Purchases Today

[Brian]

Couldn't resist Arkivmusic's Weekend Special price for this.

With shipping and sales tax it comes to $139US.

Help...temptation...rising...must...resist...

Bonus: Arkivmusic does not charge sales tax for my state.

...temptation...rising...even...higher...

[classicalgeek]

Wow, I've never seen that message before either. Wonder what hazardous situation the package got into. It would at least be nice to know, right? "We saved you from radioactive waste" - if they said that, you would feel more gratitude!

I might fill out the USPS inquiry for that reason! I wouldn't expect them to answer, though...

[classicalgeek]

Help...temptation...rising...must...resist...

...temptation...rising...even...higher...

Or you could throw in a few extra single discs and avoid the shipping costs too!

[Brian]

Or you could throw in a few extra single discs and avoid the shipping costs too!

Have already started scouting 

[Spotted Horses]

The package actually cleared customs (also in L.A.) on May 23, and had made its way to Seattle, about 20 minutes from where I live. It then spent four days in the Seattle facility (due to the long Memorial Day weekend.) Then it once again hit the road on the 28th (Tuesday), and evidently on the way to the Seattle suburbs where I live, something happened to it that caused it to get 'disposed of'. 

I'm really sorry one of your packages got lost in customs. I've heard of that happening. Glad you were able to order the same thing again! I'd do the same, but it wouldn't be at the crazy discount JPC was offering. Just an example: the Grieg Complete Orchestral Music cost me about $22, postage included in this sale. I can't find it for less than $40 now.

I can imagine how frustrated you are, especially considering how close it got to you before it was "disposed," and how you missed out on the sale offers. I asked ChatGPT what would cause a package to be disposed, and the answers are which I might have guessed. Package determined to be hazardous (not applicable), Package lacks customs documents (not applicable because it cleared customs) Package is determined to be a security risk (not applicable) Package was destroyed (seems like the most likely). The label can get detached or destroyed, but then it would fail to scan and you wouldn't know, even if they disposed it, I would think. I've actually received something where the package was destroyed but the postal service stuck the label to the item contained and delivered it anyway.

My case (a saga you can read about on the "on-line stores" thread) taxed my patience, but ultimately JPC refunded and I managed to purchase the same item for almost the same price from grooves.land. It took months before it was resolved.

I wrote to JPC customer service explaining the situation (with screenshots.) The guy from JPC who responded said they would issue a refund, and contact the German Post. But it wasn't the German Post's fault, this definitely happened on the American side of things. I really wish they could have sent the order again. I do hear there is a form on the USPS's website where you can ask them to investigate lost packages (I struggle with phone calls as I had a stroke nearly five years ago that significantly impacted my speech) so maybe I'll do that.

I think JPC has to make the inquiry, because they are the ones who paid to ship the package, and to whom the shipper is responsible. In this case I would imagine the USPS is responsible to DHL, DHL is responsible to JPC, and JPC is responsible to you. After my package disappeared JPC said they would request in investigation, and some days later I got a letter from the USPS notifying me there was an investigation and asking me verify that the package did not arrive. Haven't heard anything since. Probably this allows JPC to get reimbursed based on whatever insurance was effective for the package.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I might fill out the USPS inquiry for that reason! I wouldn't expect them to answer, though...

Out of curiosity, I did a bit of googling and noticed that there had been some issues with mail thefts in Washington (state)--including mail trucks(!) and wonder if this might be related?  Probably not...just a thought.

PD

[classicalgeek]

I can imagine how frustrated you are, especially considering how close it got to you before it was "disposed," and how you missed out on the sale offers. I asked ChatGPT what would cause a package to be disposed, and the answers are which I might have guessed. Package determined to be hazardous (not applicable), Package lacks customs documents (not applicable because it cleared customs) Package is determined to be a security risk (not applicable) Package was destroyed (seems like the most likely). The label can get detached or destroyed, but then it would fail to scan and you wouldn't know, even if they disposed it, I would think. I've actually received something where the package was destroyed but the postal service stuck the label to the item contained and delivered it anyway.

