Re: FS: Collection HUGE PRICE DROPS
Thought I'd give an update on the Rigel situation, although really we're no further forward.
The lowdown:
We're now coming up to 2 and a half weeks since postage. According to USPS tracking#, it left Chicago early morning on February the 28th and that was it's last hop on US soil.
"Your item was processed through and left our CHICAGO, IL 60666 facility on February 28, 2014 at 12:58 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later."
This is the last update since Feb 28th on the USPS page.
Normally when parcels are sent via USPS destined for the UK, they get picked up by ParcelForce, which are part of Royal Mail (our equivalent of USPS). The tracking number given has no information against it when used on either ParcelForce's systems OR Royal Mail. Zero information, nada. I've phoned ParcelForce and as well as confirming what I saw on the website, they're dubious the tracking number is even correct.
Now, the wait isn't what's killing me, but the fact that we're now completely in the dark as to it's whereabouts is making me nervous. I've had an Eagle Pair (ordered around the same time as I bought the Rigel) delivered almost a week ago with basic tracking information which showed on Parcel Force, and a pair of ARG goggles which has quite a bit of information as well. Said goggles were ordered roughly around the time I bought the rigel, had to be custom made, have been posted, cleared UK customs and are now awaiting customs charges... so the time frame we are dealing with here is not unreasonable.
Attempts to "convert" the USPS tracking number (courtesy of info I found online) to a GB tracking number for ParcelForce/Royal Mail have yielded just the same results, so I suspect there are a few possibilities here:-
-for some bizarre reason it has not actually left US soil yet and is perhaps stuck in US customs, but they have not stated this on the tracking. I find this unlikely, but still plausible.
-It has entered the UK but has been incorrectly scanned (or not scanned at all) and is en route to me in the blind. Unlikely as even a postcode search finds nothing destined for me.
-It's been eaten by UK customs which then becomes an issue of theft as our customs regs don't strictly cover lasers, especially class IIIb. Zero tracking info suggests this not to be the case, as my ARG goggles contain info before during and after the customs part.
Regardless, we are now completely in the dark as to the whereabouts of the package and 2.5 weeks with no information IMO is reasonable grounds to begin the pursuit of answers.
Raffle: Please do some chasing on your end, as we have no information on our side the parcel may well still be in the USA, and if so we need to find out why. Please also try and find out from your PO if they do pass parcels of this type over to ParcelForce, and if not, to whom they go to.
We tried the tracking number last night on all kinds of courier websites and got no response, but it's worth a try however unlikely it is now in the hands of a courier rather than the postal service.
I don't think it's time for panic stations just yet, but we need to follow a line of enquiry on both sides. As well as what I have done already, I will make my way to the local PO tomorrow morning and interrogate them as to any parcels being held for me. Please do your bit by making enquiries with the PO the Rigel was posted from, in particular finding out whether Chicago was the flight to the UK or if there are more "steps" which have caused a hold up.
Cannot wait!
