So upset - stone going to BGD probably lost or stolen!

[pierreone]

I''''m not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I''''m so upset and am hoping for encouragement (or sympathy

).

I bought a beautiful 3.29ct, untreated, violetish-blue cushion sapphire and was working with Brian and Lesley (who are awesome) on the setting. It was going to be based on a Jeff Cooper design, with 2 tapered baguettes and 3 square diamonds on each side (1ctw), and Tiffany-like prongs. I''''ve attached a picture of the ideas. This was going to be my 20-year replacement ering.

As instructed, I sent this out registered, insured US mail on Wednesday. I kept tracking it online, but noticed that the status was never updated - it never left the postal facility. So today I went in person to check, and they told me it doesn''''t look good. It was either sent incorrectly and lost, or stolen. I have to wait until Monday to talk to the main supervisor. This is a huge regional facility with a not-so-pristine reputation for honesty. I feel like such a dope - I''''m kicking myself for thinking that it would be safe being sent in what is supposedly the most secure form of US mail.

Since it was registered, it''''s insured for the full appraisal value. Has anybody ever had a problem with the post office like this? Will it take me 2 years to get my money back, if ever? I also have insurance from Jeweler''''s Mutual for the full appraisal value.

I''''m trying to hold out hope that it''''s just lost and will be found still in the post office or miraculously show up at BGD, but I''''m not holding my breath. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[Lorelei]

I am so sorry to hear this but don''t give up hope, sometimes the tracking isn''t updated often and this could be the case with you, the package could show up yet as reg. mail is very slow but is considered to be safe.

We have recently had trouble with one of our PSers and registered mail with her stone, it was wrongly delivered but the stone has been found and all is now well.

 

[MissGotRocks]

Registered, insured USPS is the safest way to send something. They do not update the tracking until it is received. I have never checked on something from the point of orgin so I''m not sure about them telling you it never left the postal facility. I have had something take 7-10 days to arrive and while it is a bit nerve wracking, it arrives safe and sound. I am told it travels from point to point under lock and key and is signed in and signed out at each step of the way. I guess that let''s them know if it disappears at what point that happened.

I''m sure their claim system is good as well - let''s just hope it doesn''t come to that. It certainly should not take two years for a payout. Let''s just hope that when you speak to the manager on Monday they can assure you the package is on it''s way!

 

[D&T]

i''m sure it will get there safely- register mail is slower due to security measure that takes place, everyone that touches the package has to sign for it. it''s stll pretty early.

 

[Moh 10]

Don''t worry.
You did everything right.
I''ll bet it will show up.

 

[TigerMama]

I am so sorry. This is one of my biggest fears. What a terrible thing to go through! Please take some comfort in the fact that is IS insured. You would be in a much worse boat if you have not taken the steps to insure it.

By the way, it is a beautiful ring! Just keep positive thoughts...it will find its way home.....Good luck with the supervisor. Do know that I would tell him what is in the box though.....

 

[chrono]

I'm so sorry. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the PO will be able to sort this out for you on Monday. Getting your refund is definitely possible as long as you have all the paperwork: post office receipt, your appraisal, gemstone receipt and the registered mail ticket. I know that the PO is also quite slow in updating their website as well. I've experienced sending a registered package but not seeing any updates until suddenly, it arrived at the vendor's location a week later.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

Aw...I am hoping that it will turn up, I am sure that it will. Hang in there.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 7/11/2009 12:07:09 PM
Author: MissGotRocks
Registered, insured USPS is the safest way to send something. They do not update the tracking until it is received. I have never checked on something from the point of orgin so I''m not sure about them telling you it never left the postal facility. I have had something take 7-10 days to arrive and while it is a bit nerve wracking, it arrives safe and sound. I am told it travels from point to point under lock and key and is signed in and signed out at each step of the way. I guess that let''s them know if it disappears at what point that happened.

I''m sure their claim system is good as well - let''s just hope it doesn''t come to that. It certainly should not take two years for a payout. Let''s just hope that when you speak to the manager on Monday they can assure you the package is on it''s way!

Ditto. Their so called "tracking" is the pits (worthless really, same thing as delivery confirmation), and many of the workers are just plain idiots. Try to stay calm and talk to the postmaster on Monday.

 

[pierreone]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I know I probably just panic posted. I''m somewhat calmer now.

 

[neatfreak]

I''m so sorry to hear that-hopefully it will turn up. But the fact that it is insured through Jeweler''s Mutual is GREAT. Even if it were to take forever to get a postal service claim on it JM can have the $ in place for a new stone in a matter of a few days or weeks. They are VERY fast.

Crossing my fingers for you!

And just FYI-their tracking is awful so it is entirely possible that it is making it''s way to BGD right now and just hasn''t been scanned in. If it was sent regular mail instead of registered by mistake this is a possibility perhaps...

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/11/2009 12:34:11 PM
Author: pierreone
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I know I probably just panic posted. I''m somewhat calmer now.

Hey don''t worry - sometimes getting it out there and a bit of friendly assistance can really help!

 

[cinnamon013]

It will likely be delivered. From Wed to Sat would not be unusual. You won''t see any tracking online until it is delivered. If you wanted it delivered that soon, Fedex overnight for a Thurs delivery or Fedex two day for a Friday delivery would have been your other options. Of course UPS or USPS express mail as well.

 

[FancyDiamond]

This is everyone''s nightmare! I have been thinking about sending my diamond to BGD using the recommended US registered mail. Now I have to think twice about doing so. I am very, very sorry about what happened to you. One BIG consolation is that the stone is fully insured. Besides, there is still a chance that the package will show up.

