USPS not delivering to Australia

[JJJ]

So as of last week (the 3rd, I believe) USPS is advising that it will not deliver packages to Australia, due to COVID. I have had a parcel, that I purchased from e-bay in late August, refused (and subsequently refunded, with of course a loss due to Paypal's currency conversion). There is of course no advice of the duration of this suspension of service.

Looks like my Fangry got out just in time :)

[Magnus]

From the USPS website: (https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm)


Australia’s service disruptions affect First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), Commercial ePacket (CeP), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®) packets and International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®) packets only.

There is a list of countries that have suspension of service, and their list of services is different to Australia's, which implies that some services might still be available for Americans who want to send things here.

[1AZRAEL1]

Damn, I have a pile of loot at BBTS, hoping I can get it sent

[DELTAprime]

Damn, I have a pile of loot at BBTS, hoping I can get it sent

Don't they still have Fed Ex and UPS at BBTS?

[Tha_Phantom]

Don't they still have Fed Ex and UPS at BBTS?

Yeah BBTS has various shipping options. Your only issue would be if it's already in transit.

[1AZRAEL1]

Haven't got it sent yet, but I'll have to make sure I choose the right one. Gonna cost me a kidney to get it posted anyway. Now I remember why I stopped using BBTS

[llamatron]

Crap, I have a USPS package in transit right now.

[Tha_Phantom]

I checked all my items in transit last night. I'm mostly safe, except of all things an MISB G1 Jazz I had being sent by USPS hasn't moved since August 24. "Cleared and awaiting international departure" is the last update. :(

[JJJ]

Crap, I have a USPS package in transit right now.

Can you see any tracking? If you can, and it appears to have already left the US, then all is well (probably), but if not I suspect it'll be turned back.


I checked all my items in transit last night. I'm mostly safe, except of all things an MISB G1 Jazz I had being sent by USPS hasn't moved since August 24. "Cleared and awaiting international departure" is the last update. :(

That's a bad sign. My parcel, from a few days later than that, spent a week and a half saying only tracking information provided (not even confirmation that it had been received by the post office), and then it was returned.

[Tha_Phantom]

That's a bad sign. My parcel, from a few days later than that, spent a week and a half saying only tracking information provided (not even confirmation that it had been received by the post office), and then it was returned.

Drats. Well I guess I'll just let it play out for the time being. If it gets returned to sender then I'll have him ship it again via Fedex or something.

[llamatron]

Mine shows it's been through Hong Kong maybe 5 days ago on the USPS tracking, but it's not showing up on the Auspost tracking yet.

[Dimi194]

Oh dear - I have something non TF coming from the US - it's gone via Germany, but hasn't moved since August 31... not good...

[JJJ]

Mine shows it's been through Hong Kong maybe 5 days ago on the USPS tracking, but it's not showing up on the Auspost tracking yet.

I have a bunch of items on the way from China that are taking somewhat longer than usual to get here too. Might be connected to the huge port blockages in Asia about now. One particular item supposedly left Shanghai (international departure) in mid-August, then re-appeared last week in Guangzhou. It has now departed internationally again :) It might have arrived in Australia today, but I'm not sure how to interpret "airline reception".

I think it's fair to say that COVID disruption has now definitely hit postal services.

[JJJ]

Hmmm.

I just checked on an item I got on E-bay yesterday. E-bay has stated that their global shipping (hack, spit) won't be affected, so I went with someone who uses it, gritting my teeth and paying their extortion.

I now have both a global shipping tracking number and a USPS tracking number. Uhhhh...? On the plus side, not only has it been accepted by USPS (apparently), it is actually moving through the system as usual.

[FAPOS]

From what i understand, USPS use commercial passenger flights to transport - and there are little to no flights comming into Australia. Where as DHL & FedEX have their own dedicated cargo flights i believe?

Just FYI, anybody waiting on a USPS delivery - my 'express' shipping from BBTS sent on the 28th July didnt arrive until Thurs the 9th September... so 6 weeks USA to Perth.

According to tracking it moved along fairly normally until it arrived at an intermediate airport in Hong Kong on the 14th August & stated 'delayed awaiting flight'. It stayed that way until the 7th September when it touched down in Au (and the tracking changed to 'departed' on the 14th August, which im quite certain it didnt - pretty sure it sat in HK for 3 weeks waiting for a flight).

[JJJ]

From what i understand, USPS use commercial passenger flights to transport - and there are little to no flights comming into Australia. Where as DHL & FedEX have their own dedicated cargo flights i believe?

Did not know that. Makes sense.

[High_Q]

I completely forgot i have a parcel in transit from TFSource until i saw this thread.

USPS accepted it on 16/08 in Nevada, and it passed through various USPS regional distribution centres, and finally left Los Angeles 22/08.

The tracking shows no updates since then. Wondering whether i should be worried at this stage. :(

[zaneiken]

Just FYI, anybody waiting on a USPS delivery - my 'express' shipping from BBTS sent on the 28th July didnt arrive until Thurs the 9th September... so 6 weeks USA to Perth.

I had a gaming-related item arrive last week - it took three months from USA to Perth.

