I Fear My Wedding Sari Is Gone Forever’: UPS Chaos Leaves U.S. Customers Devastated After Tariff Shake-Up

A growing number of U.S. customers say they fear their personal belongings and business shipments have been lost or destroyed amid chaos in the shipping industry, triggered by a recent change to U.S. import and customs rules.

Among them is Janani Mohan, a 29-year-old engineer from Michigan, who says a parcel sent by her parents in India containing her wedding sari, an heirloom once worn by her mother and grandmother, was marked for disposal by UPS.

“I literally cried to them on the phone,” Janani said. “Everything in there is very close to my heart.”

Her story mirrors that of Nicole Lobo, a 28-year-old graduate student from Philadelphia, who shipped 10 boxes of personal items home after a year in the UK. Six weeks later, she is still waiting — after being told her belongings might be destroyed.

“It’s been horrific,” Nicole said. “These are things I can’t replace.”

The shipping crisis erupted after the Trump administration abruptly ended a long-standing exemption that allowed goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. without taxes, tariffs, or inspection. The rule change, introduced in late August, meant roughly 4 million additional parcels per day were suddenly subject to full customs scrutiny — overwhelming couriers like UPS and FedEx.

Businesses Hit Hard

The fallout has rippled through small businesses, with many reporting massive financial losses.

Mizuba Tea Co., an Oregon-based importer, says five shipments of matcha from Japan — worth over $100,000 — are stuck in customs limbo.

“My whole team is basically on scan watch,” said owner Lauren Purvis. “The system just wasn’t prepared for this volume.”

Swedish candy exporter Swedish Candy Land says over 700 packages sent to U.S. customers in September were held up or destroyed, costing the company about $50,000 in refunds and fees.

UPS Responds

UPS acknowledged the disruptions, saying that “many packages are unable to clear customs due to missing or incomplete information.” The company insisted it contacts customers three times before disposing of a parcel, adding that more than 90% of shipments are still being cleared within a day.

But several customers told the BBC they received no warnings before tracking updates showed their packages were set for disposal.

FedEx, meanwhile, said it does not destroy shipments unless instructed by the sender.

A Global Ripple Effect

Experts warn the shipping delays could worsen as businesses struggle to meet the new documentation demands. Companies now have to declare tariffs on any steel or aluminium content and verify country of origin — data many smaller importers simply don’t have.

The National Foreign Trade Council says the new trade rules have created a logistics nightmare.

“There’s always been this belief that companies will figure it out,” said vice president John Pickel. “But what we’ve seen is that it’s much harder than anyone anticipated.”

For customers like Janani and Nicole, however, it’s not just about money — it’s about memories that can’t be replaced.

“My wedding sari isn’t just clothing,” Janani said quietly. “It’s part of my family’s story. And now I may never see it again.”