USPS lost package sent internationally

I didnt know where to post this but here it is.

I ordered a package from XoticPC which shipped (International Express) on November 25 2008 destined for Hungary. Long time waiting, still nothing.
January 7 2009, JustinW at XoticPC contacted USPS to start the investigation (on his own) (countless emails to USPS gave me the same bot response saying they cant provide any information or dates, have sender contact USPS)
February 7 2009, Investigation completed declared lost, insurance papers sent to XoticPC which they resubmitted.
February 19 2009, Insurance papers arrive in the USPS Insurance Office in St. Louis.
March 19 2009, I am phoning USPS insurance office, and the people I spoke to there said the claim will be paid out that same day because it was the last day of the 30 days period and I have to wait till the end of the working day.

I have been calling nearly everyday since then and every person I speak to tells me something different and different deadlines and now I am at my wits end (AGAIN).

Has anyone experienced this before and can give their experience or advice to get USPS to actually process the claim??

PS. JustinW @ XoticPC has been great and helpful every step of the way, gone beyond the call of duty. I wouldnt have expected service this great from even the best companies with the greatest customer service.
My bash is only with USPS...

 

I´ve never had any trouble with carriers such as UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc...
I have a office in the US and so far inside the US no problem. I´ve never shipped something with this value internationally. I´ll check with them to see if they can give you any help with this matter.
But, also on the subject, I´m on my way to order a new laptop from XoticPC and I want to be cool about it. Did you have any problem with them at all?

 

Thanks for the help.
About XoticPC, I honestly cant say a bad thing about them. Despite me having a bad experience in actually getting the laptop, I still praise them and that is saying a lot. They go far beyond my expectations, I honestly highly recommend them to you. I havent experienced any of the other well known suppliers like Powernotebooks and I dont think Im likely to as when I need another laptop as I am certain I will be going to Xotic again.

I dont recommend USPS for obvious reasons

 

bump, wow the threads can fall fast here.
Pls lads, anyone else?

 

Man, that sucks. Sorry to hear it.

Wish ya luck


BTW, wrong section.
COntacted a Mod, it will be moved.

 

I understand your frustration, but there's to be no bumps for 24 hours as per the forum rules. I'd just say stay on their case until you get your reimbursement.

 

wow, lol. I never knew that...

 

neither did I, sorry

 

I thought corruption in Hungary (and surroundings) would have improved post-EU transition! Yes, they "lost" your laptop :/ I'm sorry to hear this, but it does sound like Xotic insured it and handled it well and USPS is taking it's time. Xotic is the claimant so they would have to call the USPS and harass them for the insurance money so they can reship/build. I would call Xotic and talk to them until it's fixed

 

Although "corruption" is present here, certainly more so than in the western world I dont think that it was lost in Hungary.
It would have been scanned upon reaching the customs here in Hungary which to expediate often requires a small fee. But it never reached here actually.
USPS shipping really sucks so I have no idea where it actually went missing

JustinW @Xotic is doing a good job and have faith in him. He initiated everything on his own actually, instigating investigation, papers etc.
I would nag of course but by the time I realized it had to be done, he did it on my behalf. I cant fault them at all.

 

Wow, crazy I've never lost anything by USPS and I've used it to ship things all over the world for ten years. Maybe Xotic didn't use International Priority (I always use Priority or Express, as they have tracking numbers and USPS usually takes better care of things). Inquire about what they intend to use for the reshipment, and either use Fedex/UPS/DHL or get International Priority.

Yeah, it's a good reseller, but it's still frustrating to be notebookless for so long.

 

They used International Express. For the next shipment I plan I pay out for UPS which is more expensive, a lot more expensive, because I dont want to take any risks this time

 

I ship about 5000 packages every year and have done so for the past 7 years. Every package has been shipped by USPS. During that time not a single package was lost and only two arrived damaged (although I'm sure one damaged package was a fraudulent report by the receiver and had nothing to do with the Post Office).

I'll bet you dollars to donuts that if you check the tracking on the package it will show that it left a US port (probably Newark, NJ) and its after that there is no record.

However, I will grant you that the USPS is very slow to pay on insurance claims. I self-insure all my packages. Its been a great profit center because I've only had to pay on two caims in all this time!

