Tracking and/or parcel issue?

kieran1203 · Post by **kieran1203** » 29 Sep 2016, 12:42

Sorry if you get these posts everyday but I'm hoping someone experienced with Royal Mail may know what issue I may be having,

I ordered a live plant from Poland (which as far as I'm aware is not prohibited coming from Poland), from a seller who does a lot of sales to the UK,

The letter was sent as "priority" costing me 6€ for "48 hour airmail" for just a 148g letter.. it was posted on the 21st and according to the Polish tracking it was accepted at Heathrow sorting office on the 23rd since then I have not received the item and Royal Mail tracking has still not recognised the tracking number?

Does this mean the package is still sitting at Heathrow? The problem for me is that if it doesn't come soon the plant is gonna be dead,.. They are sent unpotted usually wrapped in something damp sure.. But after already 9 days with no indication it's left Heathrow I'm getting pretty worried, the plant is 100% legal to own and grow in the UK (it's sold here in the UK also), so if the parcel was stopped for some reason I have no idea why... :(

Anything I can do?

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 29 Sep 2016, 18:11

It's probably caught up in customs delays, which does happen a lot, and it can take several weeks, even for items coming from the EU. And I would expect that plants often get singled out for extra checks for drugs violations, maybe even CITES.

That said, it is contractually down to the sender to get it to you in the time they promised. Check your contract with them, if they have sold you this plant on the basis of a timed delivery which failed then you should be entitled to at least a partial refund. If you don't get that from the seller, you should be able to get it from Pay Pal or your credit card provider.

kieran1203 · Post by **kieran1203** » 29 Sep 2016, 18:38

Ridiculous when it's a tiny plant delivered from Poland which has no prohibited goods except illegal items, surely it takes two dam seconds to open up a little letter and clearly see its not drugs..

I'm gonna be really annoyed if it turns up dead which I think it will know as there's still no Royal Mail tracking today.. >.> God knows if I'd get a refund,

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 29 Sep 2016, 19:34

Yes, ridiculous I agree, especially if it was the only item imported that day.

Unfortunately, Royal Mail has no control over customs as all. I personally have no idea how they select what to check or how they prioritise them, but my guess is that they will stop batches at random if your item is within that batch then its bad luck.

As I said before RM has no control over Customs, but they do answer to their Political Masters if you feel very aggrieved try contacting your MP, make them work for once.

kieran1203 · Post by **kieran1203** » 30 Sep 2016, 12:28

Still hasn't updated tracking didn't come in post today.. ( keep hoping it does in case it wasn't scanned ), if/when it leaves Heathrow it could still take a few days go get here, the plants been in the post 9 days so far, I don't think there's a chance now it's going to be alive/healthy.. It's Friday now Sunday's going to be another day nothing will happen, never been so annoyed, it's priority mail, and it seems it's just been sitting in customs doing absolutely nothing for a week so far, Sod's law at its finest the one time I go order something internationally that needs to come remotely on time and it of course doesn't...

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 30 Sep 2016, 14:11

kieran1203 wrote:Ridiculous when it's a tiny plant delivered from Poland which has no prohibited goods except illegal items, surely it takes two dam seconds to open up a little letter and clearly see its not drugs.

Er, not really. There certainly used to be a lot of people attempting to import cannabis plants or seeds in the mail. It's probably harder to tell apart tiny seedlings than it is the seeds, at least at a certain stage of their development.

As I said before, your argument is with the seller, not their subcontractors (the mail services).

kieran1203 · Post by **kieran1203** » 01 Oct 2016, 01:27

Snaggletooth wrote:
kieran1203 wrote:Ridiculous when it's a tiny plant delivered from Poland which has no prohibited goods except illegal items, surely it takes two dam seconds to open up a little letter and clearly see its not drugs.
Er, not really. There certainly used to be a lot of people attempting to import cannabis plants or seeds in the mail. It's probably harder to tell apart tiny seedlings than it is the seeds, at least at a certain stage of their development.

As I said before, your argument is with the seller, not their subcontractors (the mail services).

Well, it is a small plant (adult actually) thats 9cm in diameter so even to the untrained eye I don't think it would appear to be any known illegal plant, yeah I will have to see what happens and what the sellers response to it is, but I'm still annoyed at the post/customs that the thing hasn't moved :@@@@@@

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 01 Oct 2016, 14:15

kieran1203 wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:
kieran1203 wrote:Ridiculous when it's a tiny plant delivered from Poland which has no prohibited goods except illegal items, surely it takes two dam seconds to open up a little letter and clearly see its not drugs.
Er, not really. There certainly used to be a lot of people attempting to import cannabis plants or seeds in the mail. It's probably harder to tell apart tiny seedlings than it is the seeds, at least at a certain stage of their development.

As I said before, your argument is with the seller, not their subcontractors (the mail services).
Well, it is a small plant (adult actually) thats 9cm in diameter so even to the untrained eye I don't think it would appear to be any known illegal plant, yeah I will have to see what happens and what the sellers response to it is, but I'm still annoyed at the post/customs that the thing hasn't moved :@@@@@@

Well STOP being annoyed at "the post" - I don't know how many times we have to say it. Royal mail, the post, have NO CONTROL over customs.

Nothing wrong with being annoyed but don't blame innocent parties, especially innocent parties that we work for.

kieran1203 · Post by **kieran1203** » 05 Oct 2016, 10:50

So thank god it's being dispatched, no idea if the plant will have survived however why in the message does it say ready to dispatch overseas? If it's at Heathrow, me living in England is that just an incorrect automated message?

Your item, posted on 23/09/16 with reference RR858061138PL has been received at our international mail centre and is being made ready for despatch overseas.