Where is my card?

[Guest]

[rns91294]

Okay, I probably should have posted this in the general discussion thread, but here it goes anyway.

In the bginning of January, I bought a Marauders Map on eBay from nonsportscards (aka elvensongstar).  Anyway, he shipped it from the UK, to me in the US (New Jersey) on January 7.  It was sent airmail, internationally signed for.  I still have not received it.  I am a wreck since I really want this card.  The tracking number at Royal Mail says it was handed over to the overseas carrier, but you can not teack it in the US until it has been attempted to be delivered (since I have to sign for it).  As of yet, that hasn't happened.  How often does mail get lost?  Has anyone else experienced delays at this time of year (not including right before the holidays).  Anyone have any advice for me?

Thanks for all your help.

[Roz]

No no, I think it should be here. General is totally non-card related stuff... after all this *is*Mark's cartoon website too so card chat should try to keep in card stuff areas so as not to provoke anger in our Bovine King. I suppose if you fancied having it moved it ought to go in "ebay quibbles problems and the like" section....

Last time your card called home (Yak central) it was on a plane to the USA and spent the whole time moaning about call charge costs

Seriously - it is late, we will all agree with you there, but we have had EXTREMELY LATE mail in the past... for example Mark's friend in America (well actually mine too but the parcel was for him) sent some things to him in the last few days of Novemember/early December, and then heard nothing... NOTHING until it turned up on the doorstep in mid February the following year.  He never got an explanation of what went on or anything, by that time I think he practically kissed the box as he'd been so worried.

Further to that we have had (2) things RETURNED to the UK with no good reason (the address was clear and correct etc.), and no explanation.

Lastly - things do get lost, it's true. But it really is VERY rare. It's a REAL pain that there is no way to send things from the UK to the US and then track them once they have landed on American shores - not through the post office anyway. There are companies like DHL etc but they charge you £46 (about $85) to post something in a cardboard envelope very similar to the US "Global Priority" envelopes which cost 10% of the price.... and we can't afford to send cards like that.

The obvious questions are - have you been in touch with the seller? What do they say? How long is it since it landed on your shores? Where does post come into the USA, and how far are you from it?

[rns91294]

I have been in touch with the seller, as he provided me the tracking number.  He has been looking for it just like me.  The post office gave me a form to fill out to help locate it, but I sent it to the seller, as it is questions only he would be able to answer. Basically, the seller has been nothing but helpful and friendly thru this whole thing so far.

I think the US needs a better system for this kind of thing.  Since there is a tracking number on the package, they should be able to scan it when it gets here so we can keep track of it as well.

I do not know when it landed on my shores.  If you put the tracking number in the Royal Mail site, it just says it was handed over to the overseas carrier, but there is no date, so I dop not know when this happens.  The mail comes in to New York, which is only 2 hours away from me, not far at all.

I am worried because months ago, I sent a package to you, Roz, and you never received it.  Luckily it was something monor that i can resend, but this card is one of a kid and I really would like, not to mention I paid a good amount for it in my opinion.

Another question those of you in the UK could answer for me.  How ,long do you need to wait before claiming the insurance of a lost item?  IN the US, it is 30 days.  

Let me see if I am adding correctly.  It was send on Jan 7 (Friday).  So lets say it started to ship in the 8th.  If I count the 8th and all the days in between (except Sunday since there is no mail on Sunday, and Monday the 17th there was no mail for a holiday) then I get a total of 14 actual post office work days.  If I subtract Saturdays from that, it has only been 11 days, but if I count all days including sundays and the holidy, it has been 18 days.  Which of these numbers should I go by? Also, now that I counted it out, it doesn't seem THAT long.  It just is to me, you know?

I just appreciate everyone on this forum who is able to make me feel a little better.  Hearing of other long delivery problems makes me feel better. Anyone else have anything to share? And other than the item I sent to Roz that didn't show up, is there anyone else who had experience with lost mail?

Thanks!!

[mpcltd]

Far too soon to be panicking!!
They are still clearing Christmas post I bet

[rns91294]

Wow, nice to hear from you MPC!!!  I appreciate your input.  You are probably right, in fact the thought crossed my mind.  Prior to the hliday, it took 3 weeks for something to come from the UK and Australia to me.  Maybe they are still behind with some things, although, if it was given to the overseas carrier, there is no excuse for the US post office.  They should get it to me quickly, but we have had some bad weather and possible terrerist threats which would cause them to inspect packages very carefully.  I know I shouldn't panic.  I just want this card so much that I feel it it taking longer than it probably is.

[Boggle]

I agree with MPC, give it a bit longer to turn up. I'm still waiting for my Spike P-i to turn up, and thats been a few weeks now. The seller is a nice guy, you shouldn't have any problems there.  

[rns91294]

Where is your card coming from?

Also, the seller of my Map is probably one of the nicest I have delt with.  He is very responsive and seems concerned that I have not yet received the card.  I would recommend him to everyone if you are buying cards.

[Boggle]

Mine's doing the reverse of yours, its coming from the US to the UK! He is a great seller, very friendly and helpful! He's based not far from me on the coast.

