Some Disappointing News.

[m_nakamura]

I think it's safe to say that my Edison is lost in the mail currently. My aunt shipped off the 2 pieces last month. Japan post is slow, but not that slow!

[drh]

Do you not have a tracking number?

Otherwise, don't necessarily lose hope; what with all the tariff/customs uproar, it could be caught in import clearance nonsense.

[m_nakamura]

There is tracking. It says that it exited the country May 5th.

[Lah Ca]

I would just wait it out. It will probably turn up.

There is a lot happening in the world at the moment that might delay it, and that is all I am going to say.

[Orchorsol]

I would just wait it out. It will probably turn up.

There is a lot happening in the world at the moment that might delay it, and that is all I am going to say.

I agree. With international shipments of my thorn needles I have had a few which have taken many weeks over the last year or so.

Also, you may be able to ask the shipping company to investigate and chase things up.

[OrthoFan]

Out of curiosity I Googled "how long does it take to receive a package mailed to the United States from Japan." Here's the Google AI results, based on the latest web based information:

The delivery time for a package mailed from Japan to the United States varies depending on the shipping method. Express options like EMS or international courier services can take 3-5 business days. Regular airmail might take 1-2 weeks. Surface (transported via ship) mail can take much longer, potentially 1-3 months.

Perplexity.com provided similar, albeit more detailed results:

Shipping a package from Japan to the United States typically takes about 1 to 2 weeks when using Japan Post's airmail or express mail service (EMS). The average delivery time for air parcels to major US cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles is around 14 days according to Japan Post's international parcel post estimates

However, delivery times can vary depending on customs clearance, paperwork accuracy, and handling conditions both in Japan and the US. Delays of 3 to 4 weeks have been reported occasionally, especially on the US side, due to processing backlogs or postal system inefficiencies

For slower shipping methods like ocean freight, transit times are longer, with shipments arriving at West Coast ports in about 15-20 days and East Coast ports in 25-30 days, but this is generally used for large freight shipments rather than typical parcels

In summary:

--Japan Post Airmail/EMS: ~1 to 2 weeks average delivery time
--Possible delays up to 3-4 weeks due to customs and USPS processing
--Ocean freight (for large shipments): 15-30 days depending on destination port

Thus, for a standard package sent by Japan Post airmail or EMS, expect roughly 1-2 weeks to receive it in the US, with occasional delays extending that time-frame.


Since it left Japan on May 5th, it's well within the normal range, so I wouldn't give up hope.

[Raphael]

My wife mailed her books back home to Miami after her semester abroad in Cambridge, England. That was in 1986 and she's still waiting. Hope springs eternal!

Raphael

[EarlH]

I sent home a box of records along with some clothes from London to Iowa back in 1984 and it took until 2005 for them to show up! It got forwarded to where my Mom had moved to. She called and wanted to know why I sent this junk to her. I went over and at first I had no idea what the stuff was or who it was from, it REEKED of diesel fuel. So, there is hope. I suppose that box got stuck somewhere on that ship and just wasn't seen. It had 5-6 needle cut Edison records in it, so I was pretty happy about it eventually showing up.

You can ask your postmaster to track it as the post office can see things internally (like and exception) that don't show always up on the website. They also can get in touch with the post office where it was last seen and find out if there is a package that the label got torn off and they don't know where to go with it. I had that happen with a record 10-12 years ago and wouldn't have gotten it otherwise. It's always a good idea to put a copy of the label inside boxes getting shipped.

[m_nakamura]

Okay!! Thanks everyone.

[Inigo]

I wouldn't worry before 1-2 months.
Sometimes my records from Nauck (Texas) have arrived in Spain in three weeks, sometimes in eight weeks or more.
If the customs stop the shipment for inspection, it can take longer to free the shipment to final destination, and involves some handling expenses and import taxes...