posted on March 16, 2001 05:33:09 AM new
I am selling from Canada and have not had anything missing so far. I can't say if parcels were opened, no one has said anything yet. But we did have have a parcel coming into Canada from the US opened. Nothing was missing, it was retaped and there was a red stamp saying EXAMINED CUSTOMS. So they should at least stamp the parcel if they open it.
Good Luck!
posted on March 16, 2001 06:25:38 AM new
Customs does open packages, both randomly (even low-cost items) and those they might consider suspicious.
It would not be farfetched to state that some agents would also "pilfer" ... I have read about postal people doing that (both in the US and Canada) so I'm sure Customs is not immune.
And sometimes they repackage things poorly. I've had several show up hanging together by a thread. The fact that everything stayed in the package was a miracle.
posted on March 16, 2001 06:32:40 AM new
Customs does random checks on parcels coming into Canada. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the ones they choose to inspect - probably the selection is a random choice such as 1 in every 100 parcels, etc. I really don't know how they make their selections, but they certainly do make random checks from time to time.
Whenever a parcel has been opened by customs they re-seal it with a special tape which is stamped something to the effect of "Opened by Canada Customs." I believe they might also put a confirmation sticker on the box as well, but am not 100% sure on this.
Sometimes parcels shipped at the same time clear customs from two different locations, even though they were mailed in the same place. This can also happen to parcels coming into Canada. They might go through different clearance centres and hence the difference in arrival times. We have no way of knowing which entry location the parcels are coming from, but most arrive within a week of each other if they have been separated en route.
For example, if you live in a small town in Eastern Ontario, all your parcels go to a central clearing station (such as Ottawa, if you are in that vicinity, for example.) From Ottawa, the packages either go to Montreal or Windsor to clear customs. The parcels probably get separated, as they are mingled with parcels from all other locations in the East, so if one went through customs in Windsor, and one in Montreal, they would probably arrive at different times to their destination.
Hope this helps. Sometimes we Canadians scratch our heads at the way things are done, but hey, we just go along with the system. Remember, we're Canadian eh!
posted on March 16, 2001 07:11:27 AM new
I've had a number of parcels opened & inspected by Canada Customs over the years, and nothing has ever been tampered with, or gone missing. They are always resealed with an "Inspected by Canada Customs" tape. Same thing as in the US.
But if it went through Windsor, then anything is possible.
posted on March 16, 2001 07:12:06 AM new
Thanks all!
I am waiting to hear back from them on this.
I really hope that customs DID open it. That would explain why one item is missing.
I would rather believe that someone in customs opened it and either lost the item or just plain stole it than to have to believe that my customer is just plain lying to me since I know I packed them together.
posted on March 16, 2001 07:44:00 AM new
jwoodscrafts,
Had a situation similar to this but it didn't involve customs.
Buyer purchased set of glasses & a tray in 2 separate auctions. Asked me to ship combined which I did. I put the tray toward the bottom of the box & the glassware toward the top.
Buyer asks where tray is. In the box, I reply. It's not in the box, she replies. I tear my ebay area apart even though I distinctly recall putting it in the box.
I ask her to look again in the bottom of the box. It's not there, she replies. Confused I finally just agreed to give a refund on the tray amount since there was always the remote possibility an "almost 50 moment" had kicked in & I'd done something wrong.
THEN she admitted she'd actually thrown the box out when she removed the glasses w/o looking for the tray. Trash day had come & gone w/the tray carried away.
To her credit, she asked me not to refund since she'd made the mistake. I made the refund anyway since I'd not specifically told her when I shipped that the tray was on the bottom.
Sooooo...it's possible it DID arrive & the buyer overlooked it & has tossed out the box.
Or, they are trying to pull a fast one. No one knows for sure!
posted on March 16, 2001 09:59:46 AM new
Since the items were very small, I asked her in my email to please check the packing because maybe she just overlooked the item. I told her how I wrapped it and placed it in the box, and just to check the packing material.
I don't know where it went, but I know I put it in there!
posted on March 17, 2001 03:42:37 AM new
Since you said that you were not sure of your spelling, I would like to add that there is no need for the apostrophe in the word "Canadians" as you have written it here. The apostrophe would be used to show ownership of something and that is not the case when you are addressing a group of people. I hope this is helpful.
posted on March 17, 2001 06:58:16 AM new
Now now, Red deer, this ex Windsorite knows you were only kidding. Joyce
Did Alberta send us this snow we have been getting since yesterday?????
posted on March 18, 2001 04:31:10 PM new
I'm glad that everything is fine now. I recently opened up my auctions to Canadian bidders, so this thread was enlightening. Thanks.
