Package stuck in customs for 5 days - should I be worried?
Honestly, 5 days is nothing to sweat over. I've had packs sit at ISC for two full weeks and still clear without any issues. Customs is just a total crapshoot sometimes — it depends on the volume they're dealing with, staffing levels, even the time of year. Holiday season? Forget it, you'll see longer holds routinely.
What courier you used makes a difference too. I've noticed that with EMS and regular airmail, packages tend to linger longer at the major hubs like ISC New York or Chicago before they get a hands-on inspection. DHL and FedEx usually move faster through their own clearance channels, but even then, I've seen them held up for a week if something flags. No courier is immune to random delays.
As for packaging durability, that's more about surviving the transit journey rather than customs. Good bubble wrap and a sturdy box will keep your stuff from getting crushed, but it doesn't really affect how long customs sits on it. In fact, if the packaging looks too professional or suspicious, sometimes that draws extra attention — but 99% of the time it's just random.
From what I've seen over the years, customs isn't actively looking for novelty IDs unless something obvious tips them off. They mostly scan for prohibited goods, undeclared merchandise, or commercial shipments. A standard letter envelope or small parcel with a benign sender name is unlikely to get more than an x-ray glance. Opening packages is rare unless something really stands out on the scan.
Honestly, on the shipping-speed scale, five days in customs is still early. Most vendors will tell you to expect 1–2 weeks as normal. If it hits the 3-week mark, then maybe start worrying, but even then I've had packs clear after 18 days. The worst thing you can do is contact customs or the courier asking about it — that's like poking a sleeping bear. Just let it ride, keep tracking, and try to forget about it. It'll move eventually.