US Mail is stuck in Indian Customs. Help!

hidimba · Post by **hidimba** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:12 am

Hello

I have r2ied this year Jan. I told one of my US friend to send few DVDs (old american classic) by US express mail to India. Through the tracking information I can see that it is stuck at Indian customs for almost a week. I enquired at local post office and they could tell me where to contact. I am getting these DVDs as gift to for daughter's birthday. I am in Pune.

Does anyone know where am I suppose to contact? I am ready to pay the duty, but I have no clue where to go.

My daughter's birthday is approaching very fast. So can some help?

VWbuggy78 · Post by **VWbuggy78** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:07 am

Just give it time. You usually don't have to do anything. I have been able to get DVDs , books and magazines without paying any duty.

If you don't get the product, you can always complain to your credit card company or Amazon or whoever shipped it. You will get a refund.

DoctorJ · Post by **DoctorJ** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:41 am

VWbuggy78;54017Just give it time. You usually don't have to do anything. I have been able to get DVDs , books and magazines without paying any duty.[/quote]
I agree with this line of thinking...
If in a hurry, one should be able to contact the local customs officer to get directions to expedite the process.
[quote]If you don't get the product, you can always complain to your credit card company or Amazon or whoever shipped it. You will get a refund.[/quote]
This is irrelevant. Check OP's quote below...
hidimba;53933I told one of my US friend to send few DVDs (old american classic) by US express mail to India.[/quote]
On a side note...I wouldn't be too surprised if somebody related to a customs department official is enjoying the classics. There have been instances when they've stolen liquor and such stuff in bright daylight.:emangry:
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In India, one can never be sure about anything... -DJ :cool:

Nj2Blr · Post by **Nj2Blr** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:01 am

Indian Postal Service has a main foreign mail dept or a servicing dept. You will have to go there in person and be prepared to search through all the mail ..You may have to pay the duty .. If you send by global priority mail parcels get to india in about 10 days time.

I had sent a regular parcel which took over 6 weeks and my parents had to go the foreign mail location in Bangalore to clear the parcel. Next time I sent global priority mail and it was delivered at home in about 10 days.

hidimba · Post by **hidimba** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:10 pm

The DVDs were sent by International express mail from US. As per the tracking information it reached to the Indian customs on 20th October. Today it is 28th October. So it has taken much more than it should have. I guess it went to Mumbai as the shipping address is Pune. Does anyone knows where in Mumbai the overseas percel goes for Customs? Any address & phone number would be greatly appreciated.

fellowtraveler · Post by **fellowtraveler** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:13 pm

This happened to me once when I had mailed some medicine to my family by a regular mail. It got stuck at the Mumbai Customs. think my family received a mail from the customs asking for explanations of the items. Surprisingly one of our relatives found some connection in the Customs and got it released the next day. Before that I made some written correspndence with the Cutoms which must have gone in the dustbin. (Shows once again how things work in India)

The USPS told me once the package left the US they had no control!

I would say call the Customs Office in Mumbai (I think they had Santacruz address) or get some govt officer to call on your behalf.