My case (a saga you can read about on the "on-line stores" thread) taxed my patience, but ultimately JPC refunded and I managed to purchase the same item for almost the same price from grooves.land. It took months before it was resolved.

I think JPC has to make the inquiry, because they are the ones who paid to ship the package, and to whom the shipper is responsible. In this case I would imagine the USPS is responsible to DHL, DHL is responsible to JPC, and JPC is responsible to you. After my package disappeared JPC said they would request in investigation, and some days later I got a letter from the USPS notifying me there was an investigation and asking me verify that the package did not arrive. Haven't heard anything since. Probably this allows JPC to get reimbursed based on whatever insurance was effective for the package.

Thank you for this excellent explanation - I can kind of see how it all works together now. Though it would be nice to get some answers, to know why it was 'disposed of'!

I'll definitely check out your story. I know postal service mishaps are rare, but they do happen, as I've found out!

Out of curiosity, I did a bit of googling and noticed that there had been some issues with mail thefts in Washington (state)--including mail trucks(!) and wonder if this might be related?  Probably not...just a thought.

PD

Now that would be an interesting way to lose a package - the mail truck was stolen! Who knows, it could be true!

I filled out the USPS Help Request form... only to be told 'there was a problem submitting your request, try again later'    I guess I'll try tomorrow.

[DavidW]

I sold something on Ebay back last fall.  And for whatever reason usps just would not deliver the package.  It just kept being bounced around different distribution centers, and with no delivery in sight.  And there was no way that the address was wrong because the buyer has bought other things off Ebay and I bought the shipping right off Ebay.

So what did I do?  I refunded him, I made an insurance claim and a week or two later USPS reimbursed me with no questions asked.  So if you're a buyer, do not feel guilty about asking for a refund if you never received the goods (even though you know it is not the shops fault).  It is not hard for the seller to be reimbursed.

These things occasionally happen unfortunately, and that is why shipping insurance exists.  The only sad thing is that you can't get it replaced at the same price because the sale is over.

[nico1616]

Kossenko is a great baroque conductor and amazon.fr had good prices for these.

[classicalgeek]

Wow!  I'm quite shocked!  I'd be tempted to call the USPS and find out more.  There are rules about shipping things.  Perhaps the label got soaked due to rain and they couldn't read it anymore?  That would be my first guess.  But yet, they contacted you?  So....?  Anyway, sorry for your bad fortune. 

PD

Well, I waited until the next day, and I tried submitting the USPS's inquiry form in three different browsers, and I get the same result: "There was a problem submitting your Service Request. Please try again later." I DID "try again later"!!!        I don't know how long to keep at it before I just give up.

[Florestan]

Well, I waited until the next day, and I tried submitting the USPS's inquiry form in three different browsers, and I get the same result: "There was a problem submitting your Service Request. Please try again later." I DID "try again later"!!!        I don't know how long to keep at it before I just give up.

It's probably not a bug but a feature, expressly designed to make you (or anyone else in your situation) just give up. 

[ritter]

Well, I waited until the next day, and I tried submitting the USPS's inquiry form in three different browsers, and I get the same result: "There was a problem submitting your Service Request. Please try again later." I DID "try again later"!!!        I don't know how long to keep at it before I just give up.

Can't it be done in person at a Post Office?

I had a problem when sending a parcel by express mail from Spain to the UK. Spanish Mail said it had arrived in the UK, and the Royal Mail said they hadn't received it (I suspect it was stuck somewhere in customs — yes, the delights of Brexit  ). I asked at the Post Office, and they advised me to "report the incidence" (which is short of a formal complaint). The Royal Mail insisted they had no news of the parcel, but finally delivered it about a month late. In the meantime, I received a notification from Spanish Mail that I could collect a —significant— compensation payment in cash from the post office.

[Spotted Horses]

Well, I waited until the next day, and I tried submitting the USPS's inquiry form in three different browsers, and I get the same result: "There was a problem submitting your Service Request. Please try again later." I DID "try again later"!!!        I don't know how long to keep at it before I just give up.

