One of the most well traveled packages of the modern era...

Welcome to the Tale of the Traveling Package...

1 November 2007: Flat rate package mailed from tiny post office in Springville, Iowa, 52336 USA containing one camera fresh from warranty work, one MP3 player, 2 CDs, and various other bits and bobs

6 November 2007: Package arrives in the UK

7 November 2007: Package is levied a charge of £90.70 (about $200 dollars) in import, customs, and clearance fees because the items are (falsely) thought to be new. Package held at Parcel Force, Newcastle, England

7 November 2007: GB pound to US dollar hits a 26-year high of $2.11610 per £1. We continue to live off dollar savings accounts until first UK paycheck comes through in December.

9 November 2007: First attempted delivery, slip left at our door

10 November 2007: Josh calls Parcel Force to discuss charges and options. We could pay, but our bank accounts are dangerously low (see entry, 7 November) and not all charges can be recovered. If returned, Package delivery should coincide with our Christmas trip back to the States.

11 November 2007: Package refused (by Josh) and marked return to sender with the understanding that it will leave directly.

5 December 2007: Package fulfills full waiting period for refusals, is returned to customs and levied a $25 charge for returning parcel to sender.

12 December 2007: Package held in depot, awaiting shipment back to the states via slowest boat possible.

19 December 2007: We fly to the USA. No idea about Package.

30 December 2007: We fly back to the UK. Package still MIA.

14 January 2008: Package shipped to USA... on above mentioned boat.

18 January 2008: Josh calls Parcel Force to find out where the hell Package went. Parcel Force says it was just shipped. Should take 28 days.

(From here, things get tricky... dates are pieced together from stickers on the package and emails from Chicago customs...)

27 February 2008: Package arrives from Coventry, England in Chicago (43 days later) and is rejected by US customs due to incorrect labeling on behalf of British customs.

29 February 2008: Package is scanned at O'Hare Airport as 'International Dispatch Ready'. Back on the slow boat it goes...

18 March 2008: Package arrives (again) at UK customs, where it is automatically refused, gets marked properly and is placed once more on said boat...

March 2008: Having heard nothing since January, most parties involved lose all hope of ever seeing Package again.

4 April 2008: The Postmaster, United States Post Office 52336 (Springville, Iowa), emails the Consumer Affairs Department in Chicago to track down Package after already extensive Internet research and tracking. Last known location: O'Hare Airport on February 29.

7 April 2008: US Customs, Chicago, calls Postmaster 52336. Looks like Package went to the UK.

9 April 2008: Josh calls Parcel Force. Package is in the UK. He offers to pay any and all charges.

11 April 2008: Josh calls Parcel Force again. Package is not there after all. Might be coming back the USA.

18 April 2008: Package arrives back at its original post office, Springville, IA. There is a $25 care of delivery charge. Postmaster calls Mom Wall.

19 April 2008: After 171 days, Mom Wall picks up Package. Postmaster says, "No way in hell are you paying for this package." Package goes home.

27 April 2008: Package delivered in person by Mom Wall to Josh in Zeeland, Michigan (with much rejoicing by all!) and brought to the UK four days later.


Moral of the story: Just pay the damn fees the first time. (Also, always be kind to your postmaster.)