DHL Parcel, last tracking IPZ Frankfurt, shows up on RM

[DottySpoons]

Hi all,
I had a parcel despatched from Germanu via DHL, tracking says it was in IPZ Frankfurt (customs) and now leaving for the destination country. Royal Mail tracking for it says "This item is now leaving the originating country. More information will be available when it arrives in the UK."

That was on 24th December, even accounting for Christmas and New Year that's still 3 weeks*, and I thought much of the potential Brexit chaos was avoided with the deal ... maybe I was wrong. Anyway, my main question before I start thinking about chasing it up is: where exactly might my parcel be, to have been scanned as leaving Germany but not yet entered RM's system over here? (I think I can probably guess, but would like to hear for certain from someone more knowledgeable than me!)


*also slightly annoying because the only postage option I was given was more expensive, for DHL with tracking and everything and I expected it would be relatively speedy - maybe I was wrong about that too.

[gt94sss2]

I had a parcel coming from Thailand to the UK last June via DHL - that spent 24 days stuck in Frankfurt - and that was without the Christmas holidays or Brexit...

[SpacePhoenix]

What's the tracking number?

[DottySpoons]

What's the tracking number?

Hi, sorry for the delay in replying. It's RM661615361DE

These are the last updates from parcelsapp (really useful site!)

24 Dec 2020
07:53
The shipment will be transported to the destination country/destination area and, from there, handed over to the delivery organization
(IPZ Frankfurt)
DEUTSCHE POST - DHL PAKET

24 Dec 2020
06:53
Item Leaving overseas. This item is now leaving the originating country. More information will be available when it arrives in the UK
(Germany)
ROYAL MAIL

24 Dec 2020
00:00
The item was handed over to the International Logistics Center on 24.12.2020 to be forwarded to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Further information is also provided by the website of the country of destination
DEUTSCHE POST BRIEF

[TrueBlueTerrier]

DEUTSCHE POST - DHL PAKET

This entry above would seem to indicate that its being delivered by DHL rather than Royal Mail, might be worth giving them a shout.

Another indication of this is that the DHL tracking page gives more information that the Royal Mail one

DHL https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/trac ... 61615361DE

Royal Mail https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-it ... 61615361DE

[DottySpoons]

DEUTSCHE POST - DHL PAKET

This entry above would seem to indicate that its being delivered by DHL rather than Royal Mail, might be worth giving them a shout.

Another indication of this is that the DHL tracking page gives more information that the Royal Mail one

DHL https://www.dhl.com/global-en/home/trac ... 61615361DE

Royal Mail https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-it ... 61615361DE

Interesting, thanks, I'll see if they can help. Why would it show up on RM's system? (I do believe you, just curious to know how it works.)

[DottySpoons]

Okay so DHL Paket tracking 'investigation' doesn't recognise it. Nor does DHL UK. Deutsche Post does and tells me the same as parcelsapp - it's been handed over to the international logistics centre, with a link to RM's tracking page which tells me it's leaving the originating country.

Let's hope direct contact with DHL will shed some light.

[yellowbelly]

Just a thought, but with all the faff about VAT/duty etc. now being required to be applied to some stuff
coming in from EU (depending on the value due to Brexit), it might still be stuck in customs somewhere?

[DottySpoons]

Just a thought, but with all the faff about VAT/duty etc. now being required to be applied to some stuff
coming in from EU (depending on the value due to Brexit), it might still be stuck in customs somewhere?

Well I did have that worry, but read in the guidance (once they finally decided what was happening ) that items posted before the 1st Jan would be dealt with under the old rules, so no VAT or customs duties for parcels sent to/from the EU. I assumed with it being a fully tracked service that it should have the date of posting somewhere on it.

But it is equally possible customs in whichever country, or both were swamped with Christmas and people making sure to send things before the deadline - plus the ever-present pandemic staffing impacts.

All I really want to know is where exactly it is, whether it has left Germany or not. Beyond that, there's nothing I or the seller can do anyway, I don't think.

[DottySpoons]

An update, hooray! As of this morning (5th Feb) it is at last on the move within the UK - so yes it most likely was stuck in customs.

[PhilMitch]

An update, hooray! As of this morning (5th Feb) it is at last on the move within the UK - so yes it most likely was stuck in customs.

That's awesome. How do you know of the update? I ask as I check that tracking number and there is no update I see.

[DottySpoons]

An update, hooray! As of this morning (5th Feb) it is at last on the move within the UK - so yes it most likely was stuck in customs.

That's awesome. How do you know of the update? I ask as I check that tracking number and there is no update I see.

The DHL/Deutsche Post tracking has nothing new but parcelsapp.com and Royal Mail tracking both say it's left Langley and Heathrow :)