The SteelNavy.Com Message Board: Re: GOFO and Cirro

For the most part, I will buy that, but...

I used a universal tracker for the whole process. Those track with every/any company they find the number with, not one specific carrier.

The very first company it was found with was Dealer Send. Looking them up, they "do Hong Kong." Here's AI's blurb about them:

"DealerSend is a Hong Kong-based e-commerce fulfillment and logistics company that provides global supply chain solutions, including warehousing, order management, and international shipping, with a specialty in handling sensitive goods like cosmetics and electronics. They offer a one-stop service for businesses, managing the entire process from inventory to final delivery, and have a network that extends to China, the US, the UK, and Germany."

Their site:

https://dealer-send.com/en-US

So, Hobbyeasy sent it to Dealer Send for them to process, and to get it out of the country. A day or so after it showed up at Dealer Send, the universal tracker showed a Cirro tracking number assigned, and also indicated that number was found with GOFO. Tracking the Cirro number on the Cirro site specifically, indicated GOFO would be the last mile carrier in the US. Not knowing of the merger between Cirro and GOFO at that point, it looked like Cirro would get it to the US, then hand to GOFO. And that is what tracking looked like. Until it reached the US, I only got Cirro tracking info. After it was in LA, that's when the duplicate notices started. No DHL service was indicated by the universal tracker at all...it never found the number with DHL.

However, now knowing of the merger, and finding a DHL logo on the package, I suspect DHL got it out of Hong Kong as you say. Dealer Send were the processors, and the package also always had a Dealer Send number in addition to the Cirro one. I think Dealer Send set up the connection for inside the US with Cirro/GOFO, then quietly handed it to DHL who shipped to the US, then gave it to GOFO.

Looking up GOFO, they look entirely domestic US, while Cirro has a global network. The merger of the two expands GOFO to an international ability. However, the merger is going slowly so as not to cause major service disruptions. Thus, the thing tracked with Cirro overseas, then both once it hit the US. GOFO basically used the Cirro system to keep track of it for them while it was out of the US.

I agree that Dealer Send very likely used DHL to get it to the US, but the GOFO/Cirro system had their number on it to keep tabs on it until they got it in LA.

Previous Message

I believe GOFO and Cirro are the brokers electronically filling out the customs paper work as well providing the domestic courier service. DHL is the actual carrier from Hong Kong to their bonded warehouses in major USA cities . There US Customs receives their import fees. Once the item clears customs a GOFO contracted courier service takes over. They deliver, rain , snow and in the dead of night. To have Fed Ex, UPS and DHL do everything costs a small fortune and with the exception of overloaded UPS neither of the other express carriers have an extensive capability to deliver to residential homes. Only UPS and USPS have such capability. I believe all American express carriers are presently on the “outs” with the Hong Kong government leaving but DHL. Fed Ex Ground is an entirely different animal.

Previous Message

In a thread below, I expressed serious concern that my 1/700 Flight III Burke from Hobbyeasy might run into shipping issues:

https://members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1781655924.html

I am very relieved and happy to report it arrived this morning okay. Tracking yesterday showed it had arrived in my state, and a check on it upon awakening showed it out for delivery. Soon thereafter, I checked my front and back doors. There it was! Tracking still does not yet show it delivered, but I have it in my hot little hands. Very sturdily packed!

Doing some more reading while awaiting it earlier, I found GOFO has acquired Cirro, and they are in the process of merging. Which explained why it had a Cirro tracking number, but was being handled by GOFO. Interestingly, the DHL logo was also affixed to the bottom of the package label. Not sure what role they might've played, but it was nice to see they seem to have been involved, given my concerns over GOFO. I also got duplicate tracking notices for each process, one from Cirro with their time stamp, and an identical one from GOFO with a local time stamp. So, it Departed the Sorting Hub, Departed the Sorting Hub, and was Out for Delivery, Out for Delivery, etc. I received it fine, received it fine...

Whole thing was very slow to start, but picked up speed in the end. Took Hobbyeasy a week after ordering to get it to their shipping agent. They then took another week to get it out of Hong Kong. (All the while tracking telling me it was ready to go...) However, after it arrived in Los Angeles, it went to New Jersey in only 3 days, then to Massachusetts the next day, then delivery the day after that.

Excellent kit! I look forward to building it. Lots of tiny printed parts, but I am currently dealing with that on my Michael Murphy build where I am carefully working my way through wafers of printed EFV Burke Upgrade goodies. So, I am getting some welcome practice for this subject.

Hobbyeasy has "done right by me." My concerns about GOFO still remain, actually, but hopefully, the merge with Cirro and any assisstance they might be getting from DHL means they're on a path to considerably better service, and their reputation will then reflect that.