Order Hung up in Customs - Is This Normal?

South Pender

South Pender

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I'm not sure that this is the best sub-forum to post this in, but maybe someone here can help.

I placed an order for some expander mandrels with Sinclair more than a month ago (no Canadian source had them). I got information that they were shipped on April 5. When I tried tracking the order, it appeared that it was in Customs on April 15, and there was no further information about it. I called the Sinclair (Brownells) International customer service to see whether they had any more info, and they had no more info than I had--just that it was in Customs. It's been close to 3 weeks now and I'm wondering whether it is normal for Customs to hold onto a package for this long. In my case, it would be a very small package (possibly a padded envelope) with three expander mandrels, and the value would be about $30 US.

Has anyone here had this experience with Customs--holding onto packages from the US to Canada for this long?
 
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They hung onto some stuff I ordered from numrich last year. Sat for a couple weeks then one day said cleared on the tracking info.

It was a no4 mk2 stock....a club without the action..
 
I order stuff from Numrich's a couple times a year - actually have an order on the way now. Not unusual for two or three week in Canada Customs, after it gets there - has spent 10 days or more to get from New York State to Canada. Does not seem to matter size or value - sometimes, as if they take their time. Next one whizzes through in 3 days - no rhyme or reason from my end...
 
I've had packages stall at Customs for two-three weeks depending on whatever. They eventually get moving again then another week or ten day before Canada post gets it to me. Having customs/Canada post charge a "service fee" on top of everything else adds to the frustration.
 
Customs in Mississauga is having a Covid outbreak and have reduced staffing, according to the Lady I talked to there, they are 6 - 8 weeks behind, I have an 30.00 order from Numrich sitting there since April 6, not any AR-15 parts either, just for a Ruger 44 Mag Carbine. I have now had 3 orders clears customs in Richmond that were ordered after this Numrich package has been held up by Customs
 
I’m waiting on one from Sinclair’s too.
Tracking says it went from there to Chicago distribution center to two different cities in Texas then back to Chicago.
From there to Canada customs.
Been there since April 13.
No idea when I’ll see it.
 
Aptil 15 to May 3 rd - about 2 weeks..can take up to 3- 4 weeks.
Wondering why you contacted Brownell - when it’s shipped and in Canadian Custom, there is absolutely nothing they can do for you or about it.
Call CBSA instead, at least you will bark at the right tree.
 
Janeau said:
Aptil 15 to May 3 rd - about 2 weeks..can take up to 3- 4 weeks.
Wondering why you contacted Brownell - when it’s shipped and in Canadian Custom, there is absolutely nothing they can do for you or about it.
Call CBSA instead, at least you will bark at the right tree.
Click to expand...
I called Brownells because I thought that they may have better, and possibly more up-to-date, information than what I had received. Also because I wasn't sure who to contact at Canada Customs--it's a pretty big bureaucracy.

It's ironic that this particular order should be the one Customs seems to be hanging on to. It's a $30 order and would be in a very small package. I would have thought they wouldn't bother with something this insignificant. Two other orders from the US placed after the Sinclair order have arrived and did so in one to two weeks--one from Precision Reloading (in a large box and worth about $300) and one from Benchrite (in a padded envelope and worth about $30).
 
I just had a package go through customs. One week exactly. Says released so let’s see how long it takes to get here from Toronto to Nova Scotia. I always expect delays through customs, never know how long it’s going to be. Doesn’t matter the price of items either.
 
Antique Handgun in customs for a whopping 2 hrs 14 mins!

Item presented to Canada Border Agency for Customs Review March 28 at 1:12 pm
International Item released from Canada Border Agency for processing by Canada Post March 28 at 3:26 pm
 
I had an antique handgun stuck in Missisauga for weeks. Then one day it showed up. No entries in tracker to explain.

Richmond is much better as a point of entry, never had a problem there but they did hold one antique because there was no invoice in the parcel and they didnt know how much gst to charge. I got a letter with instructions how to fax the invoice to them. 3 days later it arrived at the door.
 
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