HELP! Advice Needed ASAP - Empty Poster Tube delivered
I won't get into the details right now except to say the stuff of nightmares has occurred. Posters sent off for restoration, tube delivered empty at my door. USPS to Canada Post. I have cross-posted this on the usual forums.
I see a few options:
1) Sender (the restorer) files USPS investigation/claim and I hopefully recoup the $200 insurance (of course this is far, far less than the value of posters not to mention the restoration costs on top)
2) Do I have any recourse with Paypal for the service payment made to the restorer?
3) Do I have any recourse with Visa (the credit card used via Paypal to make the restoration services payment)?
Any advice or comments based on personal experience in such situations would be appreciated. I am not sure where to begin...
I feel there is pretty much 0% chance of ever seeing my beautiful paper again and for me this is truly heartbreaking
I see a few options:
1) Sender (the restorer) files USPS investigation/claim and I hopefully recoup the $200 insurance (of course this is far, far less than the value of posters not to mention the restoration costs on top)
2) Do I have any recourse with Paypal for the service payment made to the restorer?
3) Do I have any recourse with Visa (the credit card used via Paypal to make the restoration services payment)?
Any advice or comments based on personal experience in such situations would be appreciated. I am not sure where to begin...
I feel there is pretty much 0% chance of ever seeing my beautiful paper again and for me this is truly heartbreaking
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Oh dear, that's terrible news Chris.
Surely the restorer taped both ends good and proper?
It really is devastating with added issue of having to deal with USPS and Canada Post...
Touch wood this has not happened to me.
Sadly I think there is little you can do other than the $200 insurance claim, the other 2 options to me seem less likely to get a result as the problem will be the declared value of the parcel, you may get some luck with the credit card people but it would be a long shot.
What poster was it???
Oh far out! This is terrible. Knock on wood, hasn't happened to me yet...
So sorry to hear this happened to you, especially on something which you have gotten restored.
This is one of the main reasons for restored pieces, I always go with what was the old ECS...minimal time in the hands of any postal person...
Don't think you can do anything in terms of getting your money from the restorer, actually if they sent it then it's not really their fault yeah?...check the weight on the customs form...if it seems reasonable he/she sent it then not sure why they would be at fault.
So we are assuming someone with the post office has sticky fingers then really your only option is to lodge the claim for the insured/declared value plus your post charges.
MAN. Hope it was for something easily replaced...
OMG! That is terrible...what a shitty feeling it must have been for you.
Did you notice before you accepted delivery from the PO?
Then again - who delivers a completely empty tube?
Trying to work with the sender through USPS first...and see what happens. I suspect it will just be the quick and easy way out for USPS with the $200 insurance payment. I'd like Canada Post to investigate my local post office and the delivery guy but I need to let USPS go through their process first (according to what I have been told).
I am contemplating a police report but I cannot find an answer if mail theft is a reportable offense to the local police?
The disappointment is on several fronts - I am out the cost of the posters + the restoration (not insignificant on either end) + what I hoped to recoup by selling one or two of them. Not to mention my expected joy of having them on the wall finally AND baby #2 coming very, very shortly. I guess it puts things back in perspective but truly a sickening feeling...
YAY! Some good news. A new poster generation not too far away
That is the best news...
Do you know your post man/woman? I know mine pretty well, and have made it a point to stay in nice with him. He is loverly. On several occasions he has picked up when someone accidentally writes the wrong house number on the parcel, and knows my name, so will just bring it to my place.
Reason I ask is if you know him/her, doubt they would do this to you, and really most people think that posters are just a waste of money. I find most delivery guys/gals really couldn't care less, they just want the stuff out of their trucks.
Set yourself up some ebay searches for the missing posters, though how you prove they are yours (unless they are stupid enough to sell all 3 at once) I dunno.
Police will do nothing...how do you/they know where the theft occurred? I mean here mail theft is an offence, but I am thinking they would have to catch a Canadian postal worker with your posters to be able to do something, and again, how do we know at which point they were taken out?
And finally, no signature??? DOH, lesson learned. I know it is a pain to have to go into the PO to pick them up if you aren't home, but esp. on something this expensive important, pay the extra for super fast shipping, AND definitely require a signature.
On a side note...how many people actually get their parcels insured for full value?
I know I usually don't, and put that extra towards faster shipping.
You guys?
My only real hope lies in the Hour Before the Dawn Oz one sheet. It is the only copy I have ever seen and I would be able to pinpoint the restoration on it easily.
Yeah was news to me...I went to pick up a parcel one weekend and when my PO lady brought it out, the tube was almost bent in half...I said no way the stuff inside is damaged now, I don't want it.
She said reject delivery and ask them to initiate an investigation...got the full insured value PLUS postage costs back, but took a while.
She said if I sign for it, it will be harder to claim as they will argue I accepted delivery, it was ok when dropped off/picked up.
We live, we learn...makes me a bit scared for the stash I am sitting on!
And don't worry about what you have graciously piled for me...we'll figure it out
@theartofmovieposters ...yes ves express post is best investment of $
I completely understand. I've had issues in the past with things not turning up, not posters, but still a pain. And it is always annoying when a poster tube turns up damaged. But you think, at least I have it.
Don't dishearten...it definitely stings now because it is fresh...and really, if you think about it, ebay is your best bet, because how likely is it that the person who took them is a real lover of posters, especially crappy Australian ones
I'm not sure what your experience has been like with all the other (probably hundreds) of deliveries...they were ok?...I guess (unfortunately) we just notch it up to lesson learned and what can you do going forward to limit this happening...
There will be many eyes and ears open around the world on the look out. Hopefully that Before the Dawn surfaces sooner rather than later.
Don't worry, your fairy poster godmother from down under will try to find a way to make it a little less disheartening...wait until the new aussie poster lover arrives...looking at that face will make everything else melt away!
Go and give your little girl a kiss and hug...and rub the missus belly
As for the stash, perfect reason for you and family to come to Australia for a visit...hand delivery!
some very nice posters! Hoping you can recoup more
than the insurance money.
This is gruesome news. I feel your pain and I am sorry to hear this.
I hope we can all keep an eye/ear out. Maybe with a bit of luck something will pop up?
Been a collector for over 30 years and restorer for 20 years. Never had an issue.
I wrap like "Mad send via registered express mail ( postal ) with a low value like 50 bucks.
I ask clients to do the same coming my way.
A high value will invite curiosity and possible tampering and theft.
Sincerely,
dario.
Be a good idea to post to Mopo too we have had luck before (Sven) when stolen posters surfaced on eBay.
About the worst case scenario, Chris.
The low value declaration makes sense, but what happens if the parcel gets lost? Aust Post now records the value on all OS items and that's what they will pay out for compensation.
Last parcel I sent to HA cost me $200 in postage. Still better than losing $5K of paper.
Having some rat discreetly cut open the parcel and remove the contents is always a risk, but going for the speediest delivery service reduces the potential danger imo.
Will keep my ears open r.e. Before the Dawn.
The poster had been purchased as part of a lot years ago and there was no way to prove its value so the claim was denied.
If you can point at the responsible of this and need a south american hard pipe-hitting n***** to go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch, just give me a call.
I think Aust Post would fold under legal threat and that is why they only insure up to $5K. Obviously not worth pursuing for a $500 claim.
Basically, I sweat all the way to US and will be doing so again next week!!
Not sure Chris could have claimed even with insurance if he had accepted delivery.
Snippet from aus post. Who knows what the fine print might say regarding if valuation is also required when claiming above a certain amount. Will try to dig deeper so members know what they are up for.
That said, they still get lost ...