STOLEN!

[justginger]

I'm so upset - the sleepy Mahenge spinel I bought last month from Jeff Davies has been stolen. It was mailed in earlyish August and I was being very good at being patient (a personal challenge). But come the first week of Sept, I started wondering where it was. I was able to check the tracking online and saw that it had arrived at a sorting center only 5 minutes from my house on the 15th of August. The status hadn't been updated since then.

I called AusPost, started an enquiry, and was told they'd get back to me. Being exceptionally patient, another 2 weeks passed. I called again. I was told they had lodged an enquiry with the sorting center, but received no response, so they would enquire again. Allow them 48 hours to call me back. I finally phoned them again today (after a further 4 days) and was told...it was delivered. The driver was questioned and said he delivered the package, leaving it at my front door with no signature. Exactly what he wasn't supposed to do.

So there are two possibilities. Either the driver himself kept it, which I find hard to believe, or someone saw it from the footpath/road and took it. Either way, my spinel is gone. Of course Jeff is being outstanding and has offered me a full refund or another stone but...I want THAT one!

I've lodged a stolen item report with the local police and will be combing the closest pawn shops to see if it's there. I don't want my money back, I want my pink spinel.

 

[chrono]

JG,
I'm so sorry; I understand how you feel. When stones get lost in transit (or stolen, really), more often than not, it's not the money that I care about. I much prefer the stone, which is why I parted with the money in the first place. Perhaps Jeff might more of something similar for you?

 

[Enerchi]

I'm pissed on your behalf!!! That sucks and especially when no one seems to be taking control of the situation... Seriously?? They "trust" the driver who says he left a "to be signed for" package at your door???? Not to point fingers - but that kind of gets my suspicious spidey senses tingling....

 

[T L]

I'm so upset - the sleepy Mahenge spinel I bought last month from Jeff Davies has been stolen. It was mailed in earlyish August and I was being very good at being patient (a personal challenge). But come the first week of Sept, I started wondering where it was. I was able to check the tracking online and saw that it had arrived at a sorting center only 5 minutes from my house on the 15th of August. The status hadn't been updated since then.

I called AusPost, started an enquiry, and was told they'd get back to me. Being exceptionally patient, another 2 weeks passed. I called again. I was told they had lodged an enquiry with the sorting center, but received no response, so they would enquire again. Allow them 48 hours to call me back. I finally phoned them again today (after a further 4 days) and was told...it was delivered. The driver was questioned and said he delivered the package, leaving it at my front door with no signature. Exactly what he wasn't supposed to do.

So there are two possibilities. Either the driver himself kept it, which I find hard to believe, or someone saw it from the footpath/road and took it. Either way, my spinel is gone. Of course Jeff is being outstanding and has offered me a full refund or another stone but...I want THAT one!

I've lodged a stolen item report with the local police and will be combing the closest pawn shops to see if it's there. I don't want my money back, I want my pink spinel.

So very sorry. I've mailed some signature-required packages myself, and you would be amazed at how many postal workers just leave them on the doorstep without a signature. They should be reprimanded for this action, but they continue to do this. I mailed two packages to someone and they required a signature and a return card, and he just threw them in her bushes. I'm very fortunate to have a great postal worker who delivers my packages. She always makes sure she gets a signature and hand delivers them to my door.

 

[missy]

Oh no! I am so sorry justginger!
Why did he/she leave it when signature was required??? That really is aggravating. So sorry!

 

[kenny]

That sucks.
I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Was the shipment insured?

 

[JaneSmith]

This is just terrible. I don't think the postie took it. I think some dishonest thief took it from your porch.
I've had almost all my recent (last few years) jewellery purchases that were supposed to be signature required just left on my doorstep.

I hope you find it in a pawn shop, or the police may miraculously catch the person doing something else illegal.

Poo.

 

[minousbijoux]

Ginger, I can understand your anger and disappointment. Bad news. What bugs me is that if there is signature required, how is it that so many packages are left sitting on my doorstep or stuffed into the mailbox? I just don't get it. If something requires a signature, how can they possibly not have liability if they leave it without one?!!

 

[bobsiv]

That's amazing that the vendor is offering a full refund.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Bummer. Total bummer. Insurance?

I sent cash in a card to Australia, as a wedding gift, and it never got to the recipient. Are all packages and letters opened? I guess there will always be accidents, and temptations.

Sharon

 

[JewelFreak]

Ginger, I'm SO sorry! What a heartbreaker. Obviously the money is secondary -- it's that specific stone. Not like a shirt, where you can just order another exactly like it. Seems to me the P.O. should bear liability since they didn't get a signature -- isn't that supposed to be the point of paying extra for the service? Really nice of Jeff to offer you a replacement, etc. Wish I could squeeze your hand & make it better -- but maybe Jeff can!

--- Laurie

 

[cm366]

Sorry to hear it - Australia post has been slow for me but never so downright reckless. It's good of Jeff to replace the stone - he's got great stuff, I'm sure he can find you something else wonderful, and as you say there's still a chance it'll turn up!

 

[justginger]

Thanks for all the gem condolences, no one IRL gets how individual these stones are. They're used to seeing chain store wares with their near black, identical sapphires, I suppose.

I don't know if Jeff had the package insured or not - I really hope he did. But mostly I hope some stupid kid stole it and took it to the nearest pawn shop...and it will be right in the front counter for me to discover!

 

[Starzin]

Ginger, I can understand your anger and disappointment. Bad news. What bugs me is that if there is signature required, how is it that so many packages are left sitting on my doorstep or stuffed into the mailbox? I just don't get it. If something requires a signature, how can they possibly not have liability if they leave it without one?!!

