HLJ SAL shipping time to the US

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I finally got my 7-31-03 order today-27 days, nearly four weeks. This is my first SAL shipment from HLJ since they dropped UPS.

How long have the rest of you waited for SAL shipments from HLJ? I think there's a lot of interest to see how long we're going to have to wait for our packages to arrive. Seems like other countries are getting their shipments quicker than the US. SAL is a good bit cheaper but I hate waiting and not being able to track shipments...

[CADguy]

I placed an order 2 days before that and received it in 3 weeks. Everything was in stock. I prefered UPS also.

[DSM-Mark]

2 orders I've made from Canada were 17 days and 22 days, I believe. I've got a couple from HobbySearch on the way now too... see how long they take.

[Tea]

The 2 orders I have made, all arrived in exactly 9 days after they left the warehouse
I am in BC, Canada.

It is about time that my 3rd order should be at my door now. =)

[hirofkd]

Noooooo, you don't place orders just before Obon holiday. People take a week off sometime around Aug. 15th, and everything slows down in Japan. Avoid Golden Week, Obon and New Years Day.

Anyway, SAL takes 7 to 10 days to the U.S. What I was dissatisfied with HLJ was its slow processing time. Why they took 8 days to send an in-stock item is beyond me, while many mail order stores ship on the same or next day.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by hirofkd

Noooooo, you don't place orders just before Obon holiday. People take a week off sometime around Aug. 15th, and everything slows down in Japan. Avoid Golden Week, Obon and New Years Day.

Anyway, SAL takes 7 to 10 days to the U.S. What I was dissatisfied with HLJ was its slow processing time. Why they took 8 days to send an in-stock item is beyond me, while many mail order stores ship on the same or next day.

I placed my order long before the holiday. It was placed on July 28th and all items were in stock, and I received shipping confirmation (that it had been shipped) on the 31st. So either they lied, or SAL is taking a lot longer than it is supposed to. Since there is no way to track the packages, how are we to know where they are sitting for so long???

[DSM-Mark]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

I placed my order long before the holiday. It was placed on July 28th and all items were in stock, and I received shipping confirmation (that it had been shipped) on the 31st. So either they lied, or SAL is taking a lot longer than it is supposed to. Since there is no way to track the packages, how are we to know where they are sitting for so long???

I'm sure you've read the blurb about what SAL really is, right? Low priority mail. If there's room on the plane, it goes. If there isn't, it sits until the next flight. And I highly doubt it would make it onto the most direct flights as well. So shipping time can vary a LOT. Plus, the package can sit in your customs division for 5 minutes, or it can be put into an audit system where they'll open it, and evaluate the contents, etc. More delays.

Just be patient. It'll come eventually.

[blueboost]

my order took 2 weeks. about double UPS.
I'm in FL. Hate not tracking it.

[malsheem]

I've only placed one HLJ order since they dropped UPS. From the time they said it shipped to my door, 2 weeks.

Like hirofkd said, they take way too long to process. That order was all in stock, and it took 4 days before I got my Paypal payment request, and then another 3 days before I got the e-mail saying it shipped. HLJ is now a last resort option for me when buying kits.

[DuncanEK3]

I ordered an Integra yesterday, and got the paypal request today...

My Last order took around 2 weeks to get to the UK.

[Vric]

my order took 31 day for Canada.. 10 at custom... My new order was placed last week, I don't expect it before mid/end september

[tonioseven]

It took my Fabulous Odyssey 15 days to arrive here in Cincinnati. I'm not liking these turnaround times.

[willimo]

I don't see why ya'll complain so much about it. While 4 weeks or so may be a long time, I admit, anything around 2 weeks is fast in my opinion. I made 3 orders in early August, all of which got here within 12 days of my pressing the "ship available items" button (I still have a ton of stuff on backorder). I also don't understand why ya'lls processing time is so long. Backorders slow everything down-- not just those particular items. You often have to tell HLJ to mail you the stuff.

Regardless, as a supplier for parts that you just can't find many other places, and as a very trustworthy supplier, they rock.

[joecwlaw]

Originally Posted by willimo

I don't see why ya'll complain so much about it. While 4 weeks or so may be a long time, I admit, anything around 2 weeks is fast in my opinion. I made 3 orders in early August, all of which got here within 12 days of my pressing the "ship available items" button (I still have a ton of stuff on backorder). I also don't understand why ya'lls processing time is so long. Backorders slow everything down-- not just those particular items. You often have to tell HLJ to mail you the stuff.

Regardless, as a supplier for parts that you just can't find many other places, and as a very trustworthy supplier, they rock.

I think you better look at their message carefully. As I know, Vric's order was confirmed by hlj, and was being shipped out, but he waited for around a month; and other ppl also received the confirmed message of ordering from hlj. It just doesn't doing anything with ya called "Backorders slow everything down-- not just those particular items.

of coz' HLJ rocks as getting many various modelling stuff for us, but comparing to other japanese online stores, hlj is very slow in response, and slow in shipping out items and SELDOM replies email.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by joecwlaw

It just doesn't doing anything with ya called "Backorders slow everything down-- not just those particular items.

Huh? I think you better look at your message carefully.

Anyway, I realize a month is a really long time. However, 15 days really isn't bad, I just didn't want to pick on one post in particular.

Also, as you probably know, HLJ sends two emails. One automatically when you order, and another whenever they ship. Just because they sent the "we got your order" email doesn't meant that your kit is ready to go. And like DSM-Mark said, results will vary wildly. All I know is that I tracked my open order on the website, told them to ship my stuff, and it was here in 11-12 days. Three orders I placed like that, all in August.

Forgive me if I am just telling you what you already know. All I was doing was relating my experience and telling what I had to do to get my stuff, which I think is what ZoomZoomMX-5 was asking about in his original post.