A parcel stationary at a customs facility for nine days

post #2 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

Documentation after arrival: photograph the parcel and its contents on arrival. If something later turns out wrong (damage, loss, wrong item) you have evidence of the condition it arrived in.

post #6 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.

Thank you for the correction. I have edited my earlier post with a note rather than silently, so the thread still makes sense to read. The error was mine and it was the kind that comes from remembering a figure instead of looking it up.

Tracking stops updating: tracking last updated days ago usually means the package is in transit and will not update until it reaches the next scanning point. No update for weeks means it might be stuck.

Documentation after arrival: photograph the parcel and its contents on arrival. If something later turns out wrong (damage, loss, wrong item) you have evidence of the condition it arrived in.

At what point is a parcel genuinely a problem: if it was despatched weeks ago and there has been no update for days at customs, it might be held or lost. Days of delay at customs without update is ordinary; weeks without movement warrants inquiry.

Picking up post #33: that is the part I would want checked first.

For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.

Insurance and carrier liability: most parcel carriers limit liability. Understanding the limits before choosing a carrier matters if you are shipping expensive material.

Customs holds: if a parcel is held at customs and you can contact customs directly, declaring your personal use and providing documentation (order, labelling) can help. Most customs officials are reasonable when they know what they are dealing with.

Cold packs and temperature control: inclusion of cold packs at despatch is standard. Whether they maintain temperature through transit depends on journey duration and ambient temperature. Long journeys through warm climates put product at risk.