Item Leaving the UK, GLS LAZY AS USUAL!( PORTUGAL)

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 04 Sep 2018, 01:15

Hello Guys, i need your help. Im getting worried about my package coming from UK to Portugal.
So, A lil bit of context.
The package was on Friday 24 August 10:17am Accepted at Post Office Auchterarder Post Office [PH3 1BJ]on the same day 10:38am Sender preparing item 08:17pm Item received at Edinburgh Mail Centre 08:53pm Item Despatched Edinburgh Mail Centre
On the Saturday 25 August 04:20am Item Received by Royal Mail LANGLEY HWDC
On the Sunday 26 August 05:28am Item Leaving the UK LANGLEY HWDC
5 working days already passed,and those 5 days should be the time that the my package should be delivered. I sent an email to RM.
My Email to RM
Hello, i think I have an issue with my parcel.
The tracking number :RN498166626GB, is not updating and the parcel should be arrived at my house by today.
Is there any update/information that you can give me?
Thank you.
RM answer
Dear Joao,Thank you for your email regarding item number RN498166626GB, I am very sorry that your item has not yet been delivered and any inconvenience this has caused you. From looking at the tracking on this item, I can see that it is being shipped via GLS. As GLS have a Central Distribution Centre (CDC) in Germany, all items to any GLS location are firstly shipped to the CDC before being forwarded to the relevant country for delay. This is where GLS carry out all the security scans on items and they then route the item via the most efficient route to ensure a timely delivery.
On this occasion I can see that there is a delay between the item being shipped from the UK via the CDC and the item being received in the destination country. Which is the reason why your item is taking longer than the 5 working day delivery aim provided. We would expect to see the item scanned into the German CDC, so I am very sorry this scan has been missed.I must note that as none of Royal Mails International services offer a guaranteed delivery timescale, all delivery aims are provided as an estimated guide for delivery. If you have any time sensitive mail, you would need to ensure you are using a courier service for shipping, which can guarantee delivery dates. If your item has not been delivered by 21/09/2018 then the lead time for loss would have elapsed and we would have to ask that the sender of the item submit a claim for loss. Claims can be submitted online at http://www.royalmail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.
Kind Regards Emma Stanton Royal Mail.
So after this i immediately gave GLS a ring, They answer was, "its not in Portugal yeat, it should take 6-7 working days, Today(4/09/2018) its the 7th working day.

The package is not in Germany,(GLS CDC), i did read that GLS they are known to lost packages and mail, and the Tracking number on the GLS website is not working!! So guys, please help me! What can i do here?
The package is a valuable watch, and i dont want to lose it!!
Thank you , Best Regards
Joao Goncalves

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 04 Sep 2018, 06:33

Is the watch powered by a lithium battery?

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 04 Sep 2018, 11:35

SpacePhoenix wrote:Is the watch powered by a lithium battery?

Not it’s an automatic watch.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 04 Sep 2018, 12:56

By automatic, do you mean powered by the wearer’s movement? We have seen these suffer from customs delays before. They are allowed to be sent in the mail but on the scanners they probably look like banned / restricted items, so they often seem to get stopped for examination. It should arrive after a delay.

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 04 Sep 2018, 13:36

Snaggletooth wrote:By automatic, do you mean powered by the wearer’s movement? We have seen these suffer from customs delays before. They are allowed to be sent in the mail but on the scanners they probably look like banned / restricted items, so they often seem to get stopped for . It should arrive after a delay.

Yes, that kind of watch.
What do you mean by customs ? It’s schengen space, I never had any parcel stopped in customs in the Europe (schengen uk) space.
But if it’s getting scanned and inspected by the “Customs” why is the tracking number not working ?
Anyway, thank you for your reply !

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 04 Sep 2018, 15:31

Joao Goncalves wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:By automatic, do you mean powered by the wearer’s movement? We have seen these suffer from customs delays before. They are allowed to be sent in the mail but on the scanners they probably look like banned / restricted items, so they often seem to get stopped for . It should arrive after a delay.
Yes, that kind of watch.
What do you mean by customs ? It’s schengen space, I never had any parcel stopped in customs in the Europe (schengen uk) space.
But if it’s getting scanned and inspected by the “Customs” why is the tracking number not working ?
Anyway, thank you for your reply !

Customs isn't just for VAT, its also does legal and safety checks. Fake goods, batteries, fraud etc - all get looked at if they stop a shipment.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 04 Sep 2018, 18:09

As far as I know the 'Schengen' is about free movement of people and not goods or trade.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 04 Sep 2018, 18:40

The EU abolished customs duty (tax) when moving items between countries but each nation state still has a list of banned items unique to them. Germany, for instance, has a total ban on lithium batteries, which are commonly used in watches. Customs still check packages for this reason.

As far as I am aware, no customs service anywhere in the world tracks the packages which are in their care.

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 05 Sep 2018, 13:33

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
Joao Goncalves wrote:
Snaggletooth wrote:By automatic, do you mean powered by the wearer’s movement? We have seen these suffer from customs delays before. They are allowed to be sent in the mail but on the scanners they probably look like banned / restricted items, so they often seem to get stopped for . It should arrive after a delay.
Yes, that kind of watch.
What do you mean by customs ? It’s schengen space, I never had any parcel stopped in customs in the Europe (schengen uk) space.
But if it’s getting scanned and inspected by the “Customs” why is the tracking number not working ?
Anyway, thank you for your reply !

Customs isn't just for VAT, its also does legal and safety checks. Fake goods, batteries, fraud etc - all get looked at if they stop a shipment.

shouldn't i had any information?
Today it’s the last business day...still no information on the tracking day what so ever.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 05 Sep 2018, 14:22

No - I don't know of any Customs of any country that has a system where items in their possession can be tracked.

Basically, customs are a law unto their own, and there is not much any courier or postal company can do.

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 06 Sep 2018, 02:27

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:No - I don't know of any Customs of any country that has a system where items in their possession can be tracked.

Basically, customs are a law unto their own, and there is not much any courier or postal company can do.

IF my parcel is in the customs. I've seen people complaining about lost parcels .
Anyway, im gonna ring GLS tomorrow.
Thank you.

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 07 Sep 2018, 02:23

So guys, today I gave GLS a ring, after 20 minutes of waiting , she said:” Your parcel it’s not on Portugal yet” So they still don’t know where it is my parcel .

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 07 Sep 2018, 06:26

It first has to clear German customs as that's where GLS's central hub is

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 07 Sep 2018, 17:05

SpacePhoenix wrote:It first has to clear German customs as that's where GLS's central hub is

Hello, sir.
How can you be so sure? The Lady from GLS told be that all the parcels go to Spain first and than to Portugal. She didn’t say anything about Germany, she even told me that the tracking number has no information and it should had.
Anyway, Already spook to the person who send the parcel, he is gonna make a lost and found complaint .

Joao Goncalves · Post by **Joao Goncalves** » 17 Sep 2018, 18:40

SpacePhoenix wrote:It first has to clear German customs as that's where GLS's central hub is

Sill, no parcel whatsoever...