[JJJ]

Hmmm.

I just checked on an item I got on E-bay yesterday. E-bay has stated that their global shipping (hack, spit) won't be affected, so I went with someone who uses it, gritting my teeth and paying their extortion.

I now have both a global shipping tracking number and a USPS tracking number. Uhhhh...? On the plus side, not only has it been accepted by USPS (apparently), it is actually moving through the system as usual.

I worked out what all this meant, by the simple act of sitting back and waiting :)

It appears that it works like this - item is bought from e-bay by person who uses GSP. Item is posted via USPS to GSP (and so gets a USPS tracking number). Item is handed off to GSP (Pitney Bowes) in Kentucky. GSP deals with international delivery, with their own tracking number.

[High_Q]

I completely forgot i have a parcel in transit from TFSource until i saw this thread.

USPS accepted it on 16/08 in Nevada, and it passed through various USPS regional distribution centres, and finally left Los Angeles 22/08.

Just collected my parcel from Auspost. So, mine took 1 month from USA to VIC.

[Tha_Phantom]

Just collected my parcel from Auspost. So, mine took 1 month from USA to VIC.

That's good to know. Hopefully mine will get through eventually. It hasn't been sent back AFAIK.

[High_Q]

That's good to know. Hopefully mine will get through eventually. It hasn't been sent back AFAIK.

Thanks. I hope you receive your stuff, especially the MISB G1 Jazz. That's anxiety inducing, just thinking about this precious cargo sitting somewhere where people don't know its value. Is it graded? If so, at least there's an acrylic case protecting the toy.

[Tha_Phantom]

Thanks. I hope you receive your stuff, especially the MISB G1 Jazz. That's anxiety inducing, just thinking about this precious cargo sitting somewhere where people don't know its value. Is it graded? If so, at least there's an acrylic case protecting the toy.

Thanks man, I'm sure it will show up eventually. Not graded and I don't think it would score above a 75 so I'd rather not know, but I'm happy to have a sealed pre-rub Jazz with the roof that isn't misaligned in the box.

For anyone who doesn't understand, basically a lot of G1 Jazz's were packaged with the front and back sections not lined up quite right. This isn't an issue once you open it and transform it properly, but it annoys my OCD a bit for sealed display.
Obviously these toys were never intended to be display items 35+ years down the track, so it's just the luck of the draw now. :p

[High_Q]

...basically a lot of G1 Jazz's were packaged with the front and back sections not lined up quite right. This isn't an issue once you open it and transform it properly, but it annoys my OCD a bit for sealed display.

I just googled 'MISB g1 jazz' images and see what you mean. Also just realised how distracting the gaps are between the doors and the rest of the car on this mold.

[Zippo]

New Zealand is now on this list; thankfully I almost never purchase anything from the USA anymore.

[G1Optimal]

So just to confirm ebays global shipping program is not affected by usps service suspension

as i forgot about this and order though ebay and the seller is using gsp priority international shipping

[G1Optimal]

Just found out they are still shipping

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/USPS-suspends-services-to-New-Zealand-effective-immediately/ba-p/32329898


As of Friday, October 1, 2021 USPS will temporarily suspend some international services to New Zealand. This suspension is due to COVID-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions. Impacted services include the following:

Priority Mail International (PMI)
First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
Commercial ePacket (CeP)
International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets
Airmail M-bags
International Priority Airmail (IPA) M-bags
International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) M-bags
Items deposited before October 1 will be transported and delays are to be expected. USPS has confirmed all packages which have not been processed by October 1 at the International Service Center (ISC) will be processed as “Return to Sender”. We will continue to monitor the situation, and for more detailed, up-to-date information, please check the USPS International Services Alerts page.

eBay international standard delivery and GSP are not affected; both services will continue to provide timely delivery to New Zealand. For more information on these services, please visit our eBay international shipping page.

As always, thank you for selling on eBay.
The eBay Shipping Team



And

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/UPDATE-as-of-9-30-USPS-suspends-additional-package-services-to/ba-p/32243280


UPDATE: USPS has temporarily suspended all Priority Mail International (PMI) to Australia in addition to the services listed below. Please also see our news announcement here regarding USPS suspended services to New Zealand.

As of Friday, September 3, 2021, USPS will temporarily suspend some international services to Australia. This suspension is due to COVID-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions. Impacted services include the the following:

First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)
Commercial ePacket (CeP)
International Priority Airmail (IPA) Packets
International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) Packets

USPS has also confirmed all packages which have not been processed by the International Service Center (ISC) will be processed as “Return to Sender”.

We will continue to monitor the situation, and for more detailed, up-to-date information, please check the USPS International Services Alerts page.

eBay international standard delivery and GSP are not affected; both services will continue to provide timely delivery to Australia. For more information on these services, please visit our eBay international shipping page.

As always, thank you for selling on eBay.
The eBay Shipping Team

[Tranceblade]

Yes, because they use a private logistics company (Pitney Bowes)

[G1Optimal]

I was worried over nothing then ,thank you

[Tha_Phantom]

Update: my G1 Jazz has left the US as of yesterday!
Will confirm when it's safely in my hands.