Postal theft... Please detail your experience here!

[ranieso]

Will using a tracking number prevent theft? I have sent some Christmas gifts to friends and family, though on some tracking numbers, the tracker switches from CapeMail to something else, then stop tracking where it was, not listing the location. The packages were delivered, but it didn't say so on the website. Is it still safe? :?

[feltrex trading]

Tracking numbers aren't absolute; they certainly help, especially if you pay a little bit extra for insurance, but they aren't guaranteed to stop the parcel from disappearing like you described.

Delivery companies tend to alternate when sending sending mail over long distances and that's why they can't keep tracking it. The recipient will then have to follow up with their local postal service with the tracking number (which you will have to supply) and find out where the package is from there.

Also, if an item wasn't addressed clearly, it ends up being tossed into the "undeliverable mail" bin if the return address also isn't legible. I hope this helps!

[Shark Attack 1]

I recently paid for shipping an amount of R229.00 which was suppose to have had shipping and insurance as per the listing but guess what no insurance was done. Yes i got my item in one piece but i paid for insurance and i feel my money was stolen from me as it was not insured. How can we allow this to happen That to my is robbery of the highest kind. So what and how can we stop this from happening. Anyone else have the same happen to them

[Southerns]

Hi QJN

Do you have anything from the seller stating that the R229 includes insurance,
if so send a copy of it to Morne with your complaint and ask him to help as they have then not completed the terms of the sale.

regards
Shane

[Shark Attack 1]

Thank you for your reply
Yes i do have the sellers listing I will attach it aswell

How do I get a copy to Morne

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/jsp/item/I...radeId=6298158

Thanks
Quintin

[Southerns]

QDN

As the auction is closed I don't think they can change the listing,
so just send the link to Morne with your complaint etc.

regards
Shane

[Gem Shop]

I have not lost one parcel from outside SA through theft...I have lost 2 through the incompetence of the customs office though.
Lost between 5-10 items out of more than 3500 parcels posted...suppose thats not too bad...or maybe I should keep on touching wood

[BUYandSAVE]

I just had my my first parcel being tampered with. Item was posted using Econo parcel from Cape Town to Tzaneen , buyer did not request insurance - Package arrived opened and the orginal game removed. To Protect my Ratings i offered a R50 Voucher against any future Purchases. Anything sellers can recommend to curb this from happening. I suggested that Buyer should not accept opened packages at Collection from Post Offices - Please advise what I can do futher with SAPO?

[Southerns]

I learnt a trick when shipping electronics and PC stuff,

Mark content as faulty returning to supplier.

You have a much greater chance of it being left alone.

[Cali Craft and Gems]

I considered myself reasonably lucky until recently with regards to all the items I've sent off plus received.

Over the Dec / Jan period, three of my outgoing parcels disappeared of which only one finally made it to it's destination. The other two are still missing.

Although the one addressed to Braamfontein conventiently had another tracking number allocated to it on the day it arrived at that branch which redirected it to Seshego - no-one can explain this and the Braamfontein staff now state that the parcel was collected. No proof though...

On the receiving end of things, I've received several parcels which looked like they had been used for the lunchtime soccer game, plus the incense parcel from GemShop arrived with only the labels holding the paper onto the package - someone obviously got a little too curious about the contents.

I'm now eagerly awaiting parcels from overseas - just hope they get here soon and in one piece!

[Gem Shop]

we tell our customers to inspect the parcel in the po and if it looks like its been tampered with to open it in front of the po person to ensure everything is there and if not then not to accept parcel.
We also insure each and every parcel for a min of R100.00 at no cost to the buyer.
If a parcel is taken home and it is discovered that the goods are not there then we cannot be held liable.
Janet I have received 100's of parcels from overseas and NOT one has been tampered with...I even had guys writing on the envelope "opals' and it still got here in time and in perfect order.

[Lukeness]

I've had mostly great luck with overseas parcels but the last one was terrible.

It took 5 months to get to me!

Turned out it had been sitting in Jhb the whole time.
They claimed the invoice was lost so they couldn't send it.
Then they found they invoice on the top, clearly visible, in triplicate.

When it finally got to my post office they tried to charge me twice the value of the parcel in taxes. Back again for reassessment...

When it came back with the correct customs tax the box was severely beaten up up 70% of the contents were missing.

Of course they had affixed the PO tape on it to say they'd received it like that and had sealed it. Forgetting that I'd seen (although been unable to open) the box before when the wrong tax was charged.

It seems that parcels from the US get more scrutiny and "losses". Also when possible get stuff sent in envelopes. They seem to attract less attention. The bigger parcels are not only bigger risks but are also more obvious targets.

[Gem Shop]

to add to luke
I have had gems send to me from canada in a normal envelope and the postman dropped it in my driveway even though the postbox is there for everyone to see and the package was perfect.
I also agree that I personally think that the customs office in jhb is only beaten by the eishkom mangement. They have no idea whats they are doing and I also think that they suck the import taxes etc out of their thumbs...I know someone who brough in swarofski crystals and they would not release it because it looked to much like diamonds

[nadd]

lukeness,

You give me some hope with saying that you waited 5 months for a parcell. I am waiting for a parcell posted in Canada on 8 December 2007, and according to our PO, still not in SA.....

Hopefully it will arive some time (maybe this year???)

Don't we have anybody on the forum with contacts at customs where the parcells get delayed?

[feltrex trading]

I'd love to have someone dig through the area they "hold" parcels and have them send through the ones that have just been sitting there without any reason. It's infuriating to think know there are valid parcels being left to rot and eventually be "repossessed" by thieves. I don't want to wait till 2009 to receive my overseas orders. If this keeps up, I'll be marching into the regional manager's office with all the invoices (the few I have) and demand to know where my parcels are. :roll: