I am having a problem with a coin I purchased from Germany on 2/10/16. I ordered and paid for a coin from one of the MA Shops dealers. I have done business in the past with them with no problems. The dealer shipped the coin by registered mail and it has been sitting at the ISC in New York since 2/15/16. I have contacted the seller and asked that they track from their end since I was told by the Postal Inspector that that was the correct process. I was told by the PO that customs can only hold the item for 35 days. Other sources tell me customs can hold as long as they like. The seller advised me that the process "takes time". I am assuming they have had experience with this problem. What's aggravating is the coin cost a little less than $50 but postage and handling was $14. Seems like another method of shipment could have been used. Has anyone run into this problem in the past? What is a realistic time frame for customs to do whatever they need to do to release the coin? Why would they be holding it that long? I hate to force the dealer to refund if the coin is going to be released soon, but I can't seem to get an idea of when.
I bought a high grade gem gold quarter eagle from a British seller on eBay back perhaps 8 years ago, and it too got hung up in US Customs (also NY). After more than 2 months of waiting and checking, more waiting and more checking, I called the Customs Department, and got no satisfaction. They said it could not be tracked through Customs, and I'd just have to wait for it to come through. Ultimately, the seller & I concluded it was stolen, and we agreed to share equally in the loss. That coin never did show up . . . I don't believe US Customs is a black hole . . . I think that coin did indeed come back out . . . in someone's pocket.
Customs can hold on to it for as long as they deem necessary. Try calling your Congressman. Sometimes, that works but customs is an extremely frustrating process filled with some of the dumbest people on earth. I know, I've had dealings with them for a company I used to work with. Again, patience helps. Things like this take time, months and months.
They likely meant 35 business days which would be a couple months, I don't actually know if that time frame is true or not anyway. The reality with customs is they will just work at their own pace, you would need a court order to get something released against their will anyway which will take a while and be cost prohibitive so really they get to it when they get to it. They may be holding it for a reason or it may just be lost in their pile. Usually things take a while if it doesn't clear in the first week or so
Is it a coin which could - construed correctly or not, don't forget this is a bureaucracy we're talking about - run afoul of "cultural heritage" laws one way or the other?
Nope, not a tomb raider. Just a North American Peso for my World Silver Collection. Sometime you have to search outside of eBay to find what you want.
OK, I have no logical explanation for you aside the term "bureaucracy." And a bunch of sympathy for your plight.
Customs can be a royal PIA! I purchased a pair of ear rings from a jeweler in the Cayman Island. I had purchased a necklace while on a cruise and wanted to get her the matching ear rings. The jeweler remember me and hooked me up. He even gift wrapped the ear rings. Well long story short the package got flagged open in customs and when I received it a total cluster inside. Package unwrapped wrapping paper thrown in ear rings loose in box , etc...... and there's nothing you can do. A lot of items entering the US comes through Kennedy NY. I like to think of it as Limbo....... However I have also purchased the wife a ring from Israel and had no issues traced it from start to finish. Even in customs. The only snafu was that believe it or not! The US post office deliver it @ 7:48 am on a SUNDAY morning . And of course it did seem strange that Morning to see a mail truck bouncing down the road as I was going for a coffee and the Sunday paper. And of course the ring was an anniversary gift that was a surprise until the mailman asked the Mrs. to sign for the ring. Two words "Good Luck"
My last Ma-shops purchase took 45 days to arrive. The seller agreed that it had probably gotten lost and refunded me. Then it arrived the next day and I promptly let him know and repaid him.
Got notice mine cleared customs today and was accepted at the PO in Jamaica, NY. Yay!!! Maybe your's will too, soon. Didn't know there was a Jamaica, NY.
Customs can do just about anything they wish to do. You can't rush them. Overall I feel they do a great job.
