Apple purposely withholding customs clearance papers for iPad shipments?

By on Mar 30, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Exclusive March 30, 2010

UPS

I’m a shipping freak. I love tracking packages, and I love knowing what happens when a package is sent. I have a pretty good understanding of how everything works — when and why packages are delayed, even when FedEx and UPS internally aren’t even so sure why. Everyone knows Apple’s iPads are due to be received (and available in stores) this Saturday, the 3rd. So, of course, Apple doesn’t want a single person getting an iPad early. Well, how do you completely control that? You request a block on delivery with your shipper of choice until the actual delivery date comes up.

But that doesn’t always do it. Sometimes there’s a mistake made, sometimes the local hub doesn’t care, or the package is there and no one notices and it gets sent out on the delivery truck. How do you completely fix this? You do what Apple is doing now. Shipments of iPads are due to reach the U.S. tomorrow and the next day, and if this was a normal shipment, the packages would be delivered on April 1st, not April 3rd. But, they can’t pass through Louisville, KY (UPS’ main hub) before passing through customs clearance. Since it’s an international shipment, there’s no way around that. Because Apple is shipping these things in bulk (yes, bulk), the easiest way to do this is to have the merchandise pre-cleared when it leaves China with UPS’s service WorldEase. The interesting thing though, is that U.S. Customs has not received any clearance papers yet — a surefire way to completely control the shipments until the actual delivery date and 100% bypass any possible shipper mistakes.

So. Smart.

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103 Comments

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  • PHug

    wow, some moron is actually going to buy an iPad?

  • ed

    Any evidence? Or is this just speculation? My understanding is that these things wouldn’t leave China unless the appropriate documents are in place already. And I find it hard to believe that Apple would risk Government delay (since we all know customs operations are models of efficiency) that might make large portions of iPads late.

    Anyone have direct knowledge of this?

    My calls to UPS regarding our shipment have resulted in them not saying there are any holds or issues, even after specifically asking if there is a customs issue. One of the reps said she would be able to see customs delays on her screens, and saw nothing.

  • eric

    Interesting. Apple has always gotten UPS and FedEX to cooperate by not making final shipment until the day of release.

  • AS

    The iPads are already in UPS or FedEx warehouses, waiting to be shipped.

  • iPadforEveryone

    Yes, as I have been watching my iPad shipment I noticed a special customs hold. I suspected that they were doing something like this. The data has now disappeared, but my iPad hit KY yesterday and now the shipping info states only the China exit scan.

    • DJS

      sometimes china repeatedly scan the container number but actually the shipments are already in the US. You may be check if there is Customs clearance submission.

  • skyy_flyer

    According to gizmodo.com Apple is refunding the $12. Still sad it happened in the first place but what can you do, it’s Apple.

  • ed

    Try this for a coherent explanation that matches all prior knowledge I have of UPS delivery practices: http://www.theipadguide.com/content/ipad-ups-tracking-information-causing-some-confusion/7171089

  • John

    You might want to call UPS! I just did and was told that a large batch did not clear US customs today and thus will be delayed by one business day. Mine will not be available until Monday. He told me the delay was due to improper customs forms filled out by Apple. He went on to state that many got cleared but a good quantity did not. Yes, I do have Saturday delivery and UPS confirmed this.
    When calling Apple on this, the rep. just told me she had no more information than what UPS had on their website which is “In Transit” but no date. She told me I would have to wait until Monday and that since shipping was free, Apple could not do anything if they come late from UPS.
    I was really planning to get to know my new iPad this weekend.

  • http://www.conferencebites.com Brian Duggan

    Their paperwork hold may have screwed things up. Mine is one that seems to be staled in Kentucky, due to not clearing customs:
    “SHIPMENT IS HELD TO VERIFY COMMODITY DESCRIPTION WITH THE CUSTOMER FOR CORRECT CLASSIFICATION / BROKERAGE RELEASED SHIPMENT. SHIPMENT IS SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE”

    Bummer! I hear this may be true of a lot of iPads and may be exactly due custom form issues.
    I actually also reserved one for pick up, but didn’t plan to. Now I may need to, being unwilling to wait!

    • DJS

      this is very common when you have international shipments. All international commodities had this comments that is due to ups submission of data to US customs. There is nothing wrong with that.

  • Adonian

    Mine just left Ontario hub in Ca, but hasent reached my local hub in Chula Vista … So I won’t get mine on time! I am beyond pissed, I could have just had the freaking thing as a store pick up! I will call and complain but it won’t help.

    • Applewannabe

      waaaaa….I cant wait another day for my igaypad…waaaaa

      lol sucker!!

  • Adonian

    Change my last… Just signed for it… It’s heavier than I thought, but it came fully charged.

  • DJS

    The last K48 Apple/IPAD’S shipments were all imported in Anchorage AK through UPS. My Mom works 12 hours a day last week doing data processed with all the shipments that came from China. There were no delays, or hold.Shipments were all delivered on time depending on the nature of shipments whether express, 2nd day or 3 day select.

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