From China with Belgian Post?

forgotmyname

Ordered an item at the weekend, Just logged onto Ebay to see if it has been posted yet.

Posted on Monday and the tracking details are Belgian Post. Thats a 1st, Anyone else had anything from Belgian Post?

The tracking number doesnt work, Not recognised. Tried the entire code with letters and numbers and just the numbers. But always comes back as not recognised.

No batteries in it so no issue there.

Anyone else has items sent using them?

sequence

Yes, I've had loads of items "from china" come through Belgian Post. No idea how they manage it though. Tracking numbers never seems to work. All of the stuff I've bought from abroad has been arriving really slowly lately.

forgotmyname

Yeah i read something about them xraying or scanning parcels. Not allowed to post Li-Po batteries etc. Which is slowing the post down.

But thats a 1st for Belgium Post, Did the items actually come from China?

ballisticbrian

The Postal Union Rules specifically prohibits routing mail through a cheaper country creating an extra "hop" in the transit to save money - but it sounds to me that is what China is doing.

This_Year

I ordered from a Chinese seller and that came through Belgian Post - it baffled me why there was no customs label then I realised.

ballisticbrian

Actually, I wonder if Royal Mail know that China Post are dumping on Belgium Post like this. Where's CUSTARDY just when you need him???

forgotmyname

The tracking number now works. But its not very clear a jumble of words in different languages.

Something about a plane in english, Googled the work prior to that bit and it turned out to be aeroplane.
But it doesnt say where the plane was

So its on a plane somewhere...

martindow

Have you tried the tracking number in RM's site? If it works there you will get tracking in English. Otherwise paste in the results from the Belgian site in French or Flemish and someone will be able to translate for you.

forgotmyname

Yeah RM do not recognise the tracking number at all. Says wrong format.

I think it repeats itself in several languages, But no separation between them.

OK I just checked it again to copy and paste the text and it now has date/time boxes with the action and all in English.

Must have been a glitch last time i used it. Still have no idea where it is though.

17-10-2013 13:00:00
Your parcel has been checked-in for transport by plane.

17-10-2013 00:01:00
Your parcel has left the e-tailer's warehouse and is on its way to the airport.

16-10-2013 09:25:25
Your order is packed and ready to come your way.

Only been 6 days since i ordered it though.

forgotmyname

Quick update... Item from China didn't arrive. Seller sent another with a useable tracking number.
I opened a case on day 44 because that had not arrived. But then closed it a few days later when it did arrive.

Around the same time i was waiting a router from Plusnet. No sign of that either. They sent me another fairly quickly.

Today my neighbour hands me a couple of parcels. Saying they put them somewhere safe and forgot about them.

So i now have another router and the item from China. Its a wireless phone charging kit. So i dont need /cannot use another one.

It will cost more than i paid to return it. Give it away? Charity shop?

Other?

Ben84

forgotmyname wrote: »

Quick update... Item from China didn't arrive. Seller sent another with a useable tracking number.
I opened a case on day 44 because that had not arrived. But then closed it a few days later when it did arrive.

Around the same time i was waiting a router from Plusnet. No sign of that either. They sent me another fairly quickly.

Today my neighbour hands me a couple of parcels. Saying they put them somewhere safe and forgot about them.

So i now have another router and the item from China. Its a wireless phone charging kit. So i dont need /cannot use another one.

It will cost more than i paid to return it. Give it away? Charity shop?

Other?

Be careful, buying items like phone chargers and laptop power supplies from Chinese sellers online (including eBay and Amazon) is not good. They're almost inevitably poorly made and dangerous. They're very unlikely to have ever been independently safety tested to the standards ones sold here from reputable retailers have been - and not bothering with safety in the design or components is a big place to save money. I've seen many of these things which damaged the appliance attached to them or just randomly started burning.

Anyway, made in China is ok from reputable retailers and manufacturers (provided it's not a fake), but the stuff you import yourself is going to be 'dodgy market stall quality' at best. If it plugs in the mains, it's best to buy it from somewhere trustworthy.