Continuing from yesterday the problem I have had and the problem I have no control over is getting my shipments cleared through US Customs at Fed Ex Memphis facility. US Customs only became interested in my shipments some 6 months after I began importing my main product line. After obtaining the license they required, which in itself took a whole day of phone calls just to find the right place, Customs released the first order they searched. From then on virtually every order was held sometimes up to a week, for seemingly no real reason, other than fill out some meaningless paperwork that they never required six months earlier.

The problem was Customs really did not want to deal with me, they wanted Fed Ex to, and if you have ever have to go through this with Fed Ex, then you know the meaning of ineptitude. And knowing the meaning of ineptitude means you have felt true frustration. And this went on every shipment for about two months. Now the delays come and go.

My current shipment was held for four days. Which is not that big of deal now that I am used to it, but Fed Ex said it is released, then they say it is not, then they say it was partially released but not all the way. And now after the shipment was officially released there was another one day delay because there was no zip code on the package. After they held it four fricking days, they notice it needs a zip code? Well its not like you guys should ever think to look at an address, your just a fricking delivery company from christsake.

So I call, I call, I call, call them every name in the book, even though I know they could not care less. I talk to customer service reps who know nothing but think they do, I talk to supervisors who know nothing but think they do, I talk to import specialists who know some things but don't care, I talk to import specialists supervisors who know one thing and that is I am a royal pain in the ass, and there is not a damn thing they are going to do about it.

I have learned the following things, if I don't track it online I don't get as frustrated so I wait until a day after it should be cleared, and then check, and sometimes everything is done! Only sometimes, and then the wrangling begins.

The other thing I do, is order my product earlier, in greater quantities, plan ahead more. This costs a bit more, as I keep more inventory on hand, but it allows me to run more auctions on eBay which moves the products, generates new customers etc. It also leads to fewer back orders. I also now mark products on my web site sold out when they are getting really low, and remove them from my eBay store. I used to wait until they were out and had to back order a customer. This, I think leads to greater customer satisfaction, more repeat business, which means my larger inventory costs is just an investment in my business. I also have fewer back order shipments which is a cost saver.

It also gives me greater peace of mind so I can avoid the whole situation described above. And when you are working alone, your peace of mind can be your greatest asset. I also talked, in rational tones, to everybody under the sun about my situation and how to best go about it, including talking the very inspector responsible for examining my shipment, so I know that there is truly nothing more I can do on that end.

The lesson here, is that a situation that really is out of my hands, has gone from an entrepreneur's nightmare, to something I can live with. And probably has improved my business.