Ordering stuff from China *sigh*

[Bronzebow]

On the other hand, I'm still waiting on a small package Stateside that was supposed to have been delivered to me at the beginning of the month. Apparently USPS said it had been delivered, but I've seen hide nor hair of it. Although small enough to easily fit inside the mailbox (base assumption, since a previously ordered package of the same type did), I was told that it was likely left outside and the general consensus is that it might have been stolen (luckily it wasn't anything terribly important, but still leaves me sad).

Same thing happened to me, twice. I know that my strawberry shoots were stolen outside of my apartment door around the time I would have expected my birthday present to be delivered, earlier this month. I'm thinking that's what happened to me, too. Might just be the luck of that draw.

[alcaholjunkie]

Just a reminder that Chinese new year is pretty much the first two weeks in February this year so ordering stuff from china around then would mean further delays. ^_^

[Bloodsoul]

I'd say I'd lucked out in a similar situation, although I no longer recall all the details. I ordered some cds from a somewhat obscure Japanese band through both eBay and another website altogether and both shipments came through quite well and I continue to enjoy their music to this day.

On the other hand, I'm still waiting on a small package Stateside that was supposed to have been delivered to me at the beginning of the month. Apparently USPS said it had been delivered, but I've seen hide nor hair of it. Although small enough to easily fit inside the mailbox (base assumption, since a previously ordered package of the same type did), I was told that it was likely left outside and the general consensus is that it might have been stolen (luckily it wasn't anything terribly important, but still leaves me sad).

[Naaman]

Another UK person here (who gets a lot of stuff from abroad)...

Another thing here that can add a lot of time to shipping time is Customs. I've had stuff sitting around for 5 weeks at the hub so they can slap a big sticker on it and charge me an extra £17 (£8.5 of which is the Royal Mail handling charge).

I'd e-mail the seller anyway just check the expected delivery date and as a heads up in case you do have to make a claim in the future.

[Hawaiian Eskimo]

A tip for anyone buying from China (or Japan, or pretty much any Asian country), use EMS if it's an available shipping option. A little pricey, but ever time I've used it so far it's gotten here FAST (about the same speed as normal US ground shipping).

[dalesys]

Suggestion: Tie the last few in a knot with a knote to re-order.

[Amina516]

Me too.

Things I buy from China usually take 3-4 weeks normal time. I cant imagine throwing holidays in there.

[DeltaSierra]

Glad they came through

[MaggieTheCat]

I got my order today! It's very nice, I'm quite pleased with the quality of the necklace cords. I went ahead and ordered a bunch more now that I know I like the quality. Once I get the new order, I should have enough to last me for a while. I'll just have to remember to order before I completely run out next time.

[sirwired]

It's kind of weird... it seems to depend on where in China it's coming from. I've ordered small, dirt-cheap electronics from a couple places in Hong Kong, got free shipping, and the order arrived in something like 10 days. It was not only shipped air-mail, it arrived Registered Mail (which is a quite expensive, and highly secure, way to ship stuff.) I guess it all depends on what the seller is willing to pay for.

[Andara Bledin]

What tickled me is that a couple of days after I placed the order, the seller emailed me a short video showing my box, with my correct address, and his hand dropping it into a mailbox.

Considering how freaked out eBay buyers sometimes get when things don't show up a week after they pay, I'm not at all surprised that this seller has resorted to making video records of posting packages.

I generally expect an average of 6 weeks for "slow boat" delivery from Asia. I don't start wondering where stuff is until it passes the 8 week mark.

^-.-^

[Sparky]

I once ordered something on Ebay from Hong Kong. The listing cautioned that it would take something like 4 - 6 weeks, and it did take a long time, but it arrived as promised.

What tickled me is that a couple of days after I placed the order, the seller emailed me a short video showing my box, with my correct address, and his hand dropping it into a mailbox.

[wagegoth]

I ordered some gloves on eBay from China, and paid $5.99 shipping. They arrived less than three weeks after I ordered them.

[ThirdGenRetail]

Hey, on the bright side, if they prove very reliable, wait time aside, you could plan your necklace work around that shipping - Order more if you know your work on the current batch will take X number of weeks, so that hopefully the new shipment will arrive in time for you to be about done.

[Sapphire Silk]

For shipping that cheap, it has to be coming by boat.

From China, that usually means 3-4 weeks, assuming holidays (which WILL slow things down) or customs aren't added in. 10-25 business days was probably too liberal.

If they're good quality, try another small order and see how long it takes. If you can live with the ship times, and they're good in other respects, I could probably live with the wait.