Ordering from Asia: Clearance Delay?

[Herr Squid]

Has anybody here got experience with international shipping and US Customs? It's my first time ordering an instrument from Asia (Japan) to be received in the Continental US. The FedEx tracking info has said for about 3 days that the shipment is in "Clearance Delay" on Honolulu. The site said to call FedEx customer service, so I gritted my teeth and did that two days ago. They sent me a pair of messages saying that I needed to fill out a US customs form, which I did electronically, and "sent" back to them. Got an email back from FedEx acknowledging receipt and then... crickets.

About 48 hours later I don't see that anything is happening at all. Has anybody else been through this? Is it about normal, I should I be concerned that something's gummed up, or I need to do another thing they haven't told me about?

 

[aamefford]

No, but I do have pretty extensive experience with “Island Time” over the years. It’s an ahhhh, different pace over there. Stay on top of them, but factor in the lifestyle.

 

[Birdsofprey]

They like many companies hide information from the consumer as well as hiding from human interaction and it can be very frustrating. Squeaky wheel gets the attention. If you don’t already sign up for the Fed Ex app that won’t get ya much but when your waiting any bit of info helps.