You can go to the counter of a post office and ask. My experience is that the postal employees have access to tracking data with more detail. But if they disposed of the package you are not going to get any practical benefit. On a recent order there was a paradox. The package seemed to be doing great, but they it said (held at unit at request of recipient). I didn't request any hold, and there was no pink slip that I am supposed to present at the counter to get the package. It didn't even say where it was held. I went to the nearest post office and the agent said, "it isn't here, if they are holding it it would be at a different post office." I went to the other post office (with noting but the tracking number). I told my story, the postal employee went in back for a long time and came out with my package. Human error, or technical glitch.

In your case, I might guess your package somehow got crushed by one of the big sorting machines they use.

For what it's worth, I've found the postal service to be very reliable, although the time a package takes in transit can vary a lot. I've had more packages get mysteriously sent back by FedEx, with bizarre claims that the package was undeliverable.

[DavidW]

At first I didn't care for this approach, but I've warmed to it quite a bit.  It is very unique and worth owning IMO.  It will sit beside Vanska I on my streamer.

[JBS]

Ordered tonight. While it's true I'll probably never play the multiple versions of Pedro y el Lobo*, or the DVD of the Three Tenors (multiple viewings on PBS make it unnecessary), there's enough other stuff to make it worthwhile.


*I have to admit, having a Dutch version but not a Spanish or Italian version makes no sense to me.

[classicalgeek]

I feel embarrassed for raising such a stink about my 'disposed of' order...     

Because it turns out the Naxos box set sale is still on at JPC. Either that, or it was done, but they started it again.

So... I ended up ordering the same four boxes again (British String Quartets, Grieg Orchestral Works, Shostakovich Symphonies/Petrenko, Villa-Lobos Symphonies.) With the refund from the 'disposed of' order now complete, all it cost was a grand total of 80 cents because of a slightly stronger Euro this time around.

Lesson learned: make sure you've actually looked into things, done your research, before you endlessly complain about them!    To everyone who offered empathy and advice, I offer my apologies.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I feel embarrassed for raising such a stink about my 'disposed of' order...     

Because it turns out the Naxos box set sale is still on at JPC. Either that, or it was done, but they started it again.

So... I ended up ordering the same four boxes again (British String Quartets, Grieg Orchestral Works, Shostakovich Symphonies/Petrenko, Villa-Lobos Symphonies.) With the refund from the 'disposed of' order now complete, all it cost was a grand total of 80 cents because of a slightly stronger Euro this time around.

Lesson learned: make sure you've actually looked into things, done your research, before you endlessly complain about them!    To everyone who offered empathy and advice, I offer my apologies.

Hey, we're all just happy for you (if I might say) that the offer is still there (or they decided to extend it...whatever), and that we hope that you receive it o.k. 

Best,

PD

[JBS]

I feel embarrassed for raising such a stink about my 'disposed of' order...     

Because it turns out the Naxos box set sale is still on at JPC. Either that, or it was done, but they started it again.

So... I ended up ordering the same four boxes again (British String Quartets, Grieg Orchestral Works, Shostakovich Symphonies/Petrenko, Villa-Lobos Symphonies.) With the refund from the 'disposed of' order now complete, all it cost was a grand total of 80 cents because of a slightly stronger Euro this time around.

Lesson learned: make sure you've actually looked into things, done your research, before you endlessly complain about them!    To everyone who offered empathy and advice, I offer my apologies.

The USPS turning your package into hazardous waste in very much worth complaining about.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I feel embarrassed for raising such a stink about my 'disposed of' order...     

What if that had been a box of family photo albums or a hand-made present?  That would have really smarted.

PD

[Florestan]

I remember having received many moons ago from the Romanian Post a package sent to me from The Netherlands by our esteemed colleague @Harry containing the Hans Pfizner chamber music CPO boxset. When I collected it at the post office the package looked as if it had been carried by a fish down the Rhine-Main-Danube route: so soaked that my address was barely legible and Harry's not at all. When I asked wtf was that, the clerk told me it's how it had been delivered and I was actually lucky that they could read my address.  Well, I was also lucky in that dear Harry was cautious enough to impermeably wrap the box before packaging it. To this day I keep wondering what could have happened.