Don't worry, they will pay the claim, but they do take their sweet time to do it.

 

I never had troubles with Express Mail International *knock* *knock* *knock* in short I am maximally pleased with USPS...they are quick and reliable.

By the way...What did the tracking number say, where was it last registered? (You did check that, right?) Did it arrive at the hungarian customs office? Have you asked the customs office at Orczy Square (phone: 1-477-6534) about youre packadge? But my first question still stands...what does the tracking say, where was it the last time it got registered? If you didn't check, please check it (I assume you still have the tracking number). USPS probably deleted it from their web database by now, but when you enter the tracking number, you can ask them to restore it for a few days

Another thing...I hope you are aware of the fact, that you have to pay customs+tax for it, since it is comming from outside of the European Union At the momemt the customs is between 3-8% and the tax is 20% (will be 23% soon), so, let's say you order a new Sager np5797 from XoticPC for $1,641.24. You ask for USPS Express Mail International (you have to pay tax+customs even if you ask for UPS), which is $223.00 according to Xotic, so the price is $1864.24 with shipping. BUT when it arrives to Hungary, it goes to the customs office where they put the customs (let's say, 5%)+tax on the $1864.24 (yes mostly they count the shipping in it too) which if you don't pay, you won't get youre packadge. So the price would be $1864.24+ $484.7024 (tax+customs)-> final price of the laptop is $2348.9424! Yea, this country sucks And they are planning to raise tax from 20% to 23%, oh Jesus....

Oh...+ thanks to the problems with the economy, the Hungarian Forint is very weak compared to the US Dollar (whell, it was allready weak in november too...), so the price maybe the same in USD but you have to pay ~7% more in HUF when you convert it to USD

 

There was another NBR member here about a year or so ago - I think his forum name was 6edo - who had exactly the same troubles you're having with a notebook shipped from a US reseller to Europe via USPS. I think the reseller in that instance was RJTech (although I could be wrong).

For what it's worth, 6edo did eventually get compensation for the lost shipment, but just like you, he had to endure a long period of getting baloney out of the USPS people, and the shipping record stopped with the notebook leaving the U.S. I know that's cold comfort, but you should eventually get your compensation as well.

Based on 6edo's experience, and now yours, it would seem that the better alternative if one is shipping an expensive item like a notebook to Europe, is to avoid USPS and go with one of the private shippers.

 

Sorry I didnt respond, different time zones and I was sleeping.

The last tracking point was as it was leaving the United States. The customs had no idea about this but I dont think they put much effort into it. I must have been really unlucky about losing the package then...

Here is a little extract of the conversation I had with the USPS insurance claims. I called them and they said that the insurance department will call me back within 8 working hours which they did.
She opens the conversation with "I wont answer any of your questions."
I understand because everything is in the senders name and insured by them.
So I ask if she can answer some general questions not specific to this lost package as I am expecting she cant answer with specific information.
"I wont answer any of your questions, have the sender contact them."

I know that shipping and extra customs make the laptop a lot more expensive, but there is nothing in Hungary that can compare to the power of this laptop and those that come even close are ridiculously expensive, even more than the imported one with shipping + taxes.
In Austria, the laptops are also very expensive compared to shipping+taxes

Can you tell me at what stage customs and excise has to be paid? Is it included in the UPS shipping or will I have to pay UPS extra or do I need to go down to the customs office and sort this out myself? UPS is around in Hungary, I see a lot of their vans, I imagine they bring it to my door which would save me a lot of effort

 

double post. laggy browser sorry

 

triple post. laggy browser sorry

 

According to my understandings, that price does not include the tax+customs, so you have to pay that (officially ~$485, but sometimes they just ask for a random price if they don't know the exact value of the packadge) even if you ask for UPS... unless you are lucky and the customs personnel are too lazy to check it (happens often) but like I sad, you have to be extra lucky for that to happen...

Anyway, I probably ask for USPS when I order my GTX280M for my Sager np5796



Sincerely,
an angry beaver from Hungary

 

do you know when I would have to pay that? Would I pay UPS to handle that and I pay them that extra or do it myself?
Many thanks!

