Package from USA stuck in Chicago

[Nebiroth]

I have a friend in America who has sent me a gift. He's in Kentucky, and the package progressed very quickly, until it hit the Chicago International Distribution Center. What is weird is that it has two arrival times - one at 9:20 Pm on the 13th but an event marked above this at 6:33am followed by an instant departure also at 6:33am, but the later arrival is followed by a "processed through" but no departure time. Royal Mail tracking show it's "leaving the origin country" because as far as I am aware processing through the International Centre means it is ready to go on it's final trip in the USA, from the Centre to the airport. I had a package earlier in the year that went through the Los Angeles Distribution Centre, and when it had "Progressed Through" it almost immediately left Los Angeles and travelled to San Francisco Airport for final despatch. But the one in Chicago has been stuck for almost three days now! It's First Class International, but the crazy thing is, USPS won't allow a "case" for these fully tracked items to be opened online, you just get a "we don't accept enquirires for the service used" and of course they only take complaints from the sender. So now I have to ask my friend to phone up USPS to find out what is happening? Anyone got any ideas why it's not moving, is it waiting for cargo space or a suitable fight or something? The Chicago centre has a terrible reputation and was subjected to Congressional review and a bad report by the Postmaster General last year. The other weird thing is the message about status updates beyond the US not being available, my earlier package was sent by exactly the same service and I didn't see that message when it left the Distribution Centre in Los Angeles. In any case, the Uk is an elligible country. No wonder USPS are losing customers. I'm aware that most "stuck" packages are in fact ones incoming to the USA, and it just means they have been passed to US Customs so get delayed, but this one is an outgoing, so any Customs delays owuldbe in the UK, not in the US. It's just some blurays he sent me, nothing that would cause any problems!

The last tracking events are:

March 14, 2022, 5:39 pm
Processed Through Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Your item was processed through our CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER facility on March 14, 2022 at 5:39 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Status updates beyond the United States are only available for select countries. For more information, review the list of eligible countries at http://www.usps.com/eligible-countries.htm .
March 14, 2022, 6:33 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 14, 2022, 6:33 am
Arrived at Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 13, 2022, 9:20 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 13, 2022, 8:41 pm
Departed USPS Regional Facility
CHICAGO IL LOGISTICS CENTER

(previous movements were in the US between post office and regional centres)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It may still be stuck in US Customs or even UK customs.

If so they may be checking to see if it meet the restrictions required for bringing it into the UK. Specifically not being

Indecent or obscene materials, regardless of media; DVDs, CD, video cassettes, films, books etc.

That may take some time

https://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/tz_018.htm

[Nebiroth]

It's not in Uk Customs. It hasn't got to the UK. I gues sit's possible that US Customs are checkign it before sneding, but that seems very unlikely, usually Customs checks happen at import, not export. No it's nothing liek that, just some hokey old sci-fi movies on bluray

[Nebiroth]

Well it's now arrived in JFK airport New York. There was no departure notice from Chicago to indicate it was makign it's way to JFK and I'm guessing it went by rail or road as it took three days.

And don;t ask me why it has to go to JFK when the much larger O'Hare airport was right next to the USPS Chicago USPS facility. It's literally right there as it's oen of the five American hubs used to process incomign and outgoing international mail.

[Nebiroth]

It'smarked as having departed JFK but not arrived in Heathrow, despite leaving JFK 36 hours ago -sigh-