Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

A month before I left Korea, I shipped myself a box full of books and other things. I just got it, and I noticed a stamp that read "damaged when received" and a white sticker with a black cross on it, something similar to the red cross. Uh, oh.

I opened the package...from 40 books I had 7 left! It also looked like someone went through my things, as some bags were opened and the contents all over the box. There was also no customs sticker/stamp on it, so it doesn't seem the disorder was from them, but maybe.

Is there anything I can do to try to retrieve the books? Are they lost for good?

I am so upset.

[the eye]

My package was damaged in Korea, once a few years ago.
At first I got all anxious... but everything worked out. I just calmly worked open the zipper again.
But kreist, for a second there, i thought it would be cut off.
I had insurance though... so even if it turned out for the worst, i'd be covered.

Did you have your package insured?

[MollyBloom]

Yeah, thanks. I am kind of concerned about this right now, but hearing about your limp person really makes it all better.

[the eye]

It's not limp! That's the thing!
Anyway, I added a point to the end... of my story.

[TheChickenLover]

Mail theft by postal employees is very common. I've had 3 packages come to me in a plastic bag from the US postal service apologizing about the "damaged" package.

In many cases, any valuables or jewelry can be stolen (this is why they tell you not to send cash by mail) at this time of the year. Things DO get lost or "dissapear" (why we have mail insurance).

I would suggest next time you use a proper mail service like fedex or dhl. They are VERY careful in getting their stuff to their customers on time & don't screw around at all.

Every package I had opened & stolen was from the US Postal service.

Go figure..



Chicken

[oldfatfarang]

Private courier companies aren't any more reliable than the PO. I've just spend a harrowing 2 weeks (on the phone and emailing) trying to receive important documents from home. Apparently, the Korean end of an International courier service - refused to deliver my package because there was no phone number in the address. This, despite me receiving mail to this address for a year now.

What really surprised (and enraged) me was that they didn't even try to deliver it - they just sent it back home from their depot. Grrrrr...

[MollyBloom]

[mack the knife]

[Hollywoodaction]

Stuff used to go missing from my packages here all the time in 1997-1998 when the anti-foreigner/anti-import sentiment was at its highest (someone would open up the box after it had gone through customs because the customs tape had been ripped open). The last time a package went missing was 3 years ago, and the previous one was 4 years before that.

One of my former co-workers had a bra missing from a box of stuff she had ordered from Victoria's Secret in 1997. To say she was full-bosomed would be an understatement. She joked that she didn't blame the guy who took it because his friends would have never believed him if he hadn't show it to them.

[crazy tigger]

Which country did you post it fromand what kind of mail serivice did you use? You don't know it happened in Korea, it travelled through several countries onit's way here more than likely (Isent 5 boxes from the UK to here by ar and they travelled through 5 countries en-route where they changed planes) so maybe contact the service provider in your own country. Often it comes with some sort of minimum insurance 9on mine it was �500 but that was with a lot of stuff, you could upgrade though very cheeply which I did).

[Rapacious Mr. Batstove]

Sorry to hear about the poor treatment of your package OP.

I recently left my package in the careful hands of the wonderful girls down at Korea Post. They treated my package with respect and it arrived in my home town safely and undamaged. I would definitely allow to them to handle my package again.

[anyangoldboy]

Korean Post has been great with all my stuff sent.

[TheChickenLover]

[the dakota kid]

A couple of years ago, it was so bad that the BATF made it illegal to send a pistol via USPS. You now have to send them via a 3rd party courier, with full tracking. Too many handguns were getting lost in the sorting rooms/centers.

tdk/Dustin

[Hollywoodaction]