I suspect that it may be because:

1: Americans are notoriously poor on European geography.

2: The routing may be the work of a woman.

3: The German planes would be otherwise empty.

What's your take on this phenomena?

BTW The Amazon service is brilliant!

Amazon is wonderful! I wonder about it. Did you have to pay customs
anyways (as in something that comes from the US, not from within the
EU)? If not, the explanation could be rather simple: the "German"
Amazon had the item, and it would have been easier to send it in
Europe.

Hi Bryan,
Politicalguru was very tactful not to react to your point no. 3.

Since you apparently received a package from Amazon that came from
Germany, could you really identify that it originated somewhere else? 
(Not your order but the package)  As you say, Amazon is brilliant and
may be so clever as to pass your order placed to USA on to Germany for
delivery.
Since the German post office is terribly expensive, I expect that this
sets a high ceiling under which private postal services' prices are
set, making it very unlikely that an delivery would be routed via
Germany.
Regards, Myo

I'm certain that Amazon have aircraft crossing the Atlantic like a swarm of bees.

Postal services have 'special deals' for mail that is destined for
other countries, rather neat as they barely need to touch it.

Who was the final deliverer ? Was it the GPO, or perhaps another carrier.

It might have been the type of item/book that they stock in Germany
for the Anglish speaking armed forces, and it might be that they have
a Schipol style clearing warehouse set up there for Europe.

Since Amazon's logistics are amazing, I would guess that there was a
very good reason for the route.

Hey Mayo, and wasn't I tactful not to refer to point no. 2? 

After all, it is well known that we (I mean women, of course) are
always right, so if it had come through Germany, there was probably a
good reason for it.

The duty effect sure is a possibilty, Polly, and interestingly Amazon
now have a facilty in Jersey (Channel Islands) which is outside the
EU.

As I understand it, duty is only (potentially) payable on consignments
imported from non-EU countries valued at more than £18.

As for the final deliverer, this varies depending on the size of the
package: some come with the Postman; some by Parcel Post; and some by
independent carriers.

One component is probably the speed of service specified and whether
or not consolidation is possible.

Whatever, they always seem to deliver within their quoted time frame.

I find it hard to believe that if goods are not available in the UK
(for example some NTSC vids) that they would be stocked in Germany.

Another truly amazing thing is the delivery service (and prices)
provided by Amazon 'market place' traders.

I'm not easily impressed (Believe me!) but I am VERY impressed.

Bryan

I once received a parcel from the UK that apparently was mailed in
SEPT 2005 but it didn't arrive until mid DEC 2005.....whats with
that???

Steph53;)

Hi Steph

Unfortunately, you have failed to say where you live but the debate
centres on the movement of goods between DEVELOPED countries.

You appear to write reasonable English (of a sort) so I must assume
that you are possibly a resident of some far flung outpost of the
British Empire, maybe the Isle of Dogs, the Isle of Man or Lunday
Island, in which case you have reasonable grounds for complaint.

However, it's also possible that you live in some Godforsaken hole
(like Canada) which has so far escaped any form of technological
development thanks mainly to it being snowbound for over 11½ months of
the year.

I do hope that the parcel was worth waiting for.

Sincerely

Bryan

Bryan,
We recently discovered that Steph lives in Canada and has a bad landlord.

Poli-guru  (guru of many subjects :),
You are right, of course.  q.e.d.
German women are always right.  I should know; I married one.
Funny thing is, although she is always right and knows everything,
when she asks me something practical, like last night:  "Where is the
Bundesverfassungsgericht?", and I replied:  "But you know everything,"
she agreed but was very mildly abusive as usual and added:  "What's
the court in Leipzig?"
By now, I had lost the thread of the TV report and told which court
was where (Karlsruhe, Bundesverwaltungsgericht, respectively).

Do you think Loriot (Vicco von Bülow) could use any of our dialoges for material?

Bryan, I would only carry on like this on a question of yours.  I
tried to spot your immodest little hovel in Hove on G-Earth, but the
definition was poor.

Loriot, by the way, is a delightful now elderly gentleman who has
produced many TV sketches and a two movies with extremely humourous
dialoges.
  Cheers,  Myo

Gottverdammich, Verdammt, Verflixt, Veflucht, Zum Kuckuck,
Himmelkreuzdonnerwetter, Verflixt und Zugenaeht,
Herrgottsakramentnochmal,
Rattenfurz.

Myo's a polyglot!

Vot next Myo?

Bryan
You complained about my spelling, so get yourself an atlas and look up
the spelling of LUNDY.
Kemlo

A polygot?  Not me, but I once understood 'strine.  That woman who
always is right says that my German has gotten worse in the x decades
she has known me  - but maybe she doesn't listen to me the way she
once did  - -  or maybe I don't say the things I once did ...

Aufwiederlesen, Myo

Hi Chemlow

Congralutations!

A Wrold Frist fer yuo!


Hi Myo

A 'polygot'?

Is that what Polly got?

Watch out or Chemlow will catch you out with his new spell checker.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Well I DO live in Canada and its very snowy today....

But, for future mailing purposes, I've decided to move to a more
civilized part of the country........

Hopefully any future parcels from abroad won't get tied up like that again..

BTW.....the parcel WAS worth the wait :-)


Myoarin..... 

You made a wise decision to marry a German born woman. 

I, too, was born in Germany and I KNOW I'm always right!!!

Steph53

geez, another one!  Steph, follow Teddy Roosevelt's instructions and
walk softly and carry a big stick.  Hope your foot gets better.

Spelling  -  I never could.  Now  - way down the line -  I have
decided that I am closet ... (whatcha call those people who can't
spell?).  Back in second grade, Mrs. Slaughter took me tactfully aside
and pointed out that I was writing sixes backwards.  I solved that,
but those people also have trouble thinking straight, and even more,
expressing themselves.  (see previous comment)  ;-)
Myo

Steph ... I am truly amazed to discover you living in Canada!

But, even with ice-skating on your pool, is it REALLY living?