I have mailed countless letters and packages using US postal service, UPS, and FedEx, and have never lost anything except once when US postal office lost my check (regular mail). No matter what low probability the loss may be, one can never take a chance for such a high value item without proper insurance. You are very smart for getting proper (and double) insurance for the stone. Nevertheless, insurance or not, it must be heart breaking losing such a hard-to-find stone that will be difficult to replace. Therefore, I am very, vrey sorry for your situation. Hope the best will come out of this situation.

By the way, I appreciate your posting your experience here, because we all now know the importance of fully insurancing our valuables for shipment purpose.

 

[honey22]

That totally sucks! Fingers crossed that your stone turns up at BGD soon!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Don't worry yet! I've had terrible luck with tracking service. Often the USPS site will say it doesn't even recognize the tracking number that a company has provided for me (days after the item was shipped out) and then the package will show up at my door. Yet, if I check the USPS again, it still will not recognize the tracking number!

 

[strmrdr]

Under USPS rules it has always been it has 30 days to be found or to show up if it don''t then they cut a check on the 31st day.
It would be pretty safe to assume that rule is still in effect.
If it is you will get a check in the mail soon after the 30 days is up if it don''t turn up.
Odds are however it will show up at BGD next week.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/11/2009 4:04:29 PM
Author: strmrdr
Under USPS rules it has always been it has 30 days to be found or to show up if it don't then they cut a check on the 31st day.
It would be pretty safe to assume that rule is still in effect.
If it is you will get a check in the mail soon after the 30 days is up if it don't turn up.
Odds are however it will show up at BGD next week.

i don't think so stormy,not that easy on a big ticket item. it'll probably show up at BGD.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I would give it a little time. I just sent a package over seas by registered mail. The status has not been updated since the 3rd of July. I got an email from the vendor 2 days ago that it arrived. The status of the package has still not been updated online.

 

[pierreone]

All these replies are making me feel much more hopeful that it will show up next week. It just really got me concerned when the post office couldn''t figure out where it went. From what others have written, the tracking system seems fairly pointless.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Dogmom]

Pierreone, I will keep my fingers crossed all turns out well. Your design is beautiful and I can''t wait to see your project when it is finished.

Sorry for the t/j, but the pup in your avatar is precious!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/11/2009 8:21:11 PM
Author: pierreone
All these replies are making me feel much more hopeful that it will show up next week. It just really got me concerned when the post office couldn''t figure out where it went. From what others have written, the tracking system seems fairly pointless.

Fingers crossed!

don''t worry...losing a registered package is highly unlikely.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 7/11/2009 9:39:36 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 7/11/2009 8:21:11 PM
Author: pierreone
All these replies are making me feel much more hopeful that it will show up next week. It just really got me concerned when the post office couldn''t figure out where it went. From what others have written, the tracking system seems fairly pointless.

Fingers crossed!

don''t worry...losing a registered package is highly unlikely.

Ditto. I am hopeful it will be found and pronto!!!! Best of luck, I think all will be fine. I lknow easy for me to say...

 

[Jester]

You have nothing to worry about. The USPS tracking is pretty poor. Registered Mail is slow, if you shipped it Wednesday it won''t get there until some time next week. The chances of it being lost are extremely slim. And even if it was, it''s insured and you''ll get your money back.

 

[swingirl]

10 days is standard, could be more, could be less. Just be patient for a while longer.

 

[jill_s]

So sorry! You did do everything the way you were supposed to, so it should all work out soon. Good luck!

 

[denverappraiser]

Registered mail travels rather slowly because it needs to be scanned and signed for every time it changes hands within the postal system. That’s also why it’s so secure. Depending on how far away you are from BGD , it’s not unusual for things to take over a week to arrive. They don’t make the tracking information available the way they do with some of their other services so the workers at the post office have no way of tracking where it is in the chain but you did everything right. It’ll turn up. The online tracking system won't be updated until the end of the day after someone signs for the package and I'm sure BGD will tell you about it before that. The problem is with the clerk who waited on you, not with the USPS service in general. They didn't know anything and they didn't want to tell you that. They have no way of finding out anything, their supervisor has no way of finding out anything and even the postmaster can't do much to track it without starting an investigation by the postal inspector into who was the last signature. Lost registered mail is VERY unusual and the postal inspectors take it very seriously but the first step is to give them some time to deliver the package.


Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Appraisals in Denver

 

[pierreone]

Thanks again for all the reassurances. In the past couple years we''ve had two different packages ripped open and the contents stolen from this particular facility, so I''m sure I''m just being overly sensitive. It sounds like everything should be okay with registered mail, though. Hopefully it will show up this week. Then I''ll be a bit embarrassed for posting, but greatly relieved.

Dogmom, thanks. She''s a Great Pyrenees, cute as a button with attitude for days.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 7/12/2009 12:42:32 PM
Author: pierreone
Thanks again for all the reassurances. In the past couple years we''ve had two different packages ripped open and the contents stolen from this particular facility, so I''m sure I''m just being overly sensitive. It sounds like everything should be okay with registered mail, though. Hopefully it will show up this week. Then I''ll be a bit embarrassed for posting, but greatly relieved.

Dogmom, thanks. She''s a Great Pyrenees, cute as a button with attitude for days.

Absolutely no need to be, hopefully you have gained some reassurance which has made you feel better so this hasn''t been preying on your mind too much this weekend! It IS nerve wracking posting a precious item and in view of what has happened in the past no wonder you are concerned, but you did everything right and I am sure the package will show soon!

 

[EricaR]

Don''t feel bad! A few months ago I sent a ring from California to BGD and it took a week and a half to get there! I was SURE it was lost because the tracking info wasn''t updated the entire time. Nope, it got there safe and sound.

In a few weeks I''ll probably be sending my mom''s e-ring into BGD. I''m a bit more nervous about that since it is valued at $50k...