Has anyone else had problems w/ auto redemptions???

[Guest]

[sfmuggle]

Hey all - I've been MIA for a while (work and travel driving me crazy).  Anyway, I sent in a Radcliffe auto redemption for 3D series II last August and noticed I haven't received an auto back.  I haven't really been doing much w/ my HP cards or other stuff for a long while now so I kind of lost track (still have 7-8 other redemptions to send in).

Recently I've had a little more time (and knew that I was still missing the Gleeson & Hunter autos) so decided to reconcile what's been received and not.  That's when I noticed that the Radcliffe is not among cards received.

I called Kay and they have no record of the redemption card coming to Artbox.  She informed me that their records show that the last cards they sent me were in March '08 but my records show that I received auto redemptions from them in April '08 as well.

I'm wondering if their records are accurate.  I've never had a problem with them before.  Kay was nice enough to offer to check on their end again but doesn't look promising.

so wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem and, if so, what was the resolution (if any)?

Thanks in advance for your help, ideas, and thoughts.

[Roz]

Oh Crumbs! I had trouble once with something that they posted to me via ordinary post (mail) but never with items getting to them (although I must confess to using recorded post all the time just to make sure!!!)

Anyone got any ideas?

[kbmum]

Unfortunately, I think you're out of luck.  :'(  If you have no proof that you mailed the redemption and no proof that they received it, Kay will not send you the auto (especially such a high-value one).  When POAU came out, I pulled a damaged Cedric costume card.  I shipped it to Artbox, but they didn't receive it.  Even though it was a very common card, Artbox would not send me a replacement.

For the future, I have some advice on mailing redemptions to any company:

• Take a picture of or scan the redemptions you are sending in.
• Send an e-mail to the manufacturer, listing the redemptions you are mailing.  Ask about options for paying for tracking and/or insurance, depending on the value of the cards.
• Securely package the cards with sleeves and top loaders (at a minimum).  If you want your cards to be shipped back to you in a bubble mailer, include that with the proper postage on it.  If you live outside the U.S., contact Kay about the best way to do this.
• In the U.S., use delivery confirmation, signature confirmation, and/or registered mail.  Some of these services are expensive, so you might want to consider the value of the items being mailed.  Outside the U.S., use whatever your post office offers for recorded delivery.
• For high-value cards, it would be a good idea to e-mail the manufacturer when the tracking shows the package has been received.  You can request an e-mail to inform you when the cards are mailed, but this might not always be possible.

Keep in mind that if you don't pay for return tracking, Artbox (I don't know about other companies) usually ships the cards without it.  There have been instances when Artbox mailed high-value cards that were lost in the mail.  The collectors/dealers had a great deal of trouble, spanning many months, getting Artbox to ship out more cards.  Some were successful and some were not.

A note about insurance:  Insurance is an iffy proposition here.  Unless you purchased the redemptions and have the receipts or invoices to prove the value, you will not be able to prove to the post office how much the cards are worth, and therefore will receive no money for lost or damaged items.  The post office is concerned about fraud -- anyone can claim a package has a certain value and purchase insurance for that amount, but USPS won't pay a claim without proof of an item's value.

Let's hope that for the upcoming Memorable Moments 2 and HBP releases, Artbox has had plenty of time to acquire signatures so that there are no redemptions.

[sfmuggle]

Yeah I use to photocopy the front and back of the redemption cards, include a memo of the card(s) being redeemed, and send it w/ delivery confirmation.  I've sent tons of redemption cards (a number of Hermiones and other Radcliffes, Harry/Cho dual & others) and never a hint of a problem.  So I got a bit lazy and especially didn't want to stand in line at the postal office for delivery confirmation.

Someone just pointed out to me that it may be possible that it just never arrived.  Well it seems like I'm out of luck (and out $325+ too).  The funny thing is that, at the time, I was thinking that I should send it w/ tracking but just sent via regular mail.

Well I'm pretty bummed out right now but serves me right to being lazy.  Anyone have a "redeemed" 3D series 2 Radcliffe for sale 

I don't like redemptions but I also don't like the sticker autos either.  So hopefully everyone gets their act together for future sets and no more redemption cards.

[erevine]

I usually use insured mail in the U.S. for the amount I feel the card is worth, that way it is automatically tracked for delivery and if anything goes awry you can claim the insured amount. To cut down on cost post more than one card at a time with the appropriate insurance amount.

[kbmum]

You still need to provide proof of value or the claim won't be paid.  That will be difficult if you pulled a Radcliffe redemption from a box.  The only receipt you'll have is for the price of the box.  You'd  have to find a reputable dealer who is willing to write up and sign a statement testifying to the value of the item.

From the USPS site:

Evidence of Value

o    For Insurance Purchased at a Post Office, one of the following:

For items valued up to $100:
§        The customer's own statement describing the lost or damaged article and including the date and place of purchase, the amount paid and whether the item was new or used. If the article mailed is a hobby, craft, or handmade item, the statement must include the price of the materials used in making the item.
§        Picture from a catalog showing the value of a similar article (only if a sales receipt, invoice, or statement of value from a reputable dealer is not available). The date and place of purchase must be included.
§        Paid repair bills; if the claim is for partial damage, estimates of repair expenses or appraisals from a reputable dealer. Repair expenses may not exceed the original purchase price.
§        Receipt or invoice for the expenses incurred to buy a surety bond required to reissue a lost item.
§       Receipt or invoice of expenses incurred for the reconstruction of nonnegotiable documents.
§        A copy of a canceled check, money order receipt, credit card statement, or other documentation indicating the amount paid. For Internet purchases, a copy of the front and back of the canceled check, money order, or a copy of the credit card billing statement is required.

For items valued over $100:
§        Sales receipt
§        Invoice
§        Bill of sale
§        Picture from a catalog
§       Statement of value from a reputable dealer

The same proof of value is required for insurance that's purchased online.  The only difference is that if insurance is bought online, the claim can also be filed online.

[sfmuggle]

Well problem solved.  I just replaced (I should say purchased a replacement) Radcliffe.  The bad news is that it's another redemption.  Tom was very nice to sell it to me at a very good price.  As I'm not in any particular rush, I'm thinking that I'll just bring down with me (along with my other redemption cards) to Comic Con and hand deliver to Kay.

[Bogleg]

As I'm not in any particular rush, I'm thinking that I'll just bring down with me (along with my other redemption cards) to Comic Con and hand deliver to Kay.

Two problems with this plan. 1) Artbox haven't confirmed they will be at the Con. 2) Kay refuses to take redemptions there as it is too busy and they might get lost (my own experience) 

[sfmuggle]

Good points! I'll send it with tracking # down to Kay instead.  I'll just  that all goes well this time.  The good news is that lines at the Post Office are a lot shorter.

[kbmum]

You could also mail them to Artbox from San Diego.  You'd be able to get postage plus delivery confirmation (tracking) for maybe $3 and the package would travel a much shorter distance than if you mailed it from the UK.  The only thing you should do is check with Kay that stock will still be available for your cards in July.  If they don't have many left, then you'd want to ship the redemptions as soon as possible.

[sfmuggle]

You could also mail them to Artbox from San Diego.  You'd be able to get postage plus delivery confirmation (tracking) for maybe $3 and the package would travel a much shorter distance than if you mailed it from the UK.  The only thing you should do is check with Kay that stock will still be available for your cards in July.  If they don't have many left, then you'd want to ship the redemptions as soon as possible.

Thanks for suggestions Cindy.  I actually live in San Francisco so postal distance is short.  I'll ship out as soon as I receive it from Tom.

[kbmum]

Oops, for some reason, I thought you were in the UK!