Lost Coming from Germany and Never Arrived

[Chip M]

As a side note: I've certainly seen the wide range of abilities in packaging things over the years. I am always amazed at how careless some sellers can be in packaging items.

Alan,

It is amazing how people pack things for shipment and actually think they will arrive at the destination intact.

Even a steel trench helmet can be damaged by careless packing. Just ask Hoss.

I've had carte de visite arrive with pieces cracked off because they were sent in a regular thin letter envelope, steins with finials broken off, etc., all due to thoughtlessness, laziness, ignorance or just plain cheapness.

I make it a point of telling sellers, whose items I have purchased, how I would like things protected. If they ignore me and they item arrives damaged it's on them. You just have to protect yourself from the rigors of today's shipping and handling if you want something to arrive safely.

Chip

[pzrwest]

When I worked for a wildlife figure studio we used to "Canpar" test each new figure before shipping. What we did was pack the item how we think it should be packed then boot the box all over the shop then open it and see if it survived. If it got damaged we would pack another figure with re-designed packing and test it again. If it passed then that was how we packed of the particular figure. Packing of a item is the responsibility of the seller to get it right so it arrives intact

[Rangemaster]

I have experienced that registered items from Germany are stolen about 20% or the time once they reach the US and are scanned at the "ISC (international Service Center) NY". Note that per relatively recent USPS guidelines, international registered items are treated as regular post once they reach US soil. Therefore, they are not secured or even properly tracked (no signature for required for delivery of some items based upon value). I believe that registered items are only covered for US$45 or so if delivery is not made and a claim is filed. My theory is that the USPS uses mainly non-employee contractors at the ISC and that theft is rampant and profitable for the thieves. I do not think that the USPS Postal Inspectors have the resources to deal with the problem. Sending an item registered is a signal to the thieves saying "steal me, I am valuable". Sending items via regular air mail is much faster and arrives 100% of the time in my experience.

[ww1czechlegion]

Happy Ending: Package Arrived after 79-Days from Germany

I have good news to report on my Reuss Silberne Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern. It finally arrived today, the 6th February, 2014. That is 79-Days after being mailed out of Chemnitz, Germany, on the 20th of November, 2013.

Seriously, I had given up all hope of ever expecting it to arrive. Package does not appear to have been tampered with. There was no customs form on the package either, which surprised me. Maybe that's what caused the delay. Who knows...

I bet the seller will be pleasantly surprised when I contact them and pay them once again for the medal, as PayPal had refunded me on it after around 40-days missing.

All the Best,

Alan

[Robert P.]

I have good news to report on my Reuss Silberne Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern. It finally arrived today, the 6th February, 2014. That is 79-Days after being mailed out of Chemnitz, Germany, on the 20th of November, 2013.

Seriously, I had given up all hope of ever expecting it to arrive. Package does not appear to have been tampered with. There was no customs form on the package either, which surprised me. Maybe that's what caused the delay. Who knows...

I bet the seller will be pleasantly surprised when I contact them and pay them once again for the medal, as PayPal had refunded me on it after around 40-days missing.

All the Best,

Alan

Great news, Alan. Patience paid off. I also received my Juncker (AWS) EKI in like manner.

Robert

[Mike Dunn]

I have lost items going both ways to Germany and other European Countries. I never send anything registered to Europe-as said before by Chip-giant red flag. Be careful of the value you put on a customs from when mailing to any other country. As I understand it from a friend in Germany who is a postman, Germany's post is not run by the German government any longer. Has not been for a long time. I believe DHL runs the postal system now. There are a number of things to consider with the German post. The new employees are paid less than the post people who worked for the government run system. A number of the new employees are not German. His office caught a man who was a postman and who was from another country. He had been stealing mail and had a basement full of stolen mail. He never went to trial and was sent back to his homeland. Mailing anything to another country-either way-is a risk. One that I have taken for years and understand that from time to time-mail will get "lost". Mike

[gregM]

Glad to hear it finally arrived.

[streptile]

Great news

[Chip M]

79 days! Now, I feel bad about worrying at six weeks. Amazing.

[ww1czechlegion]

Thanks everyone for your comments!

79 days! Now, I feel bad about worrying at six weeks. Amazing. by Chip M

The most I had ever waited for something was about 5 1/2 weeks out of Bulgaria last year. I've also had several photo images sent from Germany that never showed up over the years.

I only wish the package could tell of where it was laid up at, and what was going on to make for such a delay as this! The padded envelope clearly had an "airmail" sticker on it. Not sure what the problem was.

All the Best,

Alan

[SCOTT G]

That's great news Alan

I'm 94 days and counting on a packed sent back in November 2013, left country of origin and "vanished". Through out I and the seller have been in constant contact and due to the stupidity of the postal rules all the investigation has fallen on him. His postal services have been most cooperative and helpful, however the postal service in my country couldn't careless. Result of investigation being that my postal service admit to losing a whole mail bag and from that they seem to have washed their hands of the situation.

[mchap]

That is good news....

I hope something I bought from Germany back in November shows up just the same.

The seller would be happy to be reimbursed as well!

[ww1czechlegion]

Thanks Guys!

I hope your packages arrive soon, Scott G. & mchap. I've got my fingers crossed for you gentlemen! It's certainly hard to be patient in a situation like this, waiting on packages that far out on delivery date.

All the Best,

Alan