Package went back to the previous station
Asked by Nastya9 |
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Hello！My package LJ042017660CN first went from Zhuhai to Guangzhou, got stuck there for a week. Then it returned to Zhuhai and didn't change status since that moment. Based on my experience, package should have went through customs in Guangzhou. Does anyone know what can be the reason？
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1 Answer(s)
Daisy
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Hi Nastya9,
This means that after your package was sent from Zhuhai to Guangzhou, it was held by customs during the export process (possibly for a secondary inspection or during transfer), and then returned to Zhuhai.
Why customs might have flagged your package
An international package being stopped by customs is not necessarily a "death sentence"—it's often a process that needs your help to resolve. Based on past experiences, the most likely reasons are:
Routine customs inspection – Your package may have been randomly selected by Guangzhou Customs for an open-box check.
Additional documentation required – Customs has questions about the contents or declared value (e.g., the declared price seems too low) or the intended use (e.g., exceeds reasonable personal use quantities). The sender may need to provide more proof (such as an invoice or ID information).
Package needs formal customs declaration – If the package is deemed for commercial use or has too high a value, the standard personal parcel process may not apply, and it will need to go through formal import/export customs clearance.
What you can do now
Since your package has been returned to Zhuhai, the most important step is to communicate with the sender (the person or company who shipped the package to you). As the recipient, there's limited action you can take directly.
Contact the sender immediately – This is the most important step. Send them a screenshot of your tracking and tell them the package was returned due to a customs issue in Guangzhou. Usually, the sender needs to contact the local China Post office or the international exchange bureau to find out the specific reason and next steps.
Possible outcomes:
Released after providing documents – The most common scenario. Once the sender submits the required paperwork, the package will be sent to Guangzhou again and, after clearing customs, will continue its journey.
Formal customs declaration required – If the value is high, you may need to pay taxes or hire a customs broker. This is more complicated.
Returned to sender – If the required documents cannot be provided, or if the item is sensitive (e.g., food, medicine, batteries that don't meet regulations), the package may ultimately be sent back to the sender—meaning this shipment fails.
Destroyed or confiscated – This worst-case scenario only happens if the package contains clearly prohibited items.
Key advice
Please don't just wait passively.
The tracking status might not change for a long time after showing "returned." The most effective approach is to have the sender in China call China Post customer service (11183) or go directly to the post office counter where the package was originally sent. That's the fastest way to find out what's going on and follow customs' instructions.