DHL Clearance Event - MacBook Pro M4

You should only communicate w/ Apple.

You have a contract with Apple.

Apple is the shipper and contracted w/ DHL; together, they are responsible for getting your product delivered.

You calling DHL can only sow confusion.

DHL “doesn’t know you from Adam” and they certainly have no contract or agreement to work for you.

BTW, sorry for the issue you’re having.

It’s certainly a huge “Buzz Kill” … as you were likely “buzzed” looking forward to your new hardware.

My new M4 Pro Macbook Pro I ordered in March was delayed 2-3 days in Anchorage by customs. An M4 iMac on the same order shipped straight through. The iMac was made in Thailand; the Macbook Pro was made in Vietnam. I've seen other reports recently like this re customs holds on Macbook Pros and Macbook Airs made in Vietnam. A clue??

Apple won't see your situation here, but needs to know about these customs issues with Vietnamese-built devices:

Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple

Chattanoogan wrote:

I suspect these delays have something to do w/ “Musical Tariff Rates promulgated via Social Media” policies in-effect of late.

Could be, but this is not the first post I've seen here about customs holdups on Vietnamese Macbook Airs and Macbook Pros. No delay whatsoever on Mrs AJ's new "Thai-Mac," on the same order as my Macbook Pro.

if you are in doubt

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

I think our packages are in the same bulk as I have exactly the same tracking to the minutes as you do. I signed up for DHL email notification and every morning I receive a message saying clearance delay, but yesterday it says clearance submitted for custom entry (:I’m not sure if that really means anything). Hopefully they will move again soon, it just taking way too much time…Contacting Apple/DHL is not helpful at all, and they do not know much other than the tracking.

BayBreezeA wrote:

Apple/DHL is not helpful at all, and they do not know much other than the tracking.

And they have no control over the Federal Government that is responsible for holding packages at Customs. The issue with Customs holds is not specific to Apple and is the current state of the import process. Hopefully you do get your device soon!

I have exactly the same problem as yours. My MacBook pro is made in Vietnam and now stacking at Cincinnati as well. The expected delivery date was Aug 22 but I just check DHL and got a new "Clearance Event". 😑

jnbook wrote:

I have exactly the same problem as yours. My MacBook pro is made in Vietnam and now stacking at Cincinnati as well. The expected delivery date was Aug 22 but I just check DHL and got a new "Clearance Event". 😑

That is the norm now for imports from any company. The Clearance Event is a Customs hold where the rules change on a daily basis. Of course it affects you, the carrier, US companies and has no impact on the exporter. Some people still think that a tariff is paid by the exporting country, when it is US companies that pay that price.

Same exact issue. Ordered custom MacBook Pro for wife on Aug9. Has been stuck in “clearance” status since Aug13. Ordered same exact spec for myself four days later and it arrived a week ago (also originated in Vietnam, also shipped via DHL, but came thru New York and did not go to Cincinnati). So maybe this issue only affects units ordered within a certain window that got routed thru Cincinnati - definitely not a universal issue. I’ve talked with Apple support- yesterday they acknowledged they are aware of a “DHL issue” but said there is nothing they can do. Considering ordering another computer on the chance it might arrive faster and then returning this one if it ever arrives, but who is to say the same issue won’t happen again.

The status on my order finally changed. Late last night the status became “clearance complete”. Early this morning it said “processed at hub”. Hopefully this means customs has been cleared and shipment can finally be on its way. Anybody else see status changes?

The plot thickens. Apple sent me an email this morning that they are sending a replacement and that I will have to return my original order. When I spoke to customer service, they said they have determined my original order is “lost in transit” (although seems to be showing progress in DHL tracking from what I can see), so they will be shipping out a replacement in the next few days and, if I happen to receive the original, then I will be expected to return it. Very strange- thinking something may have gone wrong with the original shipment that could have damaged the machine and Apple just playing it safe?