1ST XULIE News & Notices

Global Shipping Delays During the Holiday Season: What You Need to Know

The holiday season brings an increase in global e-commerce activity, and with it comes challenges in the logistics industry. From Black Friday to Christmas, the surge in order volumes, combined with regional issues, has created delays at nearly every stage of the shipping process. In this article, we’ll provide a detailed overview of the situation, explain the reasons behind the delays, and share how we are addressing these issues to ensure your orders reach you as soon as possible.

Our Shipping Process

Our shipping process ensures traceability and accountability at every step. Here’s how it works:

1. Dispatch from Shenzhen Warehouse
   Orders are prepared and dispatched from our Shenzhen warehouse. At this stage, we attach the logistics labels provided by the final-mile carriers (e.g., USPS for the U.S., Colissimo for France).

2. Transit and Customs Clearance
   Packages are shipped internationally and must pass through customs in the destination country.

3. Handover to Final-Mile Carriers
   After clearing customs, packages are handed to final-mile carriers (e.g., USPS, Yodel) for local delivery. Tracking updates occur only when these carriers scan the packages at their facilities.

Logistics Delays in Specific Regions

1. United States
   Many customers in the U.S. have reached out regarding shipping delays or tracking issues. Here’s why:

   • Initial Tracking Updates: As soon as the package is labeled with USPS logistics tags, tracking updates begin. However, until the package reaches the U.S. and is scanned by USPS at a local postal facility, updates may appear stagnant or repetitive, showing only entry/exit records or transit between logistics partners.
   • Customs and USPS Backlogs: Due to the high volume of holiday shipments, both U.S. Customs and USPS facilities are overwhelmed, leading to delays in scanning and updating tracking information. Some packages may not update until they are scanned for final delivery.

   Even items shipped from our U.S. warehouse have faced delays due to USPS and UPS being overburdened. We understand this can cause frustration and are actively monitoring each shipment to ensure safe delivery.

2. United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Other European Countries
   Shipping to Europe has also been significantly impacted:

   • Pre-Holiday Performance: Before November, most shipments to the UK and France took 5-8 days.
   • Current Delays: Since November, some packages have taken over 20 days to be scanned or delivered by final-mile carriers such as Yodel and Colissimo. This is largely due to increased customs inspections during the holiday season, resulting in severe backlogs.
   • Customs Delays: In some cases, packages have been stuck at customs for weeks. For example, several customers in Europe have experienced delays since November, with their packages still awaiting clearance. In such cases, we have already arranged replacements for affected orders.

3. Canada
   Shipping to Canada faced a unique challenge due to a postal workers’ strike that began on November 15th:

   • Impact of the Strike: During the strike, all Canadian postal operations were suspended, leaving packages stranded at airports and distribution centers. Even shipments sent before November 15th were delayed due to the backlog.
   • Current Recovery: The strike was resolved recently, and as of December 18th, Canada Post has resumed operations. However, over 10 million packages remain in the backlog, and it will take time for the system to normalize.

   To minimize risks, we plan to resume shipping to Canada early next week, ensuring all packages are securely dispatched.

4. Remote Regions
   Customers in remote areas or countries with limited logistics infrastructure have also experienced delays:

   • Use of Postal Routes: For such regions, we rely on postal networks, which are currently overwhelmed.
   • Customs Checks: Packages may remain in customs for extended periods, awaiting inspection.

   Our logistics team is in constant communication with local postal partners to expedite the processing and delivery of these shipments.

Why These Delays Occur

Several factors contribute to the current logistics challenges:

• Seasonal Peak Demand: November and December see the highest shipping volumes of the year, overwhelming global logistics networks.
• Customs Backlogs: Enhanced inspections during the holiday season lead to delays in customs clearance.
• Final-Mile Carrier Strain: Local carriers like USPS, Yodel, and Colissimo face unprecedented volumes, resulting in slower scanning and delivery times.
• Labor Strikes: In Canada, postal workers’ strikes compounded the delays, creating additional challenges.

Our Commitment to Improvement

We are actively working to mitigate these challenges and improve our logistics processes:

• Expanding Global Warehousing: By building additional warehouses worldwide, we aim to reduce reliance on long international shipping routes.
• Strengthening Carrier Partnerships: We are collaborating with reliable logistics providers to prioritize our shipments during peak seasons.
• Enhanced Communication: Keeping our customers informed through regular updates, blog posts, and transparent tracking information.

While some delays are beyond our control, we remain dedicated to ensuring your orders reach you as quickly and safely as possible.

What You Can Do

Here’s how you can help us provide better support:

• Contact Us via Email: Email is currently the most effective way to reach us. If you do not receive a response within 24 hours, please resend your inquiry.
• Stay Patient During Delays: We deeply appreciate your understanding as we work through these unprecedented challenges.

We are committed to providing you with beautiful, high-quality jewelry and ensuring it reaches you in time for the holidays. Thank you for your trust and support during this busy season.