This!! Ginger I'm so sorry. I would be on that post office like a swarm of bees, it's unforgivable.

 

[T L]

Has anyone gone to their local post office to complain about the postal worker not doing their job properly? I hear about this issue all the time, but people are reluctant to complain.

 

[Starzin]

I hear what you're saying TL. Fortunately Aust Post in my area are terrific. I had stuff arriving left, right and centre a while ago and if it was ordinary post it was left in the letterbox, if it required a signature I was asked for one.

Here, if it's an ordinary package but won't fit in the letterbox 99% of the time they leave a card in the letterbox to tell you to pick it up. I have had one or two things left over the years but never gems and I do count myself fortunate that everything arrives safely and in good condition.

 

[T L]

I hear what you're saying TL. Fortunately Aust Post in my area are terrific. I had stuff arriving left, right and centre a while ago and if it was ordinary post it was left in the letterbox, if it required a signature I was asked for one.

Here, if it's an ordinary package but won't fit in the letterbox 99% of the time they leave a card in the letterbox to tell you to pick it up. I have had one or two things left over the years but never gems and I do count myself fortunate that everything arrives safely and in good condition.

Well something happened this one time, maybe it's a training issue for a new person. I would say something to the post office. Tell them they're doing a great job overall, but on that particular day, you would like to know why the box wasn't delivered requesting a signature, and now it's missing.

 

[NKOTB]

I would definitely complain, too. So sorry about this, justginger. How disappointing! Nice to hear that Jeff is so accommodating - who knows, maybe he'll find you one you like even better. I always get a card where I live in Canada, so have to go to the P.O. to pick up anything if I'm not home. Except the one time, that the postman knew I was just dropping off my kids at school, so he came back an hour or so later.

 

[chrono]

I like the suggestion of bringing this up to the PO; if it is loud enough, they'll take notice and not try to cut corners.

 

[Arkteia]

I am sorry, Justginger! I can only imagine how upset you are. I would complain to the post office, after all, the change of a stupid kid taking it versus the driver taking it is probably 50/50.

 

[Arkteia]

I am sorry, Justginger! I can only imagine how upset you are. I would complain to the post office, after all, the change of a stupid kid taking it versus the driver taking it is probably 50/50.

 

[justginger]

I will visit the local post office and speak with them about it - but I don't think it was one of their regular drivers, I think this guy came from the sorting facility. I have had one previous issue with the post, an envelope containing a pearl necklace was left on my verge, next to the sidewalk. A good gust of wind would have put it in the middle of the road. I let that go because it a) didn't require a signature, just a regular padded envelope, and b) could have conceivably fallen out of my tilt-open-top-style mailbox. Other than that, I always receive signature cards and have to go the PO to pick up the parcel. To add insult to injury, DH got a card in the mailbox yesterday for something that required picking up...a $9 replacement laptop charger.

 

[Lovinggems]

That's awful and I hope the package is still in the warehouse somewhere and turns up and not really delivered and stolen.

I bought a pretty expensive necklace a few years ago and it was mis-delivered to an address a few streets away. Luckily that home owner walked all the way to my house, knocked on my door and asked me if it was mine.

 

[chrono]

I'd be very concerned since this isn't the first time the PO has been negligent, leading me to suspect that your neighbours probably get the same mail treatment.

 

[justginger]

Update: the stone arrived. Don't ask me how it happened, but today I got home and an envelope from Thailand was waiting in my mailbox (AGAIN, no signature!). It was in the original packaging, completely untampered with. Color me confused, but grateful.

So, the good news is that it's here. The bad news is that I'm returning it. Having gotten used to the size of Poppy, I'm finding it hard to accept something that is this size. It's just not what I pictured in terms of presence, but is a beautiful bright pink. I'm sort of sad to let it go, after all the drama involved in getting it. So if anyone wants a silky, bright pink Mahenge (with a small window that would likely close up), let Jeff Davies know!

 

[chrono]

So, it was delayed and someone at the PO updated it prior to delivery?

What is the size of this new spinel? Sometimes I don't mind a smaller stone if the colour is outstanding. Colour will stand out more than size if it is very saturated.

 

[justginger]

The color is not outstanding, but it is very good - more of a pad sort of color than a NEON pink. And it is pink pink to orange-pink, definitely not purple-pink or red-pink. I think it is priced fairly for what it is. The size is 7.91 x 6.50mm. Sounded bigger than it actually looks on my hand, for some reason. Maybe I should take a few photos in case anyone here is actually interested in getting it.

I have NO idea what happened with the postage. It was never updated to delivered - it just stayed as 'at sorting facility' for weeks, and when questioned the driver said he HAD delivered it. I find it hard to understand because it would be impossible for something similar to happen in my line of work...I can only imagine the consequences and repercussions!

 

[chrono]

All right, I understand now. Orangish pink is not my cup of tea either; I'd rather some purple over orange modifier.

Pictures would be great, not for the purpose of informing others that it is available but for others to see the colour accuracy. It appears that Jeff's stones tend to be hit or miss. Either they are spot on or terribly off base.

 

[Enerchi]

Well well well!!! This is a (semi) great ending to a terrible story, Justginger! I'm so glad the stone actually did arrive- intact, no less - wow! But I'm sorry it wasn't what you wanted after all.

Maybe posting pics may be the way to go--- there could be someone looking for just that stone - especially one with such a mysterious past

 

[Lee Little]

Even here in the mountains of Thailand the postal guy on a motorcycle always gets a signature when it calls for one. Hard to believe that happened there. Actually the post office in Thailand is excellent overall and I am very pleased with it. Glad Jeff didn't have to replace it since it appeared to be no fault of his. Best regards, Lee