 

Don't know exactly how that goes with UPS, but if you order it with USPS than it goes like this:
1) your package goes in to the customs

2) customs personnel tear it open and check whats inside

3) if they find any source of the price, they charge that $485 I am talking about, if they don't, they charge a random amount

4) they notify you in a few days by post that you got package and after you payed the price you can pick it up (but they can probably repack it too and pass it to the post office)

5) and so, after you payed the price you get youre packadge in a few days and if you are lucky, nothing is missing from it.

The fastest way is to, when you see at the tracking page that it entered customs you call them (posted phone number before) and ask about the package, and if they say that you have to pay customs+tax, you get the money ready and go in to Orczy Square and pay the price in person and than you get your package immediately.

btw, if you order it from the European Union (UK, Germany, Austria, etc) you can skip this procedure with the customs office since than you don't have to pay customs+tax

 

Thanks so much mate, you been a great help.
Here have some rep

 

potentv: if XoticPC send you the packege with USPS and was lost you have to get your money or new machine from XoticPC and they have to deal with USPS to get their money this is the way you have to go

 

Yah, i am hoping that the current matter is going to be resolved soon, it was a blessing in disguise... (a very good bloody good and long disguise )

I am getting a much better machine now

 

Hehe, at least something good came of this. This time around though, choose UPS if you can. I have dealt with them a LOT and haven't once had a problem with them. Good luck.

Duane

 

which beg the question, what is your new machine?

 

Oh yah,
the machine that got lost was an Asus G71G-A2 and am now getting a sager 8662 as soon as USPS pays out which I am "expecting" this week!
Cross your fingers for me lads

 

Just an update!!!
XoticPC received the check from USPS yesterday!!!!!!!
On the NP8662 preorder bandwagon!!!!!
HURRAY!!!!


Thanks again for the info DRevan. I posted some quotes from you on their forums so they can give that little snipit of info to future CEE buyers!

 

Congratulations potentv!

 

I am happy that things worked out for you And gz to your new laptop

 

A little off -topic here. With the low euro pound exchange rate it makes sense to buy stuff from UK.

PL

 

that is a very good news!

Congrats man!

I hope u get you Sager asap!

Regards

MMASONBR

 

Thanks lads!

@pasoleatis
When I originally bought the laptop it wasnt the case
At that point it was still cheaper to buy on from the US rather than the UK. Its probably not the case anymore but still USPS will pay out the insurance to the sender and even though I might lose some money doing it this way. I am more than happy to pay that premium for XoticPC's excellent service and help every step of the way. Even if it is just supporting them, I feel like I am getting my moneys worth

 

I'm glad it all worked out for you potentv.

Considering that the package left the country, it was no longer the fault of the US Post Service for its AWOL status, and they did pay on the claim (I told you they are slow on that end).

I think somebody owes them an apology.

 

congratulations for your new laptop dude

 

thats some hefty taxation

couldnt you have ordered from somewhere in the EU to avoid all this? no matter how much more expensive things are in the EU, i'm sure you could have gotten a better deal.... or at least i think so.

 

Never send your laptops with USPS..
I sent my Almost new laptop from Iraq to home through USPS and after about a month only a empty box came home.. !!!
USPS told me that even though I paid for insurance, they needed receipt to pay me. Imagine if I never had receipt...

 

OMG, thats even worse than what happened to me... Im sorry fatmandoo...
Im sure they have the insurance in their systems... there must be something you can do...

 

He will get his money, since he was smart and kept the receipt

 

oh LOL, I didnt see the "if"
hahaha,
from my experience, it takes over 4 months from date of shipment for them to pay out. hope it goes faster for you though

 

Yes it took 4 months, because they had to investigate where did your package get to...they will be probably a bit faster in this case...maybe 2 months?

 

I think somebody owes them an apology.

 

Still he lost the data in his HDD.

Who? and to whom?

 

I found the rest of his post, I think he is referring to me... I think...
I am still feeling very bitter towards towards USPS as they have cause me pain equal to 4 continuous months of child birth
I know it wasnt they that personally lost it but I feel that their services could offer more, instead of just throwing it on an outbound plane, but ok thats understandable. but 4 months to pay out on something that was fully insured? 4 months seems a bit excessive considering the average "5-10" working postal days to deliver.
Give me some more time with my therapist before I apologize mate