Grey Doffin Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 Hi guys, I sent a full set (59 volumes) of English Token Bijutsu by the NBTHK to a customer in Connecticut, USA the end of November last year. Up till yesterday I thought they were just lost in the mail but the customer has informed me that the box arrived, undamaged and empty. Someone somewhere has opened it, removed the books, and sent the empty box on its way. The post office has been informed. If any of you learn of a set, I'd be very appreciative if you told me. Thanks, Grey Quote
Shogun8 Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 That's terrible, Grey - here's hoping they're recovered somehow. Quote
vajo Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 Gray did you have pictures where we can identify the volumes? Any marks or damages if they came on ebay? Quote
TheGermanBastard Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 I hope you can resolve this. Good luck! Quote
raynor Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 I've had some very bad experiences with local usps but 59 volumes and resending the empty box? Horrible, hopefully it works out. Quote
Guest Rayhan Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 Really sorry to hear that, hope everything works out. Any pictures that help us notice them? Quote
Hoshi Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 59 books. Imagine the weight. That's some motivated thief. Insure your packages... Is there a print number on the books, or a way to identify them? Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 8, 2019 Author Report Posted January 8, 2019 Hi guys, Thanks for the kind words. Here is the set from my website: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b474-token-bijutsu-english-edition-all-59-issues As for the PO delivering the empty box, I'm glad that happened. It is a piece of the puzzle that will have to be solved if I have any hope of recovery. I've always had great service from USPS. For all the mailing I do there have been only 5 or 6 problems in 8 years and half of them have happened overseas. Cheers, Grey Quote
rkg Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 Wow... Just out of curiosity, did they reseal the box? Best, rkg (Richard George) Quote
vajo Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 I see some marks, maybe that helps to identifiy. Quote
seattle1 Posted January 8, 2019 Report Posted January 8, 2019 Hello: A real pity Grey. What is written on one cover as referred to in your ad? Arnold F. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 8, 2019 Author Report Posted January 8, 2019 Hi Arnold, If the books weren't lost I could answer your question; sorry. Don't know the answer to Richard's question either. Grey Quote
saipan59 Posted January 9, 2019 Report Posted January 9, 2019 Had a similar experience a couple of years ago. Box apparently split open in shipment, and several books didn't make it to the destination. The package was insured, but USPS refused to pay, because there was no "proof" of the price paid. They wanted to see (for example) an online auction transaction that defined the price/value. Pete Quote
Greg F Posted January 9, 2019 Report Posted January 9, 2019 I hope they are found Grey, I hate theives. A local delivery guy here told me my neighbor used to work for same postal service and was fired for stealing packages(now he is a scumbag drug dealer) and apparently its a common crime. Greg Quote
christianmalterre Posted January 9, 2019 Report Posted January 9, 2019 some kind´a very strange story in sum.... never had such yet- equally never heard about such yet.... if it helps Grey ? i do have those all on PDF burned on CD. I but confess ! it will take me a while till i do find it....it is somehere in mine mess of cartons stored.... ( i did this already several years ago....i think it was the time when i sold you mine original copie´s...? ) had to look..... do you have a printing shop nears to you? you could easily let reprint them this way.... Christian 1 Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 9, 2019 Author Report Posted January 9, 2019 Thank you Christian. I have my own set of the books; the lost one was for a customer. He would like the books, not a reprint. Me too. Grey 1 Quote
marmal Posted January 10, 2019 Report Posted January 10, 2019 Dear Grey I am sorry to hear about your stolen books. I printed a photos of them. will keep my eye open@ local shows etc. . I am from Connecticut area. all the best Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 11, 2019 Report Posted January 11, 2019 Surely the postage receipt will state the weight of them as sent, and the postage paid would surely reflect that. 2 Quote
Surfson Posted January 11, 2019 Report Posted January 11, 2019 These books are so esoteric, that it is uncertain whether they were stolen. What seems more likely is that the box split, the books fell out, and a postal worker not interested in reporting it just sent the box along. Was there any damage to the box that had been repaired, or does the box indicate that it was opened naturally and resealed in the typical way? What would make theft more likely is if there was a reason to believe they were valuable. Was there a high price and insurance on the labeling that would make the contents of interest to postal workers or was it sent cheaply using the book rate? If there was a high stated value, that might trigger interest in a thief, even if they knew nothing about sword books. I'm sorry to hear this story, for both you and the buyer. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 11, 2019 Author Report Posted January 11, 2019 The box was undamaged (I always pack carefully, especially on something this valuable; this box wouldn't split) and this was sent by media rate post without insurance or any other indication of value on the label. It is a head scratcher; I also find it hard to believe anyone would go out of his way to steal this. Perhaps he opened the box and when he saw it was nothing he would want he dumped the contents. Theft is the only explanation that works for me. Grey Quote
DRDave Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 Might be a good idea to get the minimum insurance going forward, so at least you'll get tracking, even though you may never need it. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 12, 2019 Author Report Posted January 12, 2019 Media rate from USPS is trackable with or without insurance. Grey Quote
DRDave Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 Ahh. Good to know! Where does the tracking show that it got hung-up for so long? Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 What seems strange, Grey, is that the box was resealed & forwarded onward. Why would anyone have done that? If the contents were stolen, why would the thief take a chance that his fingerprints could be found? Tossing the box would have been so much safer, that it makes me wonder what really happened. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 12, 2019 Author Report Posted January 12, 2019 The tracking that I could access never was much help on this one; it showed that I mailed the package and beyond that nothing. Tracking that the PO can access may be more useful in the investigation I asked for. Ken, none of this makes sense. Grey Quote
dwmc Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 Somethings definitely amiss! My wife was employed with the USPS for 35 years and trust me, your customers local carrier will "absolutely" remember whether he or she delivered a light package or one weighing 22 + lbs. Unopened, undamaged, Hmmmmm.... Quote
Surfson Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 I agree with the comment about using minimum insurance. The PO, or whoever is delivering, then has some skin in the game and are more likely to investigate thoroughly. Shipping swords to europe, it is often best to declare and insure for around $500 - not enough to encourage theft, but enough to trigger better care in handling. Quote
dwmc Posted January 12, 2019 Report Posted January 12, 2019 I inquired further with my wife as to how something like this could possibly happen. Your book site clearly states the buyer is responsible for the cost of shipping and insurance. If the buyer elected to take a chance (which you mentioned they purchased no insurance) then the risk is theirs... Period. No matter how well you package an item, there is always a risk of damage in shipping. Again, from what I was told, if a package is damaged in transport, and the contents are lost or unrecoverable, the original package can be resealed with sticker or ink stamp indicating item was damaged during shipment and sent on to the recipient. The buyer has no recourse with the PO due to no insurance. Therefore, they (may) simply claim the box was empty and go to the seller requesting refund or replacement. Oddly, I'm also told, there is no official record the PO keeps of damaged packages as to when or where the damage took place and ink stamps or stickers were applied. The local (buyers end) mail carrier or PO may recall the specific package and remember if a damage notification was applied. Postal inspectors may need to get involved in order to sort things out. In the mean time, I would be hesitant to offer refund or replacement until thorough investigation.... Good luck, Quote
dwmc Posted January 13, 2019 Report Posted January 13, 2019 Grey, Books could eventually show up here! https://www.ajc.com/news/post-office-moving-atlanta-unclaimed-mail-auction-online/niHOiTayT5O4TdGPJv1czN/ Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 13, 2019 Author Report Posted January 13, 2019 Dave, it was my decision not to purchase insurance, not my customer's. My customer has been reimbursed; I get to eat this one. Unless you tell me you don't want insurance you are covered when you do business with me. Again, the box wasn't damaged. Someone opened it and removed the contents. Since this thread is staying active, here is a picture of the 59 volumes. Thanks guys, Grey Quote
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