, as we all know. They bumped their S&H charges significantly for Canadian shipments. It used to only be $1 more than their domestic S&H rate. Not sure what happened, and I too have wondered if this increased rate would translate to quicker shipping times. Guess not. I wouldn't know, as I have any of my winnings from them shipped to an American address, then forwarded on via untracked letter mail to Canada. This actually takes less time, in spite of the shipments having to travel over 1000 miles out of their way! My advice to you would be to find an American friend with whom you can make a similar arrangement.

Thank you. I have looked into a U.S. mailbox but with the nearest border crossing being 2+ hrs away, I decided just to continue on with what I am doing.
However, depending on when this card, and 2 others purchased after this one, get here, I may just try something different the next go around?

[maniac_73]

Canadian here and I'm used to it. I have one card stuck in Customs review and another stuck at the LA distribution facility. I've learned to not expect anything for a least a month coming the states.
Im actually looking at getting a PO box in Buffalo and just getting my packages from there once a month since Im only an hour from the border. Makes it easier for sellers too.