Autumn in New England
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2012
- Messages
- 4,961
Hello all,
I decided recently that I would certify any gems in my collection not yet tested, because I am now beginning to have them all set (which I wanted to share with everyone here, as the projects progressed). I've never set any of my gems before, so I am (was) excited! Anyway, there were 4 not yet certified... a spessartine (The Rare Gemstone Co.), royal purple garnet (AJS Gems), pink tourmaline (Africa Gems), and paraiba (JTV). These are all reliable sellers, but I always certify regardless, because I have trust issues.
I routinely overnight gems via Fedex to GIA or, in this case, AGL. But I was reeeeeally tempted to use USPS this time, because it only costs about 20% of the Fedex charge. And those costs add up, along with the lab fees, as you all know. So, against my better judgment, and to save a buck (smh), I sent the 4 stones to AGL via priority with signature confirmation. The 4 stones together stand me about $17k. I gambled on not fully insuring the package, because I would have needed an independent policy.
What do you think happened the one time I didn't use Fedex? Yep, you guessed it! The USPS has royally bungled this shipment. I'm really kicking myself because I hate, hate, hate the post office. I find them to be completely undependable and blasé about the entire process. And, frankly, that's why they're so cheap. Why... WHY did I send it USPS?! Losing the money would suck, but I'd feel even worse about losing the stones themselves.
The package has been bouncing around to every possible PO in NYC... back and forth, back and forth... it keeps getting "forwarded" around to the same distribution center and then sent out again the next day to, apparently, the wrong destination PO. I opened a case, and they simply said give it time and "it's not lost, because it's still scanning." But something is obviously wrong. And it's next to impossible to get a human on the phone who has any idea what's going on. When the box and label left my possession, they were 100% correct and intact... I have a copy of the label in my account. But the USPS system keeps saying that either the recipient has given them forwarding instructions or the zip code is wrong. Neither is true, so I don't know what to think. In my small state, if you call your local PO, they will physically retrieve a package to redirect it or return it to you. Obviously, that is not going to happen in NYC.
In any event, you can imagine my concern. I realize there are much more important things going on in the world right now, but please send some happy gem energy my way? I'll be pretty sick over it if this package is never "found." I feel like the more hands it goes through, the more it's just begging to be stolen or lost in the shuffle.
Sigh... sorry for the spiel. I'm such an IDIOT. Don't cheap out on shipping your gems, folks. Don't be like Autumn.
I decided recently that I would certify any gems in my collection not yet tested, because I am now beginning to have them all set (which I wanted to share with everyone here, as the projects progressed). I've never set any of my gems before, so I am (was) excited! Anyway, there were 4 not yet certified... a spessartine (The Rare Gemstone Co.), royal purple garnet (AJS Gems), pink tourmaline (Africa Gems), and paraiba (JTV). These are all reliable sellers, but I always certify regardless, because I have trust issues.
I routinely overnight gems via Fedex to GIA or, in this case, AGL. But I was reeeeeally tempted to use USPS this time, because it only costs about 20% of the Fedex charge. And those costs add up, along with the lab fees, as you all know. So, against my better judgment, and to save a buck (smh), I sent the 4 stones to AGL via priority with signature confirmation. The 4 stones together stand me about $17k. I gambled on not fully insuring the package, because I would have needed an independent policy.
What do you think happened the one time I didn't use Fedex? Yep, you guessed it! The USPS has royally bungled this shipment. I'm really kicking myself because I hate, hate, hate the post office. I find them to be completely undependable and blasé about the entire process. And, frankly, that's why they're so cheap. Why... WHY did I send it USPS?! Losing the money would suck, but I'd feel even worse about losing the stones themselves.
The package has been bouncing around to every possible PO in NYC... back and forth, back and forth... it keeps getting "forwarded" around to the same distribution center and then sent out again the next day to, apparently, the wrong destination PO. I opened a case, and they simply said give it time and "it's not lost, because it's still scanning." But something is obviously wrong. And it's next to impossible to get a human on the phone who has any idea what's going on. When the box and label left my possession, they were 100% correct and intact... I have a copy of the label in my account. But the USPS system keeps saying that either the recipient has given them forwarding instructions or the zip code is wrong. Neither is true, so I don't know what to think. In my small state, if you call your local PO, they will physically retrieve a package to redirect it or return it to you. Obviously, that is not going to happen in NYC.
In any event, you can imagine my concern. I realize there are much more important things going on in the world right now, but please send some happy gem energy my way? I'll be pretty sick over it if this package is never "found." I feel like the more hands it goes through, the more it's just begging to be stolen or lost in the shuffle.
Sigh... sorry for the spiel. I'm such an IDIOT. Don't cheap out on shipping your gems, folks. Don't be like Autumn.
After being forwarded yet again yesterday, it is back at the main distribution center in NYC. The package has gone out to several destination facilities in all different zip codes around the city. Interested to see where it ends up next! I just can't figure out what the problem is... totally stumped.
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