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I know how you feel rns... I have a FOTR SB arriving for me as well from the UK - its been 2 weeks and counting since the seller said she had sent it. I'm worried because a week earlier, I had bought a FOTR Galadriel also from the UK and it arrived a week later in Australia. Its strange that this one is taking this long

[kbmum]

I sent a small, US Global Priority Mail envelope to Australia on January 11.  The post office states that it takes 4-6 days for delivery, but the buyer didn't receive it until January 24.  She was getting nervous, because she had received other items from the US she'd won both before and after my auction.  I was nervous, too.  She didn't purchase insurance and I wasn't sure how to handle a lost package.

I'm waiting for three packages from the UK.  Who knows when they'll arrive?  The mail has been slow, we had a blizzard over the weekend that closed the airport, and we're getting another sizable snowstorm right now.  I figure I'll start getting mail again in March!

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Noooooooo.... don't say that! I'm moving next week and I hope it arrives before then as it will be a pain coming back to my old place to keep checking whether it arrives!

[kbmum]

My UK packages aren't late yet.  I think the first one was mailed a week ago Monday.  Still, it's hard waiting for something you really want!

I'm sure you'll get your card before you move.

[Roz]

I hate to be the voice of doom as I am sure Cindy is right, but Artbox sent my Pam Ferris auto on the 30th December and I haven't had that yet  


*Roz storms off in a huff*

[rns91294]

Makes me feel better that so many people are experiencing delays in the mail.  Can we all check back with this thread to let everyone know when the items we are awaiting finally arrive?

So let's see.  I am waiting for something from the UK to the US.

Boggle is waiting for something from the US to the UK

Ferdinand is waiting for something from the UK to Australia.

kbmum is waiting on some packages from the UK to the US.


This indeed makes me have hope that my card will still arrive at some point in time. Although, it will be 3 weeks on Saturday, less if you take away the days there is no mail.

Thank you everyone!!!

[Tea_and_Fruit]

to represent Germany in this waiting list ...

I am waiting for something from the US to Germany.

I wait now 12 days. (Normaly 8-21 days, but i wait )

[Tower]

I've bought two items from the same US-seller. The first needed 17 days. The second a few weeks later only 4 days. Who knows why ...  

[rns91294]

Tower, from the same seller as me?  My seller is in the UK.  Anyway, I noticed that.  I can order something from the UK and get it in 3 days.  How, I have no idea, but then there is this.  

Now, when you say 17 days, are you counting Saturday?  Sunday?  Or just Mon-Fri?

[Tower]

Aah, no, i should have written it clearer.  

I only meant, both items have been from the same seller. But not from your seller. So there can be big differences no one can really explain.

[Nienna]

Don't forget Customs and Excise!
Items can be held up for weeks there if they have a big volume of post to sift through.
(Sorry to be so doom-and-gloomish)

If it's any crumb of comfort, I paid for an item in mid-November from a seller in the US and still haven't received it! :'(
As my 30-day PayPal refund limit has long since passed I've no way of recouping my money either.
He can't even say with 100% certainty that he sent it Airmail either!
The only glimmer of hope I have is that he sent it Surface Mail which can take up to three months .... *is NOT happy*

I've also got another item I've paid for on Jan 5th (again in the US, but a different seller) and I wrote to them at the weekend telling them that if I don't receive it within seven days then I will be applying for a refund through PayPal.
They've not even bothered to reply either
If I neg this seller there's every chance they will leave a retaliatory neg in return, which just isn't fair especially when I've paid promptly for the auction and have tried several times to contact them.

Both these auctions are for items I particularly wanted which makes it worse.
What more can you do ....

[rns91294]

Tower - Thanks for clarifying.  That makes sense.

Don't forget Customs and Excise!
Items can be held up for weeks there if they have a big volume of post to sift through.
(Sorry to be so doom-and-gloomish)

I was also reminded that security is pretty high in new York now which could cause custom back ups as well.

If it's any crumb of comfort, I paid for an item in mid-November from a seller in the US and still haven't received it! :'(

Yes, that does make me feel a little better, but sad for you at the same time.  I know what you mean by wanting the item, as I really want mine too.  Makes it that much harder.

Mine was sent insured (signed for).  How long must you wait in the UK before filing with the post office for your refund of a lost insured item?

If mine does not come, should I go through PayPal or the seller.  PayPal refunds you all but $25 and shipping, right?  Since it was insured, i shoud be able to get a refund from the seller, but I obviously want to at least wait until it is time to file for a lost item.  In the US it is 30 days.  Is it the same there?

I've also got another item I've paid for on Jan 5th (again in the US, but a different seller) and I wrote to them at the weekend telling them that if I don't receive it within seven days then I will be applying for a refund through PayPal.

Mine was sent on january 7, so a very similar timeframe.  I think mail must be slow.  How could so many of us have problems with getting our items at one time? if it was just me, I would think it was lost, but now I truly think mail is extremely delayed or something isn't right.

If I neg this seller there's every chance they will leave a retaliatory neg in return, which just isn't fair especially when I've paid promptly for the auction and have tried several times to contact them.

Go to the eBay problem section of this forum.  There is a thread in there about this.  I too mentioned how unfair I think it is because as a buyer, if you pay right away, that should be what your feedbac is based on, not what kind of feedback you leave the seller.

If I dont get my item, and the seller refunds me, he would definitely still get a positive.  After all, so far